Computers in Society 03/04

UNIT 1. Introduction 1. From Movable Type to Data Deluge, John Gehl and Suzanne Douglas, The World & I , January 1999 The authors discuss the societal transformation that began with the invention of the printing press in the fifteenth century and speculate on some potential consequences of the "digital revolution." 2. The Internet & Sexual Personae, Camille Paglia, Forbes ASAP , December 2, 1996 This article looks at the implications of the computer revolution as an expression of democracy that verges on anarchy, concluding that everyone should have equal access to the Internet and the infinite information available. 3. The Internet Produces a Global Village of Village Idiots, Richard John Neuhaus, Forbes ASAP , December 2, 1996 This author expresses skepticism about the value of the digital revolution. He puts the information explosion, fomented by the computer, into perspective by examining the value of instant information on society. UNIT 2. The Economy 4. Beyond the Bar Code, Charlie Schmidt, Technology Review , March 2001 Charlie Schmidt explains how radio frequency identification tags may someday be able to track the location of "every single manufactured item" in real time. This will allow manufacturers to stay in sync with consumer demand, collect a wealth of data about individual consumer habits, and pose new challenges to privacy. 5. Driving the Info Highway, Steven Ashley, Scientific American , October 2001 Cars of the future will be equipped with advanced telematics systems connected to the Internet and global positioning systems (GPS). These systems will provide instant access to a vast array of information and services while on the road. They will also pose concerns about safety and privacy. 6. To the Rescue!, Daniel Eisenberg, Time , April 23, 2001 "No other major business relies so heavilyand so inefficientlyon old-fashioned pen and paper," Daniel Eisenberg says, referring to the health-care industry. He explains that the growing uses of electronic prescription writing, comprehensive digital records, and other innovations are changing the practice and management of health care and raising new privacy concerns. 7. E-Commerce and the Information Market, Varun Grover and James T. C. Teng, Communications of the ACM , April 2001 The need to match buyers and sellers in the "virtual marketplace" has given rise to infomediaries a new form of e-commerce company. The authors describe the various types of infomediaries and their growing role in orchestrating online transactions. 8. i2i Trust in E-Commerce, Judith S. Olson and Gary M. Olson, Communications of the ACM , December 2000 Many e-commerce activities depend on perceptions of trust and trustworthiness between individuals engaged in online interaction. In this article, Judith and Gary Olson discuss forms of online i2i relations and social, technological, and personal factors that build or inhibit trust. 9. Digital Cash Payoff, Evan I. Schwartz, Technology Review , December 2001 PayPal offers a person-to-person or P2P system for making digital payments for goods and services purchased online. Promoters claim that PayPal is convenient for buyers and sellers and drastically reduces the risk of online fraud. These benefits have caught the attention of investors and competitors. UNIT 3. Work and the Workplace 10. The Great Prosperity Divide, Kevin Dobbs, Training , February 2000 "Two Americas" have emerged in the new economy. Investment in computers drove up the demand for high-tech workers, but the majority of the workforce was ill-prepared to benefit from new opportunities. Kevin Dobbs shows how new technologies lead to wider social inequality and asks whether publicly funded training can help those who are being left behind in the new economy. 11. "You're Hired, Now Go Home", Jeanne L. Allert, Training & Development , March 2001 Because virtual companies lack a physical place, they have to rewrite a lot of rules or make up new ones in hiring employees. Drawing from experience, Jeanne Allert offers advice on "how to hire virtual workers and keep them connected." 12. Dealing With Tech Rage, Chris Wood, Maclean's , March 19, 2001 If you ever feel like hurling your computer out the window, you are not alone. Chris Wood explains how quirky software, e-mail overload, and other technology-related irritations can lead to rage or techno-stress. 13. They're Watching You, Sarah Boehle, Training , August 2000 A majority of U.S. firms record and review some form of employee communications, and the number is expanding rapidly. In this article, Sarah Boehle asks and answers the question, "What's behind this rush to Orwellian oversight ?" 14. Security vs. Privacy, Jonathan A. Segal, HR Magazine , February 2002 In this first of a two-part series, a lawyer advises employers about how to violate employee privacy within legal parameters. Jonathan Segal first offers guidance on how to design policies that give employers the right to "search" employees (including their electronic communications). 15. Searching for Answers, Jonathan A. Segal, HR Magazine , March 2002 In this second part of a two-part article, Jonathan Segal tells employers how to be "circumspect" and to respect employees' privacy rights when implementing the right to search. UNIT 4. Computers, People, and Social Participation 16. Broken Homepage, Peggy J. Farber, Harper's , April 2001 Adoption agencies are using the Web to attrat parents for hard-to-place children. As Peggy Farber points out, however, the cozy images and pull-down menus of the Web belie the "unsettling inexactitudes" of the foster care system. "After all, it's far easier (and cheaper) to build a Web site than to rebuild a family." 17. Why Women Avoid Computer Science, Paul De Palma, Communications of the ACM , June 2001 In this essay, Paul De Palma criticizes the view that women avoid computer science because of "math anxiety." He argues, rather, that women "embrace" mathematics and that computer science programs would attract more women if they were more like math. 18. Mind Over Muscles, Victor D. Chase, Technology Review , March/April 2000 An estimated 200,000 Americans suffer from paralysis.Schellenberg, Kathryn is the author of 'Computers in Society 03/04' with ISBN 9780072816990 and ISBN 0072816996.