SICS- Social Impact of Computing on Society Overview
Social Impact of Computing on Society
Could you imagine life without your favorite technology? Where did people get their information before the Internet? How did people communicate with one another before cell phones or email? Computers and the Internet have definitely changed the way we live and work. For most people in the developed world computers are used in some area of our life every day. It has changed the way we communicate and collaborate in our society. Although these innovations in technology have provided many benefits to society, they have produced some harmful effects as well. In this module, you will examine the ways in which computer innovations have changed our society. You will also examine the harmful and beneficial effects of computing and understand the connection between computing and other fields.
Essential Questions
- How has computing and technology changed the way people and businesses communicate and collaborate?
- How does computing enhance communication, interaction, and cognition?
- What are some potential beneficial and/or harmful effects of computing?
- How do economic, social, and cultural contexts influence innovation and the use of computing?
Key Terms
bandwidth - refers to the amount of data that can be transferred through a particular cable that is connected to an internet service provider.
blog - a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.
cloud computing - the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.
digital divide - is an economic and social inequality according to categories of persons in a given population in their access to, use of, or knowledge of information and communication technologies (ICT).
email - messages distributed by electronic means from one computer user to one or more recipients via a network.
global positioning - a space-based satellite navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.
human computer interaction - the study of how humans interact with computers and how to design computer systems that are easy, quick, and productive for humans to use.
instant messaging - the exchange of text messages through a software application in real-time.
text messaging - is the act of composing and sending brief, electronic messages between two or more mobile phones, or fixed or portable devices over a phone network.
videoconferencing - a set of telecommunication technologies that allow two or more locations to communicate by simultaneous two-way video and audio. transmissions.
wireless sensor network - spatially distributed autonomous sensors to monitor physical or environmental conditions.
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