Social InformaticsSocial Informatics

Social Impacts Social Impacts

of Technological Advances of Technological Advances

social informatics defined:social informatics defined:

””The body of research and study The body of research and study that examines social aspects of that examines social aspects of information and communication information and communication technologies, particularly technologies, particularly computerization.”computerization.”

– [Kling, Rosenbaum & Hert, 1998][Kling, Rosenbaum & Hert, 1998]

social informatics is a multidisciplinary social informatics is a multidisciplinary field of study, crossing the disciplines of field of study, crossing the disciplines of sociology, library and information sociology, library and information science, education, human factors, science, education, human factors, computer science, economics, usability, computer science, economics, usability, information systems, and information systems, and communicationscommunications

other terms for social informaticsother terms for social informatics

social impacts of computingsocial impacts of computing social analysis of computingsocial analysis of computing studies of computer-mediated studies of computer-mediated

communication [CMC]communication [CMC] information policyinformation policy computers and societycomputers and society organizational informaticsorganizational informatics

social informatics acknowledges that social informatics acknowledges that the relationship between the relationship between technology and people istechnology and people is

RECIPROCALRECIPROCAL

What does this mean?What does this mean?

design of computers needs to reflect the design of computers needs to reflect the functionalities people value functionalities people value

ANDAND

the ways people communicate are altered the ways people communicate are altered by technological advances such as the by technological advances such as the InternetInternet

History of Social InformaticsHistory of Social Informatics

concern over the relationship between concern over the relationship between society and technology is not newsociety and technology is not new

invention of printing in the 15th century invention of printing in the 15th century redefined society and reshaped redefined society and reshaped Western cultureWestern culture

– Provenzo, 1986Provenzo, 1986

the label “social informatics” emerged the label “social informatics” emerged from a 1996 workshop at UCLA on the from a 1996 workshop at UCLA on the social aspects of digital librariessocial aspects of digital libraries

the label was developed in order to the label was developed in order to characterize the interests and serve as characterize the interests and serve as a banner for the research efforts of this a banner for the research efforts of this field field

1997 National Science Foundation 1997 National Science Foundation workshop: Advances in Organizational workshop: Advances in Organizational and Social Informaticsand Social Informatics

term was further refined to cover “the term was further refined to cover “the interdisciplinary study of the design, interdisciplinary study of the design, uses and consequences of information uses and consequences of information and communication technologies that and communication technologies that takes into account their interaction with takes into account their interaction with institutional and cultural contexts”institutional and cultural contexts”

– NSF, 1997NSF, 1997

Viewpoints within and about Viewpoints within and about Social Informatics IssuesSocial Informatics Issues

the computerization of society is the computerization of society is generally destructive, insidious and de-generally destructive, insidious and de-humanizinghumanizing

– Postman, 1993Postman, 1993

computerization is leading to a computerization is leading to a transformation of a new civilizationtransformation of a new civilization

– Hillis, 1998Hillis, 1998

interactive computer-mediated interactive computer-mediated environments lead to a destructive environments lead to a destructive fragmentation of the selffragmentation of the self

– Turkle, 1995Turkle, 1995

computerization of society leads to computerization of society leads to social fragmentation between the social fragmentation between the information haves and the information information haves and the information have-notshave-nots

– Johnson, 1997Johnson, 1997

computerization actually reduces computerization actually reduces productivity in the workplaceproductivity in the workplace

– Foust, 1995Foust, 1995

technological advances create technological advances create problems but we need to study the problems but we need to study the negative effects of computing so those negative effects of computing so those effects can be reduced..technology is effects can be reduced..technology is not an immutable force outside of not an immutable force outside of human control human control

– Baase, 1997Baase, 1997

occupations and occupational roles occupations and occupational roles must change with the technological must change with the technological advances, but this also causes a advances, but this also causes a displacement in the society of workers displacement in the society of workers who can keep up and those who can who can keep up and those who can notnot

– Bradley, 1993Bradley, 1993

social informatics matters--it has important social informatics matters--it has important repercussions for public policy, professional repercussions for public policy, professional practice, and the education of information practice, and the education of information technology professionals technology professionals

it is important to understand the design, use, it is important to understand the design, use, configuration, and /or consequences of configuration, and /or consequences of information and communication technologies information and communication technologies so that they are actually workable for peopleso that they are actually workable for people

– Kling, 1999Kling, 1999

Summary and Implications of Summary and Implications of these Varying Viewpointsthese Varying Viewpoints

social informatics provides a starting social informatics provides a starting point for discussion and debate about the point for discussion and debate about the shaping of social structure by technologyshaping of social structure by technology

there is no unifying viewpoint in this fieldthere is no unifying viewpoint in this field researchers often seek to control the researchers often seek to control the

overwhelming number of factors in social overwhelming number of factors in social informatics by concentrating on only one informatics by concentrating on only one aspect of studyaspect of study

multiple agendas can be problematic multiple agendas can be problematic and confusing for those concerned with and confusing for those concerned with the social aspects of technological the social aspects of technological advanceadvance

how can this research inform practice how can this research inform practice for the manager?for the manager?

Why should the Manager be Why should the Manager be Conversant in Social Informatics?Conversant in Social Informatics?

As managers we must manage and As managers we must manage and interact with information, the interact with information, the technology that provides access to technology that provides access to that information and the people that information and the people who must use that information who must use that information productivelyproductively

A Key Problem for Social A Key Problem for Social InformaticsInformatics

studies are scattered among different fields studies are scattered among different fields and numerous journals and numerous journals

each of those fields has its own research each of those fields has its own research domain, culture, preferred research domain, culture, preferred research methodologies, language and nature of methodologies, language and nature of forming research questionsforming research questions

this can make it hard to conduct research this can make it hard to conduct research and/or locate studiesand/or locate studies

The Flip Side of this Problem The Flip Side of this Problem is…is…

the multiplicity of agendas can the multiplicity of agendas can contribute to a synergy of contribute to a synergy of interdisciplinary conversations that interdisciplinary conversations that motivate researchmotivate research

Key Social Informatics Concepts Key Social Informatics Concepts

technological accesstechnological access: physical : physical availability of suitable equipment for a availability of suitable equipment for a given activitygiven activity

social accesssocial access: a mixture of technical : a mixture of technical skills and resources that allows the skills and resources that allows the individual to use technologies in ways individual to use technologies in ways that enhance professional practices and that enhance professional practices and social lifesocial life

socio-technical systemssocio-technical systems: “computerized : “computerized information systems as social technical information systems as social technical systems”systems”

design of socio-technical systems design of socio-technical systems requires learning about the preferences requires learning about the preferences of the men and women who will use the of the men and women who will use the system [system [reciprocityreciprocity]]

A socio-technical system is an A socio-technical system is an interdependent system made of:interdependent system made of:

people in various roles and relationships people in various roles and relationships with each other and with other system with each other and with other system elementselements

hardwarehardware softwaresoftware techniquestechniques support resourcessupport resources information structuresinformation structures

Social Informatics Research Social Informatics Research

the “productivity paradox”the “productivity paradox” work processeswork processes electronic journalselectronic journals Internet useInternet use public access to informationpublic access to information technological infrastructuretechnological infrastructure

The “Productivity Paradox”The “Productivity Paradox”

issue: does technology make people issue: does technology make people more productive or does technology more productive or does technology create barriers to productivity for create barriers to productivity for workers?workers?

social informatics research on the social informatics research on the “productivity paradox” is inconclusive at this “productivity paradox” is inconclusive at this pointpoint

many researchers have concluded that many researchers have concluded that technology actually decreases work technology actually decreases work productivityproductivity

other researchers call for further studyother researchers call for further study as a result, this presentation does not as a result, this presentation does not

concentrate on this issueconcentrate on this issue

Work ProcessesWork Processes

how have work processes changed as how have work processes changed as technology has advanced? technology has advanced?

example: the prediction that computers example: the prediction that computers and monitor screens will eliminate the and monitor screens will eliminate the need for paper in the officeneed for paper in the office

1980s vision of a “paperless office” is in 1980s vision of a “paperless office” is in stark contrast to rising sales of laser stark contrast to rising sales of laser printers in the 90sprinters in the 90s

problem of limited screen space [even problem of limited screen space [even 17” displays] not compatible with 17” displays] not compatible with complex activities of workers, for complex activities of workers, for example, working with multiple example, working with multiple documentsdocuments

paper is more versatile and simpler to paper is more versatile and simpler to useuse

documents can be viewed side-by-sidedocuments can be viewed side-by-side paper is extremely portablepaper is extremely portable

Social informatics research on Social informatics research on work processes asks work processes asks

how can workability and design of how can workability and design of systems and information services for systems and information services for various workers and settings be various workers and settings be improved?improved?

given the interrelated and complex given the interrelated and complex elements of a socio-technical system, elements of a socio-technical system, how much weight does each element how much weight does each element carry into the final design?carry into the final design?

Electronic JournalsElectronic Journals

has communication via literature has communication via literature changed as technology has advanced?changed as technology has advanced?

example: the technological capability to example: the technological capability to transmit information via ejournals is transmit information via ejournals is predicted to reduce the use of paper predicted to reduce the use of paper journalsjournals

““From a technological information From a technological information processing perspective, new media such processing perspective, new media such as electronic journals, databases, preprint as electronic journals, databases, preprint servers--are said to reduce the costs of servers--are said to reduce the costs of communication, expand the range of communication, expand the range of people and locations from which people and locations from which materials are accessible, and generally materials are accessible, and generally speed communications.”speed communications.”

– Kling, 1999Kling, 1999

Social informatics research on e-Social informatics research on e-journals asksjournals asks

why would someone read electronic why would someone read electronic journal “A” rather than journal “B”?journal “A” rather than journal “B”?

how can value be added to an how can value be added to an electronic journal?electronic journal?

how does communication between the how does communication between the journal and its readers change [if it journal and its readers change [if it does] with the e-journal format?does] with the e-journal format?

Internet UseInternet Use

social informatics frames Internet use social informatics frames Internet use as a socio-technical environmentas a socio-technical environment

Internet use is closely related to public Internet use is closely related to public access to information and issues of access to information and issues of technological infrastructuretechnological infrastructure

Internet use in the US is still pretty Internet use in the US is still pretty uncommon in comparison to other uncommon in comparison to other home-based technologies, such as home-based technologies, such as video games or television video games or television

comparison with other countries, comparison with other countries, especially Third World countries, shows especially Third World countries, shows that access to the Internet is far from that access to the Internet is far from universal universal

universal access depends on the net universal access depends on the net providing value in the form of providing value in the form of information access, commerce, information access, commerce, entertainment, and communications entertainment, and communications

one of the more significant barriers to one of the more significant barriers to achieving access is lack of training and achieving access is lack of training and inability to diagnose problems once inability to diagnose problems once people were given access-which leads people were given access-which leads to "dropping out" of the net to "dropping out" of the net

– Johnson, 1997Johnson, 1997

Social informatics research on Social informatics research on Internet use asksInternet use asks

how does Internet use fit into the how does Internet use fit into the workplace culture, rules, work practices, workplace culture, rules, work practices, communication?communication?

how do groups use the Internet and how how do groups use the Internet and how can we incorporate their needs into the can we incorporate their needs into the design of these systems?design of these systems?

when will the Web enable the public to when will the Web enable the public to locate 'better information'? under what locate 'better information'? under what conditions? who will do this? conditions? who will do this?

Public Access to InformationPublic Access to Information

it was predicted that 50% of US it was predicted that 50% of US households will have computers by the households will have computers by the year 2000year 2000

social access is integral to the design social access is integral to the design and development of systems and and development of systems and services that are to be widely usedservices that are to be widely used

home ownership of personal computers home ownership of personal computers has increased more than 50 percent has increased more than 50 percent since 1994since 1994

the number of households using e-mail the number of households using e-mail has nearly quadrupledhas nearly quadrupled

– US Department of Commerce, 1999US Department of Commerce, 1999

African-American and Hispanic African-American and Hispanic households are well behind the national households are well behind the national average for telephone penetration, average for telephone penetration, personal computer ownership, and personal computer ownership, and online accessonline access

the gap between white information-the gap between white information-haves and non-white information-haves haves and non-white information-haves has widened in the past 3 yearshas widened in the past 3 years

– Pietrucha, 1998Pietrucha, 1998

Universal access outside the USUniversal access outside the US

the simple truth is the information the simple truth is the information superhighway is not bringing superhighway is not bringing the fruits of cyberspace to allthe fruits of cyberspace to all

there are far too many people in the there are far too many people in the developing world who have not been developing world who have not been touched by the information and touched by the information and communication revolutions-the have-communication revolutions-the have-nots and the know-nots who risk being nots and the know-nots who risk being always behindalways behind

the already existing gulf in the levels of the already existing gulf in the levels of science and technology performed in science and technology performed in the developed and the poorer countries the developed and the poorer countries will be widened further, and that could will be widened further, and that could lead to increased levels of brain drain lead to increased levels of brain drain and dependence on foreign aid of a and dependence on foreign aid of a different kind (knowledge imperialism)different kind (knowledge imperialism)

– Arunachalam, 1998Arunachalam, 1998

..to help prevent a division of haves and ..to help prevent a division of haves and have-nots, competing have-nots, competing firms must be free to provide customers firms must be free to provide customers all over the world with the best and most all over the world with the best and most affordable network computing products affordable network computing products and services..and services..

[however]..governments must be [however]..governments must be prepared to fund universal access prepared to fund universal access programs for those who are left programs for those who are left unserved by competition unserved by competition

– IBM Corporation, 1997IBM Corporation, 1997

Social informatics research on Social informatics research on public access to information askspublic access to information asks

given problematic access, how can this given problematic access, how can this be changed?be changed?

if Internet use is “too hard” for many if Internet use is “too hard” for many people, how can the usability barriers people, how can the usability barriers be broken down?be broken down?

how can social access be more how can social access be more prominently incorporated into system prominently incorporated into system and service design? and service design?

Technological InfrastructureTechnological Infrastructure

technological elements and social technological elements and social relationships are inseparable parts of relationships are inseparable parts of technological infrastructuretechnological infrastructure

excellent technological design includes excellent technological design includes usability requirements of the people usability requirements of the people who will use the technologywho will use the technology

Special attention needs to be paid Special attention needs to be paid to:to:

the roles and relationships between the roles and relationships between individuals and groups of people in individuals and groups of people in relation to the system elementsrelation to the system elements

training, help and support resources training, help and support resources provided provided

the structures that provide information, the structures that provide information, such as access controls, rules and such as access controls, rules and regulationsregulations

effective computer systems that use effective computer systems that use Internet services will require reliable Internet services will require reliable complementary technological resources complementary technological resources -- such as printers, electricity (reliable in -- such as printers, electricity (reliable in urban settings, sometimes problematic urban settings, sometimes problematic after disasters and in remote regions)after disasters and in remote regions)

the infrastructure for making computer the infrastructure for making computer systems workable also includes a systems workable also includes a variety of resources that are social in variety of resources that are social in character, the most obvious are:character, the most obvious are:• skilled technical installersskilled technical installers• trainers trainers • consultantsconsultants

in addition, people who use advanced in addition, people who use advanced networking applications need know-how networking applications need know-how -- to be able to learn to effectively -- to be able to learn to effectively integrate them into their working integrate them into their working practices -- based on learning from practices -- based on learning from others others

– Kling, 1998Kling, 1998

Social informatics research on Social informatics research on technological infrastructure askstechnological infrastructure asks

how can we develop reliable information how can we develop reliable information and communication technologies so that and communication technologies so that they are actually workable for people?they are actually workable for people?

how does using information technology how does using information technology change people?change people?

how can we design systems that take how can we design systems that take institutional and cultural contexts into institutional and cultural contexts into account? account?

Future of Social InformaticsFuture of Social Informatics concern over the relationship between concern over the relationship between

technology and society is a technology and society is a conversational thread in numerous conversational thread in numerous fields and social informatics will provide fields and social informatics will provide a focal point for these conversationsa focal point for these conversations

the discussions and collaborations the discussions and collaborations possible in the field of social informatics possible in the field of social informatics makes it a field of great opportunity in makes it a field of great opportunity in which theory readily informs practicewhich theory readily informs practice

Questions and Issues for Further Questions and Issues for Further ExplorationExploration

how is social structure shaped by how is social structure shaped by technology?technology?

what social and organizational impacts what social and organizational impacts can be expected if we achieve universal can be expected if we achieve universal access to the Internet?access to the Internet?

will the process of inquiry be will the process of inquiry be transformed as information sources transformed as information sources become ever more homogenized?become ever more homogenized?

what specific workplace transformations what specific workplace transformations can be expected for the library and can be expected for the library and information professional, the manager, information professional, the manager, the government worker, within the the government worker, within the context of this apparent social context of this apparent social transformation?transformation?

ResourcesResources

see see

http://course.washington.edu/http://course.washington.edu/~hs590a/weblinks/socinfo.html~hs590a/weblinks/socinfo.html

AppendixAppendixAgre, P.E. and D. Schuler, (eds.). (1997). Reinventing Technology, Rediscovering Community: Critical Explorations of Computing as a Social Practice. Greenwich, CT: Ablex Publishing Corporation.

Anderson, R., T. Bikson, S. Law, and B. Mitchel. (1995). Universal Access to E-mail: Feasibility and Societal Implications. RAND, Report MR-650-MF. <http://www.rand.org/publications/MR/MR650/ >

Arunachalam, S. (1998). Information haves and have-nots: Technology enhances inequalities in scientific research, too. Educom Review, 33(6): 40-45. <http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/html/erm9863.html >

Assuring Access for All. (1997). Washington, DC: Living in the Information Society, IBM Corporation. < http://www.ibm.com/ibm/publicaffairs/access/index.html >

Baase, S. (1997). A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Computing. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Bishop, A.P. and S.L. Star. (1996). Social informatics of digital library use and infrastructure. In M.E. Williams (ed.), Annual Review of Information Science and Technology. v. 31. (pp. 301-401). Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc.

Borgman, C.L., M. Bates, M. Cloonan, E. Efthimiadis, A. Gilliland-Svetland, Y. Kafai, G. Leazer, and A. Maddox. (1996). Final report: Social aspects of digital libraries. UCLA-NSF Social Aspects of Digital Libraries Workshop (held Feb 15-17, 1996). <http://www.gslis.ucla.edu/DL/UCLA_DL_Report.html >

Center for Social Informatics home page. (1998). <http://www.slis.indiana.edu/CSI/ >

Gierkink, T. and R. Ruggles. Leveraging Knowledge for Business Value: Creating Living Knowledge Representations through the Power of Communities. <http://www.businessinnovation.ey.com/mko/html/levera.html >

Goslee, S. Losing ground bit by bit: Low-income communities in the Information Age. (1998). Washington, DC: Benton Foundation. <http://www.benton.org/Library/Low-Income/ >

Herring, S.C. (1993). Gender and democracy in computer-mediated communication. EJC/REC, 3(2). <http://dc.smu.edu/dc/classroom/Gender.txt >

Johnson, J. (1997). Universal access to the Net: Requirements and social impact. CHI 97 Electronic Publications: Plenary and Invited Talks. <http://www.acm.org/sigchi/chi97/proceedings/invited/jj.htm >

Karamufthuoglu, M. (1998). Collaborative information retrieval: Toward a social informatics view of IR interaction. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 49(12): 1070-1080.

Kling, R. and R. Lamb. (1996). Analyzing Visions of Electronic Publishing and Digital Libraries. In G.B. Newby and R.M. Peek (eds). Scholarly Publishing: The Electronic Frontier. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press. <http://www.www.slis.indiana.edu/kling/pubs/EPUB6.htm >

Kling, R. (1996). Content and pedagogy in teaching about the social aspects of computerization. In Proceedings of the Impact of Information Technology: From Practice to Curriculum Workshop. IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing) TC-3 Education (WG 3.2) and TC-9 Relationship Between Computers and Society (WG 9.5). <http://www.slis.indiana.edu/kling/pubs/pedag1.html >

Kling, R., (ed.). (1996). Computerization and Controversy: Value Conflict and Social Values. 2nd ed. San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

Kling, R., H. Rosenbaum, and C. Hert. (1998). Social informatics in information science: An introduction. Journal of the American Society for Information Science, 49(12): 1047-1052.

Kling, R. (1999). What is social informatics and why does it matter? D-Lib Magazine, 5(1). <http://www.dlib.org:80/dlib/january99/kling/01kling.html >

Lamb, R. (1996). Informational Imperatives and Socially Mediated Relationships. The Information Society, 12(1): 17-37. < http://info.cwru.edu/rlamb/infoim19.html >

Lavagnino, M.B., G.C. Bowker, P.B. Heidorn, and M.M. Basi. (1998). Incorporating social informatics into the curriculum for library and information science professionals. Libri, 48: 13-25.

Local places, global connections: Libraries in the Digital Age. (1997). A Report by the Benton Foundation and Libraries for the Future. Washington, DC: Benton Foundation. <http://www.benton.org/Library/Libraries/ >

Pietrucha, B. Information, Technology Gaps Widen Among Americans. Newsbytes, (July 28, 1998). <http://www.cnnfn.com/digitaljam/newsbytes/115696.html >

Postman, N. (1993). Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. New York, NY: Vintage Books.

Provenzo, E.F. (1986). Beyond the Gutenberg Galaxy: Microcomputers and the Emergence of Post-Typographic Culture. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Turkle, S. (1995). Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster.

Weiss, L. (1996). Buildings, books and bytes: Libraries and communities in the digital age. Washington, DC: Benton Foundation. <http://www.benton.org/Library/Kellogg/buildings.html >