LU5 : Social and Economic Implications

Green computing

Environmentally responsible design, manufacture, use and disposal of computing devices to reduce environmental impact.

Four approaches to green computing

Green use (minimise power), Green disposal (recycle/dispose), Green design (efficient devices), Green manufacturing (less waste).

Greener computer strategies

Use sleep/hibernate; buy notebooks; enable power management; dispose e-waste safely; switch off daily; refill cartridges; upgrade not replace.

Environmental benefits of technology

Less printing/posted mail; video-conferencing cuts travel/fuel/pollution; working from home cuts office and travel costs.

Environmental drawbacks of technology

Electricity use/charging; hazardous manufacturing materials; cartridge oil pollution; rising paper use/deforestation; e-waste.

E-waste

Discarded electronic devices (avg lifespan ~2 years) that pollute landfills if not recycled/resold; sometimes dumped abroad.

AI for good

Uses: medical research, self-driving cars, energy saving, wildlife tracking, counter-terrorism, disaster prediction, fake-news detection.

Pros of AI

Fewer errors, improved efficiency, takes risks instead of humans, always available, digital assistance, faster decisions.

Cons of AI

High development cost, unemployment, human dependence, lack of out-of-the-box thinking, could dominate humans.

Technology in education

Smart classrooms (boosted by COVID-19); fast internet gives access to classes, free online courses and self-teaching.

VR for training

Trains workers displaced by automation, and simulates real life for medicine/engineering 'hands-on' experience.

Technology and poverty

Creates new jobs and lets developing countries reach wider markets; internet + digital literacy create economic opportunity.

Smart city

A city using IoT sensors to run buildings, water, energy and traffic efficiently (e.g. Barcelona's sensors and irrigation).

Technology in healthcare

EMRs for anywhere access; blockchain for drug/claims security; IoT wearables for early detection and faster alerts.

Disaster relief technology

Drones deliver aid to isolated areas, helping emergency services respond faster after a disaster.

Smart farming

Proprietary agricultural solutions using sensors/measurements to raise productivity (UN FAO: ~70% more food needed by 2050).

Locating missing persons

Uses social media, cyber-activity tracking, banking records, smartphone activity and other digital footprints.

Data misuse

Using data for a different purpose than the reason it was originally collected.

Right to privacy

The constitutional right not to have your person, home, property, possessions or communications infringed (limited for public posts).

Right to access

The right to access information held by the state or any organisation/person (excludes records for criminal/civil proceedings).

Big data in society

Focus on the value extracted, not volume; used by business (customer profiles), government (smart cities) and medicine (holistic care).

Digital heritage

Digital material (images, audio, emails, software, web pages) with lasting value, preserved for future generations.

Social effects of technology

More convenience but less face-to-face interaction; people share lives on social media; e-parenting via apps/LBS/social media.

Political effects of technology

Greater citizen involvement and new campaign methods, but risk of fake news — voters should verify information.

Environmental effects (double-edged)

Technology can damage or protect the environment; e.g. efficient cars cut emissions and GIS identifies pollution sources.

Data sharing

Sharing within an organisation and with partners/customers is an advantage, but raises privacy, security and compliance challenges.

Cyberbullying

Bullying over digital devices — sharing harmful, false or private content to harm/embarrass; can be unlawful/criminal.

Control system

A system central to industry/automation (e.g. cruise control, traffic lights, drones); faults can have serious effects.

Software and hardware error factors

Poor interface design, overconfidence in software, over-reliance on stored data, entry errors, un-updated info, no accountability.

IoT security risks

Vast data collection with limited user control and no standardisation, making privacy/security hard to control.

Deep web (hidden web)

Unlinked/limited-access content via deep-web search engines; deeper, more relevant results but slower and needs precise queries.

Dark web

An intentionally hidden, encrypted, anonymous network; protects privacy but enables serious crime and is unregulated.

Cryptocurrency

Electronic, encrypted, decentralised medium of exchange stored in the blockchain (e.g. Bitcoin); no physical form or central bank.

Blockchain applications

Automotive (ownership), financial services (settlement), voting (verifiable results), healthcare (secure shared records).

Blockchain benefits vs unknowns

Benefits: transparency, accurate tracking, permanent ledger, cost cuts. Unknowns: complexity, regulation, implementation, competing platforms.

Sexual Offences Act

SA Act covering prostitution, brothel-keeping and procuring; online procuring of minors can be prosecuted under it.

Protection from Harassment Act

Gives harassment victims an effective remedy; defines harassment, including electronic communication.

ECT Act

Electronic Communications and Transactions Act — you are responsible for any electronic communication 'signed' by you.

POPIA

Protection of Personal Information Act — data must be lawfully obtained, limited, accurate, secure and accessible/correctable by the subject.

POPIA key principles

Limited/lawful processing; use for the specified purpose only; keep data accurate; get consent + notify Regulator; secure it; allow access/correction; accountability.

DeepMind

Google's AI platform used to predict data-centre overheating, saving ~40% in cooling energy.

EMR

Electronic Medical Record — a digital patient record clinicians can access anywhere to improve collaborative care.

IoT wearable

A body-worn device generating health data to detect issues early and alert emergency services.

Digital footprint

Traces (social media, banking, smartphone activity) used to locate missing persons or criminals.

Information Regulator

The SA body that must be notified when personal data is processed (POPIA).

Data subject

The person whose personal information is being processed; may access and correct it.

GIS

Geographic Information Systems — uses remotely sensed data to identify sources of pollution.

Carbon footprint

The CO2 emissions attributable to a person/activity; reduce it to help the environment.

Token

A company-issued cryptocurrency tradable for that company's goods or services.

Decentralised

Not controlled by a central authority (e.g. a blockchain/cryptocurrency).

Spoofing sensor

A fake sensor an adversary creates to feed false readings into an IoT system.

Fake news

False information spreading on social media; a risk in political and big-data contexts.

E-Parenting

Monitoring a child through school apps, location-based services and social media.

AI (acronym)

Artificial Intelligence — machine intelligence used for research, disaster prediction, fake-news detection, etc.

ML (acronym)

Machine Learning — an application of AI that learns from data (e.g. spam/fake-news detection).

VR / AR

Virtual Reality (fully digital world) / Augmented Reality (digital overlay on the real world).

IoT (acronym, LU5)

Internet of Things — networked devices enabling smart cities/healthcare wearables and new security risks.

CO2

Carbon Dioxide — greenhouse gas; smart-city/transport tech aims to cut CO2 emissions.

EMR (acronym)

Electronic Medical Record — digital patient record improving collaborative healthcare.

GIS (acronym)

Geographic Information System — uses remotely sensed data to identify pollution sources.

UN / FAO

United Nations / Food and Agriculture Organisation — states ~70% more food is needed by 2050 vs 2006.

UAV

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle — a drone; a control-system application also used for aid delivery.

ECT Act (acronym)

Electronic Communications and Transactions Act — SA law making you responsible for your electronic communications.

POPIA (acronym)

Protection of Personal Information Act — SA law protecting the processing of personal information.

UNESCO

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation — defines 'heritage' (basis of digital heritage).

KDD (LU5)

Knowledge Discovery in Databases — process turning big data into knowledge for decisions.