ICS 309
Computers and Society
Introduction
1
What if our world was without
computers
2
The Ubiquity of Computers and the
Rapid Pace of Change
Have you used a computer today?
You have if you used…
• an ATM,
• a CD-player,
• a cell phone,
• a modern appliance, or
• an electronic device.
3
Some Positive Impacts of New
Technology
Convenience.
• Time-saving.
• Cost-saving.
• Less effort than older technologies.
New types of jobs.
More options for transactions.
Improvements in crime-fighting.
Small error rate.
4
Group discussions
Benefits Computers Bring to
A. Communications
B. Transportation
C. Education and training
D. Crime fighting
E. Medicine and health
F. Disabled
G. Office automation
H. Environment
5
Benefits Computers Bring to
Communication
• Non-invasive; read at recipient’s convenience.
• Time-saving.
• Access to vast amounts of information.
• Text, graphics, and sound can be combined.
• Much information on WWW is free.
• Public forums not limited to geographic boundaries.
• More independence.
• More options for communicating.
• Remote access available.
• Traditional boundaries are no obstacle.
• Reliability
6
Benefits Computers Bring to
Transportation
• Navigation.
• Diagnostics.
• Safety.
• Hybrid engines.
• Efficiency of fuel-burning.
• Traffic pattern studies.
• E-ticketing
• Itinerary (trip planning)
• Databases on driving license
• Weather forecasting
7
Benefits Computers Bring to Education
and Training
• Language acquisition.
• Spelling.
• Literacy.
• Distance/e- learning.
• Modeling.
• Simulations.
• Speech recognition.
• Speech synthesis.
• Virtual training
• Management
• E-books & Huge resources on the net
8
Benefits of Computers in
Fighting Crime
• Improved crime reporting.
• Reliable and accurate identification
• Faster search of arrest records and fingerprint files.
• Remote access to records and reports, e.g. from
patrol cars.
• Enhancement of records (fingerprints and photos).
• Access to numerous databases.
• Polygraph
• Digital certification
• Improved monitoring, and surveillance equipment.
9
Benefits Computers Bring to
Medicine
• Sophisticated imaging and diagnosis.
• Reduced surgery time.
• Patient monitoring and timely medicine taking.
• Early ambulation.
• Improved treatments.
• Better organization of patient records
• Better administration (Appointments and billing)
• Telemedicine
• Fewer errors.
10
Benefits Computers Bring to
the Disabled
• Disability-specific computer applications (e.g., a
braille printer).
• Control of household and workplace appliances.
• Mobility and access to many facilities.
• Control of artificial limbs.
• Improved vision.
• Access to adaptive educational equipment.
• Improved communication.
• Opportunity to return to work.
11
Benefits Computers Bring to
Office Automation
• Organize and access large inventories.
• Better scheduling
• Better communication
Group mailing
Better presentation
• Improved customer satisfaction.
• Save cost/time/effort.
• Decision making systems
• Paperless
• Tedious, monotonous work done by machine.
• Improved workplace safety.
12
Benefits Computers Bring to
Environment
• Saving natural resources (paperless)
Effective use of natural resources
• Decrease pollution
• Moisture.
• Acidity.
• More environment-friendly machines
• Stress in materials.
• Reducing Paper Use and Trash
Send/receive digital documents instead of hardcopy.
Read, write, and edit online.
Reduced cost, storage, toxic wastes.
13
Some Negative Impacts of New
Technology
Unemployment.
Alienation.
Poor Customer Service.
Crime.
Loss of Privacy.
Errors.
14
Social Problems!!!!!!
15
Alienation
16