Critiques of Computing and Cyberspace

1.The Digital Divide: (see p.372 / 386)

Information Haves and Have-NotsUnited:- Declining costs for hardware, software, and connectivity

contribute to greater access.- Gender gap has vanished.- Age gap is narrowing.

Divided:- Non-white households trail in access.- Rural, isolated, or remote regions often have limited access.

Critiques of Computing and Cyberspace

2. The Neo-Luddite View (see p. 379)

Criticisms of Computer Technology:

- Deskilling of jobs.- Causes social inequality.- Separates humans from nature and destroys the environment.- Benefits big business and big government.- Thwarts development of social skills in children.- We use them because they are there.

Critiques of Computing and Cyberspace

3. The Problem with Prediction (see p. 389, also Chp 4, Risks)

Guessing at the Consequences of Technology:

- How will people use the new technology?- How will people benefit from the new technology?- Will people like the new technology?- How much will people pay for the new technology?- What problems will the technology cause?

Critiques of Computing and Cyberspace

3. Slouka – War of the Worlds

The Road to Unreality:

- Do people live in “unreal” worlds?- How do new technologies alter our perception of reality?- How is the world “re-presented” to us through media?- Will we opt for the digitized world over the real one?- Will we become one hive mind ever accessible through the ‘Net?