TheSocialImpactoftheComputer-VirginiaTech.ppt

2000/11/17 Univ. of South Florida The Social Impact of the Computer J.A.N. Lee Virginia Tech A HISTORICAL APPROACH When did computers begin to have an effect on people? How have we been affected? What HAVE we done? Have we become too dependent on computers? What can we do about it? When did computers begin to have an effect on people? The early machines - one-off, isolated 1950: UNIVAC - the first multi-frame machine 1955: IBM 650 - the first University machine 1960: IBM 1620 - the first College machine The period of the “priest-hood” of programmers Early Programming When did computers begin to have an effect on people? 1965-1975: Time sharing 1964: The first e-mail “Personal computing” Immediate feedback Programming by trial and error 1965 - The introduction of the mini-computer The beginning of the period of computing as a “public utility” - for the privileged few When did computers begin to have an effect on people? 1970s - The microcomputer for enthusiasts 1975 - Computers in the office 1980 - The IBM PC 1984 - The Macintosh The period of the “HOME” computer And since then … The INTERNET For the Millions When did computers begin to have an effect on people? 1940 - first computation over telephone lines 1960s - the MODEM and Timesharing 1970s - networking 1980s - ARPANet, NSFNet, BITNET, … News groups, LISTSERVs, 1990s - The INTERNET - WWW The period of ubiquitous computing Ringing the Changes How have we been affected? The early days: “computerists” became addicted but proud and dedicated to the public - the concept of the GIANT BRAIN to the insiders - the dumb, recalcitrant, moronic computer How have we been affected? 1950s - the emergence of the HACKER 1960s - the identification of the user The computer replaces the slide rule The job of the “future” The era of job swapping 1970s - the connected user 1980s - the personal computer 1990s - the on-line millions How have we been affected? Users have moved from being an elite “professionally responsible” to a c