TheImpactoftheComputer

AHISTORICALAPPROACH
Whendidcomputersbegintohaveaneffect
onpeople?
Howhavewebeenaffected?
WhatHAVEwedone?
Havewebecometoodependenton
computers?
Whatcanwedoaboutit?

INTRODUCTION
Definition of IT:

Information Technology is technology used to store, manipulate,

distribute or create information.
It also mean the tools we use to perform calculations, to store &
manipulate text & to communicate.
For examples in 20th century tools includes calculators for
mathematical calculation, telephone, radio for communication.
Typewriter & word processors for processing text .

Definition of Society:
A community, nation, or broad grouping of
people having common traditions, institutions, &
collective activities and interest

IMPACT ON GOVERNMENT
IT helped Govt. to improve their service to
citizens
IT enable the Govt. of various countries to collate
and monitor statistical information that they
combat fraud, manage the economy
IT also had a major impact on the governments
defence capabilities & intelligence agencies
Encryption of sensitive information
has enabled governments to obtain added security

Cont......
The united kingdoms data protection act of 1998 gives the following eight
rules regarding personal information

It must be fairly and lawfully processed;

Processed for limited purposes;
Adequate, relevant and not excessive;
Accurate;
Not kept longer than necessary;
Processed in accordance with the data subject's rights;
Secure;
Not transferred to countries without adequate protection.

NEWS & MEDIA ORG.

It is closely related to all the elements of IT
Audience has a wider, global choice.
Anyone can publish information accessible
anywhere in the world
Internet & satellite television have created
new medium & audiences

Whendidcomputersbeginto
haveaneffectonpeople?

1970sThemicrocomputerforenthusiasts
1975Computersintheoffice
1980TheIBMPC
1984TheMacintosh
TheperiodoftheHOMEcomputer
Andsincethen
TheINTERNET
FortheMillions

RingingtheChanges
Computer
asaNumber
Cruncher

Computer
asageneral
purposesystem

Computer
asaTool

Computer
asaUtility

Computer
asaSearch
Engine

Computer
asa
Communicator

Howhavewebeenaffected?
Usershavemovedfrombeinganelite
professionallyresponsibletoa
communitywithwidelyvaryingattitudes
Veryhighlevelapplicationsallowanyone
todevelopaprogram
Includingtheuntrained,theuntrainable,and
thedontwannabetrained

Thestagesofimpact
Directreplacementofanactivitywithlittle
changeinproductivity
Enhancementofactivitiesbyimprovements
inspeedandefficiency
Extendingactivitiestothosethatcouldnot
bedonepreviously

WhatHAVEwedone?
CreatedaDIGITALDIVIDE
Thehavesandthehavenots

Betweenschools,betweenschooldistricts
Betweentheoldandtheyoung
Betweenparentsandchildren
Betweenmaleandfemale
Betweenrichandpoor
Betweentownandcountry

WhatHAVEwedone?
Lookatalmostanyjobdescription!
Qualificationsforasecretary:
(1)...Workingknowledgeofstandardofficepractices,equipmentandword
processingsoftware;.
Preferencesgivenforexperiencewithspreadsheetsandgraphicssoftware,
MicrosoftWord,WordEquationandExcel;...experienceeditingand
proofreadingcomplexdocuments.
(2)PreferencesgivenforexperienceworkingonaMacOS,experiencewith
MicrosoftWord,MicrosoftExcel,andBanner,experiencemaintaininga
database.

WhatHAVEwedone?
WAREHOUSESUPERVISOR:
Mustbecomputerliteratetoincludeword
processing,spreadsheets,webbasedresearch,
andemail.Musthaveavalidvehicleoperator's
permitandagooddrivingrecord.

Wehavechangedpeopleslives
Forgoodorbad?

InformalityvstheArchive

Theemailseemedsoinnocent."Betty,hi,"herememberscheerfullytypingtohis
colleague."Ihaven'tbeensuccessfulreachingyoubyphone,soI'lltryemail
instead."

AndsoBillLamptonthenanemployeeofalargehospitaldashedofftherestof
hisnoteonsometrivialofficematterandhitthesendbutton.

Bettynevergotpastthegreeting.

"Ihavenoideawhatyoumeanaboutmynotreturningphonecalls,"Lampton
recallsBettyfiringback."Tohaveyouaccusemeofignoringyourcallsis
unthinkableandinexcusable....Astothepurposeoftheemailthatyousentme,I
prefernottorespond,asIdislikedealingwithanyonewhoassumestheworstof
me."

Havewebecometoodependent
oncomputers?
Havewebecometoodependenton:
Steel?
Cars?
Oil?
Electricity?
Telephones?
Plastic?

Television?
Housing?
Airplanes?
Clothing?
Prosthetics?
Society?

WhathavewedonetoSociety?

Collapsedtime?
Collapsedspace?
Brokendownnaturalbarriers?
Intermixedincompatibleattitudes?
Invadedprivacy?
Madeitvulnerable?
Createdaninformationoverload?

WhathavewedonetoSociety?
Providedanewindustrywithexpandingemployment
needs
Newlifeforoldindustries
Improvedcommunications
Createdtoolsthatwouldotherwisebeimpossible
Savedtime
ChangedtheAtomicAgeintotheInformation
Age

Whatarethedangers?
Usingcomputerswheresimplersolutions
exist
Usingsoftwareincriticalsituations
Safetycriticalapplications
Missioncriticalsystems

BUTARENTTHESEOFFSET
BYADVANTAGES?

Whataretheadvantages?
Usingsoftwareincriticalsituations
Safetycriticalapplications
Missioncriticalsystems

Moreeasilyupgradeable,replaceable
Millionsofnewuses,newcapabilities

Progress,Development,
Evolution
Whateverwedo
Wewillnotstopprogress
Wewillnotstoppeopleusingourproductsinwaysthatwedo
appreciate
AndweWILLfindnewusesandapplicationsthatwillbe
advantageous