The Social Implications of
Computing
"The most profound technologies are
those that disappear. They weave
themselves into the fabric of everyday life
until they are indistinguishable from it.”
-Mark Weiser, Xerox PARC
Computer Contributions to Society
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E-mail
Instant Messaging
The Web
Cellular Phones
Video Games
Social Implications of Networked
Communications
Estimated Users on the 'Net as of
March 2018
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199.6 million in the US and Canada
108.17 million in Europe
106.77 million in Asia
90.63 million in South America
8.14 million in Africa
6.88 million in Middle East
Almost 515 million
Doubles every year
The Internet as a
Communications Medium
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Electronic Publications
Library Archives
Newsgroups
Email
Advertisements
News
P2P networks
Public Spheres
Prior Networked
Communication:
• Town Hall
• Church
• Town Square
Ensuing Networked
Communication:
• Television
• Newsgroups
• Online Polls
Virtual vs. ‘Real’ Resources
• Online courses
• Email
• Research using search
engines
• Class discussion
• Having coffee with a
friend
• A book which is
primary source written
by an expert in the field
Globalization vs. Isolation
• Share ideas with the
world
• Buy anything from
anywhere, regardless of
location
• Connect with anyone in
the world using 2 of
your senses
 But will be taken
with a grain of salt
 Without
experiencing any
culture outside the
computer room
 As opposed to
meeting in person
and communicating
on all 5
Cons
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Copyright infringement
Addiction
Loss of social skill
Insecurity
Desensitization
Conclusion
• Great tool if not taken out of context
Growth of, Access to, and
Control of the Internet
Extreme Growth
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1971
1983
2003
2050
Computers on the ARPA/ Internet (in thousands)
Year
1971
1983
2013
2050
Number of
computers
25
1000
33000
(projection)
Who
knows?
Growth of the internet
• ARPANET - started by DoD to research
networks (1969)
• December 2012 - 26 million users
• Current:
– According to Nielson
• 580 million people worldwide now have access to
the internet
• 168.6 million attributed to the U.S
The Top Five Most Popular Internet Activities
(Percent Of Internet Users)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
E-mail and instant messaging
87.9%
Web surfing or browsing
76.3%
Buying online
48.9%
Finding entertainment information 47.9%
Reading news
47.6%
(data from 2010)
– Email usage has doubled in past three
years
• 60  90 billion messages a year
• Another doubling expected by 2015
Who controls the internet
• Cyber crime defined
– The dissemination of racist and xenophobic material
through computer systems
• Governments
– Citizens must use state-run ISPs in some countries
• Blocked content
Who controls the internet (cont’d)
• Parents and Employers
– Cyber nanny
• Disallows graphic or violent images
– PICS
• Platform for Internet Content Selection
• Labels that discuss a sites content
Access to the Internet
• 72.3% of Americans use the net
– Others do not for lack of access
• Not disinterest
• Men & Women
– Approx the same 74-70%
• Income and educational difs
– PhDs >85%
>$100k = 10 hrs
vs.
– High school 60%
vs.
<$30k = 4hrs
Here to stay
• More people are using it daily
• Look forward to equal access…
After all, the Internet is for everyone
(RFC 3721)
Gender related Issues of
Computing
Personal Experience
• I was too quick to
judge.
• Stereotyped.
• Can such a biased
stereotype be
justified?
Is there a Gender Gap?
• After analyzing more
than 1,000 research
studies, the American
Association of
University Women
(AAUW) has
concluded that when it
comes to technology,
there is an alarming
gender gap.
Statistics
• US population of men and
women is 50:50.
• Tech jobs are growing
every year.
• However women represent
only 20% of the Computer
science and engineering
labor force.
Where are all the Women?
So What?
“The gender gap in computer science must be eliminated for two
reasons.
(1) The more obvious reason is to ensure that fair and equal
treatment is being provided to all potential and current
computer scientists.
(2) The less considered danger of the gender gap concerns the
advancement of the field as a whole. By hindering half of the
population as potential contributors, the field of computer
science decreases its chance of further development.”
Quoted from: http://www.expage.com/page/genderissues3
Angles
• Male-Dominated Environment
-Are women being elbowed out?
• Discrimination
-HR playing favoritism?
• Image of Computing
-Nerdy/Bad Stereotypes
• Lack of Adequate High School/College
Preparation
-Do teachers encourage/discourage
females to pursue tech jobs?
• Societal Implications
-Games
-Role models
Lack of Adequate
High School/College Preparation
• According to a study by the Research Foundation for Improving the
Representation of Women in the Technology Workforce, the number of women
who received CS bachelor's degrees, the number peaked in 1986 when women
represented approximately 36% of the total number of graduates. Since then
numbers have only declined!
• “The gender gaps we see are evidence
that public schools are failing to fully prepare
girls for the 21st century”.
• Concerned and embarrassed that women
account for only 15 to 20 percent of their
computer science majors, a number of top
colleges are looking for ways to attract more women to careers in computers.
They are adding courses that appeal to women's strengths, creating mentoring
programs and thinking harder about the gender gap.
Societal Implications
- Childhood Development?
The Association for Computing Machinery's Committee on Women in
Computing (ACM-W) have found that:
• Role Models? – “Fathers are more likely to be using computers in the
home than mothers so you have the element of the role model”.
• Self-confidence? - boys “exhibit higher computer self-confidence and a
more positive attitude about computers than girls”.
Societal Implications
- Video Games?
• Computer games, which often attract children to computers, are written by
male programmers!
•
Generally these games consist of violence, killing and scoring points, all
of which interest young boys . Thus girls, who are not engaged as much by
these games, are less likely to follow this avenue into computer science.
• Software produced specifically for girls?
-Researchers and parents feel that so-called “pink” software, such as
Disney’s Princess Fashion Boutique and Barbie Magic Hairstyler will
teach girls the technology skills and confidence building they need to
narrow the digital gender gap.
Conclusion
• As technology continues to expand nationally and
internationally, it is important that advances are
equally influenced by men and women.
• In order to reduce the Gender Gap, the issue must
be taken seriously. Schools, video game
manufacturers, and industries must find a way to
involve both genders.
• Parents (mothers) must take an active roll in
influencing and encouraging their daughters to
pursue tech jobs/degrees.
International Issues
Issues of International Business
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Language
Time Zones
Sharing of data
Learning foreign Business Practices
Presentation
Language
• Knowing a second language
– If not then a translator may be needed
– Americans tend not to be multilingual
• Translations may contain errors
Time
• Time zone differences
– Limited windows of communication
• Email?
– Not always a perfect solution
• Can be time intensive
• May not produce the best results
Sharing of Data
• Media of transport/ Communication
– WAN
• Transfering projects
• Emails
– Snail Mail
Learning foreign Business Practices
• Trying to treat international business partners like
an american business is a BAD idea...
– “The appropriate ways of conducting business and
holding meetings vary from country to country and
from culture to culture.”
• Good example
– A meeting set for a certain time in China a person
should be 15 minutes early and preparing
– A meeting set for a certain time in Mexico might not
actually start for an hour or two
Examples of Do’s and Dont’s
• Germany
– Do
• Knock before opening a closed door.
– Don't
• Shake someone's hand while your other hand is in your
pocket.
Examples of Do’s and Dont’s
• France
– Do
• Avoid calling your associates' personal number for
business related issues. If it cannot be avoided, do so
before 9:00pm.
• For corporate letters or e-mail, use a very formal and
business-like approach.
– Don't
• Use first names during a business meeting.
• Show up late for meetings.
• Bring up business at the start of a dinner/meeting.
Examples of Do’s and Dont’s
• Japan
– Forget it I don’t have enough time...
Literature
• Books found @ barnesandnoble.com
– Doing Business in China
– Business Korea: A Practical Guide to Understanding
South Korean Business Culture
– International Business
– International Business and Trade: Theory, Practice, and
Policy
Presentation
• Organization
• Appearance
• “Be civil, neat and listen to what they are
saying. Since we are representing our
company, we need to project the best image
to our customer.” –Ralph Flatau
References
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http://www.zakon.org/robert/internet/timeline/
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http://www.isp-planet.com/research/
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Number of users:
http://cyberatlas.internet.com/big_picture/geographics/article/0,,5911_1593591,00.html (feb 2013)
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IPv4: http://www.isoc.org/briefings/001/
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Crime: http://www.cyber-rights.org/cybercrime/
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Demographics: http://ccp.ucla.edu/pdf/UCLA-Internet-Report-2001.pdf
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Gov’t control: http://www.rferl.org/nca/special/enemies.html
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The map of the world:
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http://www.askmen.com/money/career/20_career.html
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Flatau, Ralph. (2013, February 25). Infimed Inc Manager. [Email Interview]
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http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=320264<http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=320264&;coll=portal&
dl=ACM&CFID=8149335&CFTOKEN=12007127>&coll=portal&dl=ACM&CFID=8149335&CFTOKEN=1
2007127
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Brainball:
http://portal.acm.org/toc.cfm?id=604575<http://portal.acm.org/toc.cfm?id=604575&;idx=J373&type=issu
e&coll=portal&dl=ACM&part=magazine&WantType=Magazines&title=interactions&CFID=8149042&CF
TOKEN=44437748>&idx=J373&type=issue&coll=portal&dl=ACM&part=magazine&WantType=Magazin
es&title=interactions&CFID=8149042&CFTOKEN=44437748
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Number of Cell Phone Customers: http://www.emcdatabase.com/website.nsf/index/pr020319http://inventors.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=
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http://www.pbs.org/internet/timeline/timeline%2Dtxt.html
http://www.ipsos-reid.com/us/services/syndicated/dsp_face.cfm
References (Cont.)
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http://www.acm.org/women/
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http://www.expage.com/page/genderissues3
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http://www.cpsr.org/program/gender/index.html
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http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/youth/jan-june99/gendergap_1-29.html
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http://www.iota.org/Winter00/gendergap.html
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http://www.ucalgary.ca/~northcot/380-2/lec12.html
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http://www.ucalgary.ca/%7Ekawwalsh/introduction.htm
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http://www.interweb-tech.com/nsmnet/docs/updated_numbers.htm
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http://www.anu.edu.au/people/Roger.Clarke/II/NetN3.html
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http://www.uclic.ucl.ac.uk/harold/srf/networked.pdf
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http://www.caul.edu.au/org/commsdoc.htm