A GIFT OF FIRE THI RD EDI TI ON

SARA BAASE

Chapter 7
Evaluating and Controlling Technology Lecture 17&18

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WHAT WE WILL COVER

Information, Knowledge, and Judgment

Computers and Community

The ‘Digital Divide’

Evaluations of the Impact of Computer Technology

Making Decisions About Technology

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INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE,
AND JUDGMENT

A little learning is a dangerous thing.

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INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE, AND
JUDGMENT
Evaluating Information on the Web:
Expert information or ‘wisdom of the crowd’?
 Daunting amount of information on the web, much of
this information is not correct
 Search engines are replacing librarians, but Web sites
are ranked by popularity, not by expert evaluation
 Wisdom of the crowd - ratings by public of website

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INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE, AND
JUDGMENT (CONT.)
Evaluating Information on the Web (cont.):
Wikipedia:
Written by volunteers, some posts are biased
and not accurate
Although anyone can write, most people do not
Those that do typically are educated and experts

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INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE, AND
JUDGMENT (CONT.)
Evaluating Information on the Web (cont.):
Wisdom of the crowd
 Problems of unreliable information are not new
 The Web magnifies the problems
 Rating systems are easy to manipulate

Vulnerable viewers
 Less educated individuals
 Children

Responsibilities of site operators

 Should identify user-supplied content
 Make clear which information has been verified
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INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE, AND
JUDGMENT (CONT.)
Evaluating Information on the Web (cont.):
Manipulation of images:
 Movies and videos use special effects to add creativity and
enjoyment of entertainment
 People can use technology for deception and fraud
 Ease with which we can modify digital images and video

Should news agencies modify images and videos?

Faking photos is not a new phenomenon; more people
can do it now because it’s easy

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INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE, AND
JUDGMENT (CONT.)
Writing, Thinking and Deciding:
New tools have displaced skills that were once important
Abdicating responsibility
 People willing to let computers do their thinking
 Reliance on computer systems over human judgment may
become traditional
 Fear of having to defend your own judgment if something
goes wrong

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INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE, AND
JUDGMENT (CONT.)
Computer Models:
The word “model” here is similar to its meaning
in “model airplane”.
Models are simplifications.
Model airplanes generally do not have an
engine, and the wing flaps might not move.
Physical models are usually not the same size as
the real thing

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INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE, AND
JUDGMENT (CONT.)
The following questions help us determine the
accuracy and usefulness of a model.
How well do the modelers understand the underlying
science or theory?
Models necessarily involve assumptions and
simplifications of reality. What are the assumptions and
simplifications in the model?
How closely do the results or predictions correspond
with the results from physical experiments or real
experience?
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 INFORMATION,
KNOWLEDGE, AND
JUDGMENT (CONT.)
Computer Models (cont.):

Why models may not be accurate

 We might not have complete knowledge of the system we are modeling

 The data describing current conditions or characteristics may be

incomplete or inaccurate
 Computing power may be inadequate for the complexity of the model

 It is difficult, if not impossible, to numerically quantify variables that

represent human values and choices
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INFORMATION, KNOWLEDGE,
AND JUDGMENT
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
How do you evaluate the reliability of information
you find on the Web? How do your evaluation
methods compare to the way you evaluate
information from other sources?
Some computer models are better than others.
What types of models work well? What types don't?
Why?

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COMPUTERS AND
COMMUNITY
It is human nature to form associations based on
common interests
Some feared early technologies, such as telephones,
thinking communication would be de-humanized
Computers and the Internet were blamed for the
decline in community involvement and memberships
in clubs and organizations
The Internet provides communities focused on
specialized interests or problems

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COMPUTERS AND
COMMUNITY (CONT.)
The Internet brings people together from all
over the world
E-mail and the Internet provide convenient and
cheap ways for families and friends to stay in
contact
New trends include social-networking sites such
as MySpace, facebook, twiter and virtual
environments such as Second Life

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COMPUTERS AND
COMMUNITY DISCUSSION
QUESTIONS
Do you think that communicating by text
messaging and via social-networking sites
depersonalizes or dehumanizes your relationships
with friends?

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 THE "DIGITAL DIVIDE"
Trends in Computer Access:
New technologies only available to the wealthy
Cost is not the only factor; ease of use plays a role
Entrepreneurs provide low cost options for people who cannot
otherwise afford something
Government funds technology in schools
As technology becomes more prevalent, the issues shift from
the haves and have-nots to level of service

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THE "DIGITAL DIVIDE"
(CONT.)
The Global Divide and the Next Billion Users:
Approximately one billion people worldwide have access
to the Web; approximately five billion do not
Non-profit organizations and huge computer companies
are spreading computer access to people in developing
countries
Bringing new technology to poor countries is not just a
matter of money to buy equipment; PCs and laptops must
work in extreme environments
Some people actively working to shrink the digital divide
emphasize the need to provide access in ways appropriate
to the local culture
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EVALUATIONS OF THE
IMPACT OF COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY
Computers, Technology, and Human Needs:
Computers cause massive unemployment
No real need (We use technologies because they are
there, not because they satisfy real needs)
Computers cause social inequality
Benefit big business and the government
Do little or nothing to solve real problems
Computers separate humans from nature and destroy the
environment

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EVALUATIONS OF THE
IMPACT OF COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY (CONT.)
Accomplishments of Technology:
Prices of food are down and raw materials are
abundant
Real buying power is up
Food supplies and GDP (gross domestic product)
are growing faster than the population
Dramatic impact on life expectancy

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MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY (CONT.)
The Difficulty of Prediction:
Each new technology finds new and unexpected uses
The history of technology is full of wildly wrong
predictions
 Mistaken expectations of costs and benefits
 Should we decline a technology because of potential
abuse and ignore the benefits?
 New technologies are often expensive, but costs drop as
the technology advances and the demand increases
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MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT
TECHNOLOGY
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
If you could decide what technologies should be
developed, what would you develop? Why?

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