Question 1
What is the “Digital Divide”?
Answer
Digital divide is a term used to describe inequalities between people, in terms of access to, use of, or knowledge of information and communication technologies (Wikipedia 2011). In other words, digital divide describes the discrepancy between groups having access to technology and those who do not have.
Question 2
How has work been transformed in the computer age?
Answer
Advent of computer age is both, a boon and a bane. It is a boon because it reduces a lot of human effort. It makes it easier to handle, store and retrieve data. It is a bane because it is easier to automate processes with the use of computers. With automation of processes, need for manpower reduces and leads to job losses. Also, it is difficult for older employees to learn new computer skills. With transformation from paper work to e-storage of data, computers become an inseparable part of an organisation. According to Lin and Popovic (2002), in the new computer age work has been adversely affected for old age men, better educated people like finance professionals and for salaried employees.
Question 3
What are some of the social problems associated with the automation and job displacement?
Answer
Automation and job displacement leads to bitterness and resistance among people who suffer from the advancement of technology. According to Schafer, productive power and purchasing power of a country needs to balance to bring about economic stability. Productive power of a country increases due to automation. However, purchasing power may not increase to that effect as a result of more and more job displacements due to automation and may result in economic slowdown. There are a lot of issues that an individual faces due to technological advancement or automation.
Lack of knowledge of the new technology renders the workers obsolete. He is either displaced or assigned some other work. In case of the former, it is difficult for an individual to find new employment given his specific experience to one industry and one type of machine. It is also very difficult for people above 40 to get another job. In case of the latter, a worker is demoted and allocated an unskilled work. In some cases, workers are forced for early retirement, to work with pay cuts or allotted heavy workloads. The social impacts of these issues are poverty, unemployment, lack of proper education, sanitation problems and lack of proper healthcare facilities.
Question 4
Who were the Luddites and what is meant by the expression “neo-Luddite”?
Answer
According to the PC Mag Encyclopaedia, the word Luddite comes from the name of an English man Ned Lud. Ned rose against his employers opposing adoption of some technological innovations. Following him, Luddites emerged in other companies as well. They were anti-technology. In some cases, they also destroyed the new machines. Neo-luddite is an internet age Luddite. According to Wikipedia (2012), a neo-luddite critically examines the effect of modern technology on communities.
Question 5
What are some social issues associated with expert systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Answer
Some social issues associated with artificial intelligence and expert systems are increase in unemployment rate, overdependence on technology and adverse behavioural changes in human beings. Behavioural changes anticipated in human beings are increased laziness and lethargy, both physically and mentally. According to British Broadcasting Corporation, intelligence and other potential talents of human beings might get lost when not applied for long.
Question 6
How do online-communities differ from traditional communities?
Answer
According to Davidson, the key difference between a traditional and an online community is its geographical boundary. A traditional community is bound by a closed geographical area, while an online community does not have any such geographical boundary. A group of people in a traditional community live in close proximity, where as a group of people in an online community are bound together by common interests.
Question 7
Describe some implications in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI)?
Answer
The positive implications of artificial intelligence are increase in productivity, accuracy and lower costs. It can also be used as a replacement of human beings in certain tasks which have life risks for human beings. Robots are an important part of the field of artificial intelligence and can reduce human efforts in the routine monotonous tasks.
The negative implications are job displacements, increased dependence on technology and lack of common sense in machines.
Question 8
What is nanotechnology what are the moral issues involved with this technology?
Answer
According to Centre for Responsible Nanotechnology, “nanotechnology is the engineering of functional systems at the molecular scale”. It will enable making products lighter and less expensive.
Some of the moral issues with use of nanotechnology are biological synthesis of human genes, its uncontrolled usage and selective access of the technology to the fortunate few.
References
British Broadcasting Corporation (n.d.). Computing Studies. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/bitesize/standard/computing/gp_packages/expert_systems_rev1.shtml
Centre for Responsible Nanotechnology (n.d.). What is Nanotechnology? Retrieved from http://crnano.org/whatis.htm
Davidson, Aaron (n.d.). Online Communities Vs Classical Communities. Retrieved from http://spaz.ca/aaron/school/online.html
Lin, Zhengxi and Andrija Popvic (2002). The Effects of Computer on Workplace Stress, Job Security and Work Interest in Canada. Retrieved from http://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/RH63-1-566-01-03E.pdf
Luddite. (n.d.). In Encyclopaedia PC Mag online. Retrieved from http://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia_term/0,2542,t=Luddite&i=46388,00.asp
Schafer, B.J. (n.d.). The Social Problems of Automation. Retrieved from http://origin-www.computer.org/plugins/dl/pdf/proceedings/afips/1958/5052/00/50520010.pdf?template=1&loginState=1&userData=anonymous-IP%253A%253AAddress%253A%2B122.178.225.68%252C%2B%255B140.98.196.191%252C%2B122.179.108.221%252C%2B122.178.225.68%252C%2B127.0.0.1%255D
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia (2011, November). FL: Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_divide
Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia (2012). FL: Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Luddism
