Notes on Science, Technology, and Society: The Information Age

Science, Technology and Society: The Information Age

Lesson Objectives

  • Define the information age.

  • Discuss the history of the information age.

  • Understand factors for checking website sources.

Introduction

  • The modern society is

    • Highly modernized

    • Automated

    • Data-driven

    • Technologically advanced

  • The information age is a period beginning in the late 20th century characterized by:

    • Effortless accessibility of information via publications.

    • Management of information through computers and networks.

  • Alternative names:

    • Digital Age

    • New Media Age

Theories of the Information Age

James R. Messenger (1982)

  • Proposed the Theory of Information Age stating:

    • It is based on interconnection through telecommunications.

    • Key factors: convenience and user-friendliness lead to user dependence.

Richard Wurman: Information Anxiety

  • Concept highlighting the difficulty in managing the vast amount of information available since the 1960s-1970s.

  • In the 1990s, information became critical in business, acting as currency and managed by information officers.

Truths of the Information Age (Robert Harris)

  1. Information must compete.

  2. Newer information is equated with being more accurate.

  3. Selection of information is subjective (a viewpoint).

  4. Media caters to cultural trends.

  5. Early dissemination of information gets more attention.

  6. Consumption shapes perception, including of ideas (you are what you consume).

  7. High demand information leads to counterfeiting.

  8. Ideas are often controversial; public discourse is polarized.

  9. Outdated information can influence ongoing discussions.

  10. Media presence shapes the narrative of events.

  11. The chosen medium affects the message conveyed.

Computer Basics

  • Definition: Computers are electronic devices for storing and processing data, running on programmed instructions.

  • Output Device: Example includes a flat panel display.

Types of Computers

  1. Personal Computer (PC):

    • Single-user device also known as a microcomputer.

  2. Desktop Computer:

    • Not portable; designed for a fixed location. Workstations are powerful desktops for specific tasks.

  3. Laptops:

    • Portable computers that integrate desktop essentials in a compact form.

  4. Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs):

    • Small, touch-screen devices without keyboards.

  5. Servers:

    • Powerful computers providing services over a network, with enhanced memory and processing capabilities.

  6. Mainframes:

    • Large computer systems for processing vast amounts of data.

  7. Wearable Computers:

    • Integrated into small devices like watches and phones for common tasks.

The World Wide Web/Internet

  • Origin:

    • Associated with Claude F. Shannon, innovator of information theory

    • Developed by the Department of Defense in the 1970s for secure communication.

    • Initially for scientific communication, government-controlled until 1984.

  • Early challenges: Limited speed due to phone line capabilities; resolved by fiber optic technology allowing massive data transmission.

  • Google emerged as a popular search engine, founded by Sergey Brin and Larry Page for effective information retrieval.

  • Email revolutionized communication, allowing near-instantaneous messaging.

Current Relevance and Issues

  • Major companies capitalizing on digitized information (e.g., Microsoft, Apple, Facebook) turned into wealth and influence overnight.

  • Social media gives rise to issues like cyber bullying and other online crimes.

Applications of Computers in Science and Research

  • Bioinformatics: Utilizes IT for analyzing biological data, dealing with large datasets beyond human capacity.

    • Key databases: SWISS-PROT protein sequence database since 1986.

    • Software tools:

    • BLAST: for sequence comparison.

    • Annotator: for genome analysis.

    • GeneFinder: identifies coding regions.

  • Vital for rational drug discovery, accelerating molecular modeling.

  • Useful in plant biotechnology for identifying disease genes and enhancing nutrition.

Checking the Reliability of Web Sources

  • Evaluate the credibility by checking the author's information.

    • Locate "About" or author links on the website.

    • Seek help from librarians for credible academic resources.

Summary

  • Verify motives when sharing information and validate sources before acceptance and dissemination.