Lecture 1: Social Context of Computing Flashcards
Introduction
The advent of ?, ?, and ? has considerably expanded the invasion of computers and computer-related equipment from workplaces, homes, and schools, into planes, trains, and automobiles.
- Internet
- wireless communication
- mobile computer technology
Introduction
The widespread use of computers and computer technology in its present form has also resulted in a shift in computer usage.
Computer started as ?, now also embraced as ?.
utilitarian tool
social tool
Introduction
Playing this double role as ?, the computer has become an integral part of our social fabric.
utility and entertainment tool
Introduction
Two worlds have been created for humanity which augments our familiar environment and makes our daily activities easier and more enjoyable.
- the unreal world of entertainment
- a real computer technology-driven world
Introduction
Predictions regarding the influx of computer technology into the workplace, schools, and the home.
- it will enhance our intelligence
- it will improve our performance
Introduction
Ever since the beginning of the industrial age when technology started entering the workplace and homes, the aim has been to ? it and help make us wiser and more productive.
utilize
Digital Divide
The technological inequalities among people in one country and between countries, commonly known as the ?.
Digital Divide
Digital Divide
The digital divide debate has been raging,
centered on a number of key critical issues including ?, ?, and ?.
- whether there is such a thing as a digital divide
- indicators that should be used to measure such a divide if it exists
- best ways to close such a divide
Digital Divide
In its most basic definition, it is a discrepancy in access to information technology.
Digital Divide
Digital Divide
There are a multitude of causes and enablers, and as long as these exist in any society, the ? will exist.
Digital Divide
Digital Divide
Studies have pointed to ?, ?, and ? factors as influencing the digital divide.
social
economic
geographic
Digital Divide
Following are the enablers of the digital divide: ?, ?, ?, ?, and ?.
access
relevant technology
humanware (human capacity)
infrastructure
enabling environment
Digital Divide
The enablers fuel the following causes of the digital divide: ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, and ?.
geography
age
education
income
race
ethnicity
Digital Divide
? is a crucial component in the digital divide.
Access
Access
Such obstacles may include, but are not limited to, ?, ?, ?, and ?.
(examples only)
- costs involved in acquiring the technologies
- availability of free or low-cost facilities in the neighborhood
- ability to travel to places where there are low-cost access points
- having the capacity
needed to utilize the technologies.
Access
These obstacles can broadly be grouped into five categories: ?, ?, ?, ?, and ?.
geography
income
ethnicity
age
education
Digital Divide
There is a big digital divide between the rich, industrialized countries and the poor, less industrialized countries.
Geography
Geography
The ?, geographically are more deprived of the access to information although ? has improved this situation a lot in the last few years.
poor, developing countries
mobile technology
Geography
According to ?, the status of global digital inclusion needs a lot to be desired.
Notari
Digital Divide
According to recent studies, ? is the greatest predictor of Internet and other ICT technologies’ use.
household income
Income
The key findings featured in the report presented the three information communication technologies, namely ?, ?, and ?.
broadband at home
Internet use
mobile phones ownership
Digital Divide
One’s ? has a great influence on ICT access.
Ethnicity
Ethnicity
Although there has been no comprehensive study of global ICT access based on ethnicity and race, there have been limited but revealing national studies.
(true or false)
True
Age
There is a myth that ? use computers and the Internet far more than any other age group.
young people
Age
There is also conventional wisdom that ? do more surfing of the Internet than any other age group.
young people under age 18
Age
? reports that ? 18–29-year-olds own a cell phone.
Smith
9 in 10
Age
These ? are significantly more likely than those in other age groups to engage in all of the mobile data applications as follows:
(give examples)
young cell owners
- send or receive text messages
- use phone to take pictures
- send photos or videos to others
- access the Internet on their mobile device
- play music on their phones
Age
There is growing evidence that this love for ? is also growing fast among the 30–49-year-olds.
mobile devices
Education
Reports showed that the ? one achieves, the more likely one is to use computer and therefore, the Internet.
higher education
Education
When we talk about ?, people’s understanding has shifted from using computers, cell phones and Internet access to having an Internet-able mobile device.
Digital Inclusion
Education
In the last 12 years, digital inclusion still fervors ?.
high education
Digital Divide
The computer-driven technological revolution has brought the countries of the world closer together.
Technology
Digital Divide
In their study of the digital divide, Rodriquez and Wilson observed that all developing countries, including the poorest, are improving their access to the use of ICT.
Technology
Technology
The acquisition of technological skills and therefore the development of a good technological base depend a great deal on relevant inputs that include ?, ?, and ?.
investment capital
infrastructure
humanware (human capacity)
Technology
The capital investment in technology is usually in the form of ? and ?.
hardware
software
Technology
As noted by Rodriguez and Wilson, the quantity, quality, and maintenance of these technologies are still a big problem.
Hardware
Technology
There is a serious regression in hardware acquisition and maintenance.
Hardware
Technology
Computer components, for example, are being acquired, but they are being disposed of at probably the same rate as they are acquired.
Hardware
Technology
ICT parts are very expensive in a number of developing countries because either governments levy high tariffs on imports to raise local revenue or they impose luxury taxes because they are classified as luxury items.
Hardware
Technology
ICT products are also expensive because most outlet owners are not indigenous people; they are foreign investors who usually raise prices to cover their local and infrastructure expenses plus profits.
Hardware
Technology
Along with the problems presented by hardware are the problems of ?.
Software
Technology
For ICT equipment to be helpful, it must have a good and relevant ?.
Software
Technology
In many developing countries, there is very limited humanware to have ? locally produced. In addition, they do not have enough money to source the ?.
(same answer)
Software
Technology
Most ICT ? in developing countries comes with the bulk of the donated ICT equipment. But more often than not, the ? shipped on donated company computers rarely meets the needs of the recipients.
(same answer)
Software
Digital Divide
The availability and easy access to ICT, as Rodriguez and Wilson pointed out, are only a partial solution to a complex problem.
Humanware (Human Capacity)
Digital Divide
This is likely to remain the case until there is a corresponding degree of technical capacity and knowledge acquired by the people intended to use the technologies so that they can maintain the equipment and derive value-laden outputs.
Humanware (Human Capacity)
Digital Divide
The first problem is the lack of ? in developing countries to maintain the equipment. There is a shortage of teachers, technicians, and institutes to train them.
Humanware
Digital Divide
The next challenge is to ensure that people can gainfully use ICT to add value to local inputs.
Humanware (Human Capacity)
Humanware (Human Capacity)
Human capacity development is complex usually consisting of many parts including: ?, ?, ?, ?, and ?.
(examples only)
- Creating awareness of the potential for ICT to meet one’s needs
- Creating, developing, and strengthening capacity to use information and ICT effectively, using local inputs
- Building capacity to produce and package information so that it adds value to local inputs
- Ensuring ongoing technical capacity development and developing a format for knowledge and information sharing
- Preventing the local capacity from being drained to other, usually developed countries.
Humanware (Human Capacity)
The challenge, therefore, in tackling ? is to deal with each of these issues so that the locals using ICT may find meaningful answers to their local problems.
Human Capacity Development
Digital Divide
For us, ? will mean fixed communication structures.
Infrastucture
Infastructure
In those countries with good ? like electricity, telephones, good roads, and airports.
fixed communication structures