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Topic 3 V1 Social Context of Computing 1
Topic 3 V1 Social Context of Computing 1
Topic 3
Social Context of
Computing
Instructional Objectives
Interpret the social context of a particular information technology
implementation.
Evaluate a particular implementation through the use of empirical data.
Describe positive and negative ways in which information technology
alters the modes of interaction between people.
Explain why computing and networking access is restricted in some
countries.
Explain the concept of “digital divide”, identify some causes and discuss
possible solutions.
Identify underlying gender, cultural and diversity related issues in
information technology.
Identify how information technology changes and affects culture as a
whole.
Identify how the internet has changed the face of computing and how it
has affected society.
© 2015, University of Colombo School of
Computing
Social Informatics
• Gross domestic product (GDP)
– Measurement of the material standard of living
– Equals total annual output of a nation’s economy
• Productivity
– Amount of output produced per unit of input
– Measured in many different ways
• Innovation
– Key factor in productivity improvement
– IT has an important role
Ref: http://inform.nu/Articles/Vol3/v3n2p89-96r.pdf
© 2015, University of Colombo School of
Computing
IT Investment and Productivity
• Relationship between IT investment and productivity
growth is complex
– Rate of productivity from 1995 to 2005 is only slightly
higher than the long-term U.S. rate
– Possible lag time between:
• Application of innovative IT solutions
• Capture of significant productivity gains
• Telework/Telecommuting
– Employee works away from the office
– Advances in technology enable communications
– Highly skilled workers demand more flexibility
– Laws passed to encourage telework
– Organizations must prepare guidelines and
policies
– Some positions are not suited to telework
– Some individuals are not suited to be teleworkers
– Viral marketing
• Users pass along marketing message to others, creating the
potential for exponential growth
© 2015, University of Colombo School of
Computing
The Use of Social Networks in the Hiring
Process
• 89% of recruiters use some form of social media in the
recruiting process
• Cyberbullying
– Harassment, torment, humiliation, or threatening of
one minor by another minor or group of minors via
the Internet or cell phone
– Cyberbullying can become so intense, child commits
suicide
© 2015, University of Colombo School of
Computing
© 2015, University of Colombo School of
Computing
Social Networking Ethical Issues (cont’d.)
• Cyberstalking
– Threatening behavior or unwanted advances using the
Internet or online and electronic communications
– Adult version of cyberbullying
– Can escalate into:
• Abusive or excessive phone calls
• Threatening or obscene mail
• Trespassing
• Vandalism
• Physical stalking
• Physical assault
• Cyberstalking (cont’d.)
– Over three dozen states have laws prohibiting
cyberstalking
– Current federal statues address some forms of
cyberstalking, but there are large gaps in federal
and state law