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Impact of technology on social groups in
society
Past, current and emerging technologies have been important for many groups in our society,
particularly the disadvantaged and minority cultural groups. Most changes in the last 50 years or so
have been positive for these groups. They have allowed them access and equal rights to enjoy the
benefits that information and software technology provide – the social, medical, educational,
recreational and financial benefits available.
Research the technological changes that have occurred during this time span. To begin with, lets
define the following terms:
Past technologies are:
Current technologies are:
Emerging technologies:
are those that are just starting to be used today to assist disadvantaged
and minority cultural/social groups.
What is the digital divide? Explain the term in ten lines.
Now fill in the table below after reading and completing the activity above.
Social group
Visually impaired
Research Assignment 2
Past technologies
Current technologies
Emerging technologies
 Speech support
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Physically impaired
Isolated students
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 Concept keyboard
 Specialised devices
such as helmet wands
 Radio School of the
Air
Indigenous people in
remote areas
 Internet
 Web-cam
Aboriginal & Torres
Strait Islanders living
in cities
 Email
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Finding the information for the task above:
1. Read pages 302-303 of your Ware text.
2. Below are the readings to help you answer part A of the research assignment.
Social issues
Powers pg 115-119
The effect of information technology on the nature of work and the equality of access to information
technology are important social issues.
Nature of work
The introduction of information technology has created significant changes in the workplace. There are
increases in part-time work and the use of contracted labour. Employees are required to be multiskilled and
undertake ongoing training. It is also likely that people will change jobs many times throughout their careers,
which was not common practice twenty years ago. Technology is a major factor to changes in career paths. In
the next ten years new jobs will be created and existing jobs changed to reflect developments in technology.
Information technology has led to economic progress, new job opportunities and a more prosperous society.
Employment opportunities have been created for workers with the right skills. Most people who use
information technology do not find it stressful and enjoy the interaction. However, new developments have
cost many workers their jobs and had a negative impact on their work.
Surveillance of employees at work is a concern. Employers can monitor their staff using a video camera. They
can also use software that provides information on the number of key strokes a minute, the length of rest
breaks, what files were opened and read employees’ email messages. Research has found that workers who are
monitored suffer much higher degrees of stress and anxiety than unmonitored workers. Do employees have the
right to privacy in the workplace? Is it only a matter of time before surveillance in the workplace is extended
to the streets in which you live? Will the concerns of ‘Big Brother’ presented by George Orwell in his novel
1984 become a reality? Is a computer-controlled society going to end our personal freedom?
Telecommuting allows people to work from home instead of the office. They work on a personal computer at
home and use email to communicate with people in the office. Telecommuting provides participants with
flexible hours and savings on transport, clothing, food and time. Telecommuting benefits people who are
physically impaired or those who are required to look after small children. However, there are problems with
telecommuting. First, there is a need for a separate work area to minimise interruptions from family and
friends. Second, telecommuters can experience loneliness, isolation and a lack of support.
A videoconference is a meeting that allows people in different locations to see video images of each other on a
screen. The least expensive form of videoconferencing is a tiny camera and a 10 centimetre window displayed
on a computer screen. In a typical business videoconference people appear on a larger screen. This may
require special communication arrangements because of the high bandwidth of video.
Equity, access and control
Wealth is a factor that influences a person’s access to information
technology. People with high incomes are more likely to have the
latest technology and a greater access to the Internet. Some people
argue that information technology is widening the gap between the
rich and the poor. The rich are getting richer because they are
information rich. The gap between the information rich and the
information poor is a concern. Does this information gap exist
between developed and developing countries? On the other hand, it
can be argued that information technology is reducing the information
gap between the rich and the poor. The Internet brings information to
people all over the world. People in remote places are able to access
the latest information and improve their skills using the Internet.
Information technology is able to provide people with a higher level
of education and improve their standard of living. It is argued by
some people that women are not taking advantage of information technology in the same numbers as men. The
highest paid jobs in the information technology industry are dominated by men. There is an image in society
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that information technology is ‘technical’ and therefore an area more suited to men than women. This image is
reinforced by advertising in the media that has traditionally targeted men to the exclusion of women.
Conversely, it can be argued that the percentage of men and women working in information technology is
roughly the same as any other industry. The fact that woman are employed in the lowest paid work, such as
data entry operators, has nothing to do with information technology. Gender equity is an issue throughout
society. For instance, the number of male doctors is much greater than the number of female doctors.
Furthermore, there are many examples of women playing leadership roles in information technology (see
Figure 5.6 above).
People with disabilities have the right to access and use information technology. They should not be
discriminated against because of their disability. Organisations must try to ensure advances in information
technology do not disadvantage disabled people. Software companies such as Microsoft have included special
features to provide support to assist people who are disabled (see Figure 5.7).
It is important that websites are developed which are accessible by disabled people. This may involve
alternatives to text for the sight-impaired person or alternatives for audio information to cater for the hearingimpaired person. Alternate input devices are available for those with physical disabilities. Information
technology has long been used to give people with disabilities an opportunity to more fully participate in
society. Australia is a multicultural society that requires access to high quality and culturally relevant material.
People from other cultures should not be excluded from the benefits of information technology. Aboriginal
and indigenous people have been discriminated against in the past. We need to ensure that Aboriginal people
have access to information technology in the same way as other Australians. People from non-English
speaking backgrounds need special assistance to ensure that they can use technology effectively.
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Equity, access and control
Equity and access refer to the belief that all
people should have equal rights and all people
should enjoy the benefits (for example, medical,
educational, recreational and financial) that
information and software technology offers.
Control refers to the power to make decisions
about who does and does not gain access to
information and software technology. Usually,
large multinational companies and governments
make these decisions. Unfortunately, not all
people benefit from information and software
technology. Quite often, those on lower incomes
are unable to purchase technology or learn how
to use it. Others have difficulty gaining access
due to a disability or because they live in an
isolated community. Recent studies have found
that racial minorities and women had made few
inroads into high-tech employment. Access and
participation can be difficult for some groups
who, for one reason or another, are excluded
from the information society, or perceive that
they are. For example, the elderly, Indigenous
people, women, and people with disabilities are
sometimes reluctant to become involved in
information and software technology and lack
confidence. They can find technology
threatening and inaccessible, and frequently lack
the resources to foresee the benefits that will
accrue from using it.
The nature of our society
What will society be like as we rely more and
more on robots and intelligent agents rather than
interacting with real people? Medical expert
systems can be used to eliminate tiresome and
repetitive questioning, but may also eliminate a
lot of what makes our lives worthwhile. Many
doctors pride themselves on the quality of their
relationships with their patients. Their
consultations are more than just finding the
medical problem in as short a time as possible.
We can see this trend at work already in the
and political effects.
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pg 80-81 Grover text
experience of supermarket shopping. In earlier
times, local shoppers had a relationship with the
owner of the corner grocery shop, butcher or
chemist. This person knew us and our family,
and their personal relationships with so many
local people acted as a bond between members of
that community. It added to the quality of life.
As larger malls gradually eliminated many of
these smaller businesses, the experience of
shopping became cheaper in more ways than just
price! Shopping has become more impersonal—
even lonely—but at least we are still able to talk
with the checkout assistant. Proposed
technological changes in the supermarket,
however, may eliminate even this personal
contact! It is likely that customers will be asked to
swipe their own goods and an automatic weight
check will check if every item has been swiped.
We will then be able to shop without
speaking to anyone at all. Further, if we also do
not wish to travel, we can order our shopping
on-line from home via the web and pay by
automatic credit card deduction.
Human beings need social interaction. What
will we become if there is less of it? Unlike 100
years ago, our new communities are not
geographic (made up of local streets, shops and
schools)—they are digital communities stored in
our mobiles, our e-mail lists and chat rooms.
Advances in technology have brought
revolutionary changes, but have usually involved
pain on the part of at least some sections of
society. The industrial revolution created a
poorer working class and appalling living
conditions for many. The computer revolution
has already had a huge impact on the nature of
our work and leisure. What will be our
conclusions in 100 years’ time on the overall
social effects of our current computer revolution?
Understanding digital media brings with it a
responsibility to respond to its potential social
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