Baase_Ch7

Page 1: Introduction

  • Slides prepared by Cyndi Chie and Sarah Frye.

  • Fourth edition revisions by Sharon Gray.

  • Chapter: A Gift of Fire (Fourth edition) by Sara Baase, focusing on evaluating and controlling technology.

Page 2: Overview

  • Cover topics include:

    • Evaluating Information

    • The “Digital Divide”

    • Neo-Luddite Views of Computers, Technology, and Quality of Life

    • Making Decisions About Technology

Page 3: The Need for Responsible Judgment

  • Importance of evaluating information critically.

  • The overwhelming amount of information online; much of it may be incorrect.

  • Search engines prioritize sites based on popularity, not expertise.

  • Wisdom of the crowd: Ratings from the public can guide evaluations.

  • High participation increases the reliability of results (pages 312-314).

Page 4: Wikipedia as a Resource

  • Wikipedia is crowdsourced, with potential biases and inaccuracies in posts.

  • Many contributors are educated and knowledgeable, enhancing content quality.

  • Challenges with biased articles due to volunteer nature (pages 313-314).

Page 5: Challenges of Information Reliability

  • Issues of unreliable information have existed prior; the web magnifies these issues.

  • Rating systems can be manipulated, leading to vulnerable viewers, especially children and less educated individuals (pages 314-317).

Page 6: Narrowing Information Streams

  • Emphasis on the necessity of responsible judgment in navigating information (pages 317-319).

Page 7: Abdicating Responsibility

  • The danger of dependence on computers for decision-making.

  • Potential institutionalization of reliance on technologies over human judgment.

  • Fear of being accountable for decisions if something goes wrong (pages 319-320).

Page 8: Evaluating Computer Models

  • Important questions to consider:

    • How well do modelers grasp the core science/theory behind models?

    • Models entail assumptions and simplifications.

    • Consideration for how closely predictions match real-world results (pages 321-324).

Page 9: Limitations of Models

  • Factors affecting model accuracy:

    • Incomplete knowledge of modeled systems.

    • Inaccurate data regarding conditions.

    • Insufficient computing power.

    • Difficulty in quantifying human values and choices (pages 325-329).

Page 10: Trends in Computer Access

  • New technologies often cater primarily to the wealthy.

  • The adoption of new technologies is quickening.

  • Not only cost but ease of use influences technology spread.

  • Entrepreneurs create affordable options; government funds tech in schools.

  • The focus is shifting from access to level of service (pages 329-331).

Page 11: The Global Divide

  • Only about two billion have web access; approximately five billion lack internet access.

  • Non-profits and corporations aim to expand access in developing nations.

  • Delivering technology in developing regions involves overcoming environmental challenges and cultural sensitivities (pages 331-332).

Page 12: Criticisms of Computing Technologies

  • Concerns includes:

    • Computers lead to unemployment and skill erosion.

    • Technologies create unnecessary needs.

    • They may foster social inequities and disintegration.

    • Technologies can dehumanize and isolate communities (pages 334-335).

Page 13: Continued Criticisms of Computing

  • Technologies can disrupt human-nature relationships.

  • They primarily benefit big businesses/governments.

  • Educational uses of computers may hinder social and intellectual development in children (pages 334-335).

Page 14: Economic and Nature Perspectives

  • Contrast between Luddites and non-Luddites:

    • Luddites view technology as a threat to jobs; non-Luddites view it as a means for increased productivity.

    • Both perspectives highlight differing economic impacts (pages 336-337).

Page 15: Technology Creating Needs

  • Discussion around whether technology creates needs for itself and its implications (pages 337-339).

Page 16: Technology and Human Lifestyles

  • Luddites argue technology has not meaningfully improved life.

  • Evaluating technology involves human-centered standards and comparisons to alternatives (pages 339-340).

Page 17: Accomplishments of Technology

  • Positive impacts of technology:

    • Increased life expectancy.

    • Disease reductions.

    • Improved living standards.

    • Assistive technologies for disabilities (pages 340-342).

Page 18: Discussion Questions

  • Evaluating the validity of Neo-Luddite criticisms.

  • Exploring societal choices regarding specific technologies (page 343).

Page 19: Prediction Challenges

  • Each technology has unforeseen uses; predictions about technology often prove incorrect.

  • Historical context highlights errors in anticipating technology's costs/benefits (pages 344-347).

Page 20: Technological Singularity

  • Concept of Singular technological advancements that may surpass human understanding.

  • Suggests a gradual approach to new developments (pages 347-350).

Page 21: Decision Making Observations

  • Importance of limiting technology development discussions to reduce mistakes.

  • Suggests decentralized, non-coercive decision processes to foster competition and protect liberties (page 350).

Page 22: Further Discussion Questions

  • Evaluating the predictability of technology impacts.

  • Determining decision makers' roles (page 343).