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Chapter 14 . How Universal is access to Computers and the Web. How Important is this Chapter to understanding how computers work?. 2 on a scale of 1-10 maybe. How Important is this Chapter to understanding how to use a computer?. 1 on a scale of 1 to 10.
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Chapter 14 How Universal is access to Computers and the Web
How Important is this Chapter to understanding how computers work? • 2 on a scale of 1-10 maybe
How Important is this Chapter to understanding how to use a computer? • 1 on a scale of 1 to 10
NOTE: The material in the book is at least a year old so the absolute numbers are probably too low
Different Levels of Access • None • Very limited – only specific times or specific places • School classroom or library for example • Limited Access with restrictions • Dial up from home • Low Speed, easy access, few restrictions • Dial up from home with separate phone line • High Speed, easy access, very few if any restrictions • DSL, Cable modem, etc
Specific Types of restrictions • Financial • Bandwidth charge. • Time charge. • Time of day charge. • Convenience • One computer in the home -- where is it put? • Phone connection -- when is it available? • Accessibility -- some areas may not have high speed connections available
Factors that affect the ability to connect to the Net • Technical Considerations • A Computer • Electricity • Ability to connect to the Internet • Economic Considerations • High cost of computers • High cost of access. • Political Considerations. • Social, Political, Religious considerations. • Individual personal considerations
Computer Science Majors • Most are male • 80% at the bachelor’s level • 75% at the master’s level • 80% at the PhD level • Why? • Look at chart on page 389 for ethnic stats.
Software Filters • A software filter is a program that blocks information from coming to the computer as Web pages or e-mail messages or perhaps in other ways • Example: anti-virus software • More common Example: software that limits access to objectionable material
What is objectionable? • Typically the user of the software can make choices. • Typically the software comes pre-configured with choices already made. • Typically filters can be set for classes of users.
What gets filtered? • Pictures • Text • Multimedia • Sound • Video • Everything
Effective filtering • What gets blocked? • What does not get blocked? • What about encrypted material?
How is blocking achieved • Tables of objectionable Web sites • Tables of non-objectionable Web sites • Keyword examination • Sometimes blocked material is passed but “edited” • Congress shall make no laws abridging freedom of speech, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
Who uses filtering? • Parents • Companies
How effective is filtering? • Not very. • Although filtering is better at the corporate level than at the home level.
Children’s Internet Protection Act • Federal law that provides for the protection of minors when using computers in some libraries --public, school, museum, not college. • Restrictions are on images only, not on text. • Obscene, child pornography, harmful to minors • These terms are defined “as an average person applying contemporary community standards” would . • Adults (people over 17 years old) may request that such filters be removed for their personal use.
Terminology • Access • CIPA -- Child Internet Protection Act • DSL -- Direct Subscriber Line • Filtering software • ITAA -- Information Technology Association of America