Impact of Computerson Society

1. Unwrapping the Gift

Prometheus What do the title of our textbook and the

graphic on the cover have to do with anything?

Who is Prometheus, and what did he do?

What is the “gift”? What is a computer? Mechanical calculating device Mainframe Minicomputer PC/microcomputer Computerized device Embedded microprocessor Wearable computer A notepad Implanted device Network

Looking into the Future…

Popular Mechanics, 1954

Are you sure? Actually, the “computer” is a mockup of a submarine control

panel! (Thanks to Steve Delaney for his detective work.)

We don’t know exactly what future computers and computerized devices will look like, but they are most likely to be smaller than today’s machines, not larger. IBM Looks to DNA to Shrink Chip Size (c|net)

Nanocomputers are not just science fiction… Nanometer sized wires exist, defy quantum predictions…

Quantum Computers are on the horizon…

What happens when you computerize something? Example:

The Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Issues:

Unemployment Alienation and customer service

Mrs. Blizzard

Crime Loss of privacy Errors

Another Example Example:

The Credit Card Issues:

Unemployment Alienation and customer service

Cline’s Furniture Store

Crime Loss of privacy Errors

A Hybrid The Debit Card

Instant, like an ATM Produces a monthly statement detailing where

and how you used the card. Immediate deduction from your account.

A Different World Can you imagine a world in which there are…

no personal computers? no cellular phones, no “smart” phones? no iPods, iPads or iPhones? no digital cameras? no hi-def anything? no ATM’s? no microwave ovens? no electronic wristwatches? no remote controls?

…to mention a few… This is the world I grew up in A lot of things have changed, and even though my beard is gray, it hasn’t taken

very long for them to change.

The Rapid Pace of Change A non-computer friend sent me this one… Technology.wvx

The Limits It would appear that we have reached the

limits of what it is possible to achieve with computer technology, although one should be careful with such statements, as they tend to sound pretty silly in 5 years.

—John Von Neumann (ca. 1949)

Oops! Your crystal ball is cracked. Four or five computers should be enough for the

entire world until the year 2,000. Howard Aiken (mid 1940’s)

Mobile wireless computers are like mobile pipeless bathrooms-portapotties. They will be common on vehicles, and at construction sites, and rock concerts. My advice is to wire up your home and stay there 

Bob Metcalfe (Inventor of the Ethernet, 1995)

What has changed in your life? Stop and think for a moment about the

conveniences in your life that you did not enjoy when you were a grade-schooler.

For example…?

Today we are highly interconnected Email (and spam) Cellular phones (including text messaging) Social networking web sites such as…

Bulletin boards News groups Facebook Craigslist MySpace Linked-in Twitter

We have a flood of information Google Wikipedia

E-commerce Telecommuting

But are we really engaged? Ben Stein thinks not:

Connected, yes, but hermetically sealed Dr. Xinlian Liu’s photos of the bridge collapse in

Minneapolis in 2,007. In shock… What to do? Reporter? Taking pictures? Talking to friends? Media Coverage…

Photos courtesy of Dr. Xinlian Liu, Hood College

Being “Present” Often we are not “present” with those whom

we are near. Our attention is drawn “elsewhere.”

A guest at Christmas Dinner repeatedly left the table to IM his significant other.

I offer only an observation about this, not an answer…

Themes On your own review the major themes of the

book on pp. 23 - 25: Old problems in new contexts Adapting to new technology Varied sources of solutions to problems Global reach of the Net Trade-offs and controversy Differences between personal choices, business

policies, and law