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Social Context of ComputingChapter 7
Digital Divide
Technological inequalities
Impact of communication technologies
Radio
Television
Press
Post offices
Cell phones
Computers
Connectivity to internet
Society’s social, economical, political and cultural institutions
Digital Divide
Debatable Issues
Is there such a thing as a digital divide
What indicators measure it
How to close the divide
Five indicators of the digital divide.
Indicators of Digital Divide
Access
Technology
HumanWare
Infrastructure
Enabling Environment
Access
Geography – statistics tell the story
88% Internet users in 1-2 dozen wealthy countries
4% in developing world
40% of developed world
90% of worlds population in undeveloped countries
Within US
Urban vs suburb
Income
People with income > 75K
4 times more likely to have online and computer access
People earning < 15K
19% have computer access and 12.7% have online access
People earning < 25K
32% of population of US
9.7% online
Access
Ethnicity
In U.S. African Americans and Hispanics are ½ as likely to have Internet access
Age
Highest use 18-49 year olds
Lowest use for those <9 and > 50
Direct relationship between higher education and Internet usage
Technology Hardware
Quantity, quality, maintenance big challenges
Unreliable power supplies
Most hardware for underdevelopment countries comes from donations
Replacement parts hampered by cost
Software
Humanware limited for local development
Outsourcing very costly
Software generally donated and doesn’t meet needs
Humanware
Humanware (Human Capacity)
Providing equipment not always the answer
Need technical knowledge
Lack for trained workers for maintenance
Lack of teachers and institutions to train
Technology needs to meet and serve the local need
Issues
Creating awareness of potential of IT to meet needs
Creating, developing and strengthening capacity to use local inputs
Creating, developing and strengthening capacity to add local value
Provide knowledge and information sharing
Prevent local capacity from being drained
Infrastructures
Infrastructure related to access
Infrastructure not directly related
Electricity
Telephones
Good roads
Airports
Basic communication infrastructures
Enabling Environments
Politics
Good political environment ensures
A climate of democratic rights and civil liberties
Respect for the rule of law and security of property rights
Investment in human capacity
Low levels of government distortions
Public policy and management styles
Streamlined regulatory policies
Uniform enforcement of laws
Competitive policies for telecommunication and energy
Regulatory policies efficient , predictable and easily understood
Licensing bodies need to be efficient and staffed with professionals
ICT in the Workplace
Electronic Office
Mobility of the Modern Office
Virtual Office
Home Worker
Management Styles
Theory X
Autocratic
Control from top
Theory Y
More fait and empowerment in the hands of employees
Fear Management
Workplace Privacy and Surveillance
Those who see monitoring as good
Increase productivity
More accurate assessment of employee performance
Greater organizational control over employees
Immediate feedback on individual employee
More flexibility in work location
Those opposed
Invasion of employee privacy
No national right to privacy
Is Electronic Monitoring in Workplace OK?
Electronic Monitoring
Measure quality and usually the quality of work
Measures effectiveness of worker
Measures workers’ habits on and off the work premises
Effects of Electronic Monitoring
Effect measure of performance
Amount of useful feedback
Relationship between employees
Relationship between employees and managment
Consequences of Electronic Monitoring
Reduced task variety
Lack of individual initiatives
Reduced or no peer social support
Lack of self-esteem
Lack of interest in the job
Lack of trust
Alienation
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