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