Computer Science
Societal Impact
Societal impact refers to the effects that computer science and technology have on society, including social, economic, and cultural changes. It involves examining the positive and negative consequences of technological advancements and considering how they affect individuals, communities, and society as a whole. Understanding societal impact is crucial for responsible and ethical development and implementation of technology.
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5 Key excerpts on "Societal Impact"
eBook - PDF- Sheila Jasanoff, Gerald E Markle, James C Peterson, Trevor Pinch, Sheila Jasanoff, Gerald E. Markle, James C. Peterson, Trevor J. Pinch(Authors)
- 2001(Publication Date)
- SAGE Publications, Inc(Publisher)
12 0 From ‘Tmpact” to Social Process Computers in Society and Culture P A U L N . E D W A R D S A couple of years ago I received from a publisher, unsolicited, a copy of a new textbook on computers and social issues. It was a sleek large-format paperback with a beautifully designed computer graphic on the cover. In imposing black type, the title read: Computers and Society-IMPACT! The sensationalism of this title, with its billiard-ball imagery, nicely encapsulates what is probably the most common view of the relationship between information technology and the social world. Computers are argu- ably among the half dozen most important post-World War I1 technologies, an impressive list that might include television, jet aircraft, satellites, mis- siles, atomic weapons, and genetic engineering. The proliferation of cheap, powerful information processing and computerized control systems has unquestionably altered-and in some cases deeply transformed-the nature of warfare, communication, science, offices, factories, government, and certain cultural forms. This point hardly requires substantiation; reportage on the “information revolution” has become a virtual cottage industry.’ But the exact nature of these “impacts” of computing, as well as the details of how computers are supposed to produce them, remain in dispute. The utopiaddystopian character of much of the analysis in this area is aggravated by its generally ahistorical character. The basis for claims of “impacts” lies 257 258 CONSTRUCTING TECHNOLOGY more often in broad economic or cultural analysis than in the detailed ex- ploration of local effects characteristic of some of the best science studies literature (Dertouzos et al., 1991; Garson, 1988; Roszak, 1986; Weizenbaum, 1976). This chapter explores some of the significant social effects of digital com- puters and some of the social forces shaping their development.
- Gabor L. Hornyak, H.F. Tibbals, Joydeep Dutta, John J. Moore(Authors)
- 2008(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
Regardless of motive, this unprecedented commitment to assessing the Societal Impacts of new technology does illustrate the breadth and complex-ity of the issues. At the time of this writing, an infrastructure for interdisci-plinary collaboration is beginning to emerge. In reality, there is not much precedent for the idea that scientists and engineers should be working collab-oratively with the social sciences and humanities to proactively assess Societal Impacts and ethical implications. However, National Science Foundation grants have funded large centers at Harvard University, University of South Carolina, Arizona State University, and the University of California at Santa Barbara in an effort to encourage collaboration and coordination of ongoing NSF-funded research initiatives across the country. The overall approach rep-resents a fundamental change in the culture of science and technology, as well as its relationship to both policy making and public dialogue. As scien-tists and engineers, you will increasingly find yourselves collaborating with ethicists, social scientists, and others to address these larger implications of your work. 2.0.2 Breadth of Societal Implications As discussed in earlier sections, the range of societal implications is quite broad, reaching into many, if not all, areas of society ( Fig. 2.1 ). Berube attempts to define SEIN research as follows [7]: SEIN encapsulates research by toxicologists, ethicists, and futurists into a range of issues from environmental impacts, regulatory regimes, workplace and eco-nomic dislocations, bionanotechnology convergence, and transhumanism and posthumanism. It involves experts from philosophy, communication studies, law, and political science, as well as fiction studies and art. It also includes the less expert as well as the self-proclaimed technophiles, the social critic, and the crank.
eBook - PDFComputer-Mediated Communication Systems
Status and Evaluation
- Elaine B. Kerr, Starr Roxanne Hiltz, Peter R. Monge(Authors)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- Academic Press(Publisher)
b Fewer than 5. 156 4. Impacts of Computer-Mediated Communications the impacts which could be either negative or problematic produced disagreement among the panelists, whereas the positive impacts all appear within the two strong agreement cells. Those impacts in the bottom left cell, for which the data conflicted, represent the most pressing need for further research. Societal ImpactS A list of impacts at the societal level was also generated. However, since we only have the most projective kinds of evidence for these impacts, we did not attempt to collect data for this level. They are presented below, however, both for completeness and for the begin- nings of a list which will be capable of being documented sometime in the future. Cognitive Impacts on Society 1. The shift from time-binding (traditional, religious) to space- binding (political, pragmatic, instrumental) societies continues. 2. Ease of communication brings news from greater distances, awareness of more events, increased cultural diversity, and new conceptual universes, leading to more complex world views and more humane social systems. 3. Libraries transcend current computerized discussions and past discussions from books and history. 4. Access to information becomes a political issue; for example, computerized information retrieval systems raise the question of paying for library services. 5. The growth of the information sector leads to the reexamination of economic policies; for example, reindustrialization policy. 6. Illiteracy is reduced. 7. Automated language translation creates norms for correct spelling. 8. Information becomes more culturally valued. 9. There are impacts on privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity. 10. Issues such as copyright, subpoena of computer message tapes, and liability change. 11. Pressure for unbreakable codes increases. 12. Better information for decision makers is available. 13. New jokes, cartoons, stories, plays, novels, music, art, etc., abound.
eBook - PDF- Gabor L. Hornyak, Joydeep Dutta, H.F. Tibbals, Anil Rao(Authors)
- 2008(Publication Date)
- CRC Press(Publisher)
The overall approach rep-resents a fundamental change in the culture of science and technology, as well as its relationship to both policy making and public dialogue. As scien-tists and engineers, you will increasingly find yourselves collaborating with ethicists, social scientists, and others to address these larger implications of your work. 2.0.2 Breadth of Societal Implications As discussed in earlier sections, the range of societal implications is quite broad, reaching into many, if not all, areas of society ( Fig. 2.1 ). Berube attempts to define SEIN research as follows [7]: SEIN encapsulates research by toxicologists, ethicists, and futurists into a range of issues from environmental impacts, regulatory regimes, workplace and eco-nomic dislocations, bionanotechnology convergence, and transhumanism and posthumanism. It involves experts from philosophy, communication studies, law, and political science, as well as fiction studies and art. It also includes the less expert as well as the self-proclaimed technophiles, the social critic, and the crank. 64 Introduction to Nanoscience Due to the sheer range of issues, there is no easy way to categorize and describe societal implications. Many, if not all, industries are anticipated to experience significant change in response to discoveries and applications of nanoscience. However, to fully understand the true extent of societal implica-tions, one must also recognize connections branching into nearly every corner of the public sphere; general categories of Societal Impacts that have been raised as potential concerns range from safety and environmental impacts to workforce and global economic disruptions to controversial applications in medicine. Any approach to societal implications research is further complicated by the dynamic complexity inherent in any societal shift of the magnitude suggested by nanoscience and its related technological offspring.
eBook - PDFMaintaining Community in the Information Age
The Importance of Trust, Place and Situated Knowledge
- Karen F. Evans(Author)
- 2004(Publication Date)
- Palgrave Macmillan(Publisher)
The first suggests that the introduction of technology would have a direct effect on the individual user and their motivation to connect with others; and the second, that technology would have an effect on the collective or social world, and this would be more than the sum of the effect of technology on numerous individuals. It has been suggested, for example, that surfing on the Internet can be an isolating experience for the individual user (Kraut et al. 1998, Nie 2000) but as a collective experience may lead to greater community participation and civic involvement (Katz and Aspden 1997a,b, Cole 1999, Howard et al. 2001). Both these themes, of individual and collective transforma- tions, re-emerge in the debate as to whether ICT will radically alter our social environments, with the second theme being the more prominent. While the technology surrounding ICT can be seen as incorporating features which have the capacity to transform the individual user’s strengths and capabilities (for example, by widening their social networks and horizons), it is more often the social connectivity which these tech- nologies enable and the collective response to this increased connectivity which is seen as the main driver of societal change. There has been a huge amount of speculation as to whether and how ICT might help to transform social relationships, so much so that this has been probably one of the most debated subjects surrounding computer Social Impact of ICT 35 technologies in recent years. Prior to the advent of the telegraph, telephone and fax, the only way that technologies could aid the spread of ideas and culture was by moving those people and goods who would be the repository of ideas, around the globe, more rapidly and efficiently – and thus was ushered in the age of mass transportation.
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