Computers and Society
Citizenship in the Information Age
Will be published approx. on 1. May 1993
Book
Paperback/Softback
200 pages
978-1-871516-41-8 (ISBN)
Description
This text asks how we can ensure that computers are used for socially beneficial purposes. These papers represent an integration of research into technological and social aspects of computer technology that is relevant to the individual citizen. Written by authors from 13 different countries, the book's international outlook is neither pro nor anti-technology, but provides a discussion of common societal objectives to assess the role, and sometimes limits, of computer technology in achieving those objectives. Topics include: social citizenship in the information age; computing and disability; women as citizens and the role of information technology; computer viruses and professional ethics; computers and the New World Order; and computers for the self-determination of developing countries.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Intellect
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
ISBN-13
978-1-871516-41-8 (9781871516418)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Content
Contributors...v
Preface...ix
1 Social citizenship in the information age...1
Colin Beardon
1.1 Social citizenship...1
1.2 The crisis of citizenship and the crisis of legitimacy...3
1.3 The information age...6
1.4 Community in the information age...7
1.5 Equality in the information age...9
1.6 The institutions of citizenship in the information age...11
1.7 Social progress in the information age...12
1.8 Conclusion...13
2 Women as citizens and the role of information technology...15
Rian Voet
2.1 The present situation: women as second-sex citizens...15
2.2 The first option: exactly the same citizenship as men...17
2.3 The second option: reinterpreting citizenship from a female perspective... 19
2.4 The third option: reinterpreting citizenship starting from a feminist perspective... 22
3 Psychosocial environment and the information age... 27
Gunilla Bradley
3.1 Introduction... 27
3.2 Computers, psychosocial work environment and stress: from theory
to actions...28
3.3 Organisational communication and computer technology...38
3.4 Conclusion...44
4 Overcoming disability: a UK perspective...46
Tom Mangan
4.1 Introduction...46
4.2 "Modern Day Freak Show"...46
4.3 Integration...47
4.4 Enabling technology...48
4.5 Access to technology - Part I...49
4.6 Access to technology - Part II...50
4.7 Realising the potential...51
5 Education in the field of information technology...53
Anton Reiter
5.1 Introduction...53
5.2 The Challenges of information society...54
5.3 The new education crisis...56
5.4 Literacy in the information age...59
5.5 General approaches to implement IT...61
5.6 Evaluative research and findings...63
5.7 Information technology in Austrian education: a survey...66
5.8 Computers in the daily life of Austrian schoolchildren...71
5.9 Conclusion...72
6 Individuals, culture and the design of information systems...76
Karamjit Gill, Tania Funston, Jim Thorpe, Masao Hijikarta & John
Gotze
6.1 Introduction...76
6.2 The human-centred tradition...76
6.3 IT and user involvement...77
6.4 Tensions local and global...83
6.5 A crossroad of IT and culture...85
6.6 From user friendly systems to human-centred design...87
7 Social aspects of computer viruses...91
Simone Fischer-Huebner & Morton Swimmer
7.1 Introduction...91
7.2 Technical misconceptions...91
7.3 The impact of computer viruses...94
7.4 Why computer viruses are written...99
7. 5 Legislation and computer viruses...100
7.6 Ethics and computer viruses...103
7. 7 Conclusion...105
8 What is happening now with technology assessment?...108
Jacques Berleur
8.1 Some definitions...108
8.2 Technology assessment as an institution... 110
8.3 The institutionalisation of TA...111
8.4 Functions of TA...112
8.5 TA methods...113
8.6 Link between function and methods...116
8.7 The balance after 20 years of TA...118
9 Development, self-determination and information...120
Chrisanthi Avgerou & Shirin Madon
9.1 Introduction...120
9.2 Theoretical perspectives on the significance of information and IT for development...121
9.3 Development and the notion of self-determination...123
9.4 Information related trends and the self-determination of developing countries...125
9.5 Information developments and the self-determination of the poor...130
9.6 Conclusions...132
10 The enforcement of foreign technology on Africa: its effect on society, culture and utilisation of information
technology...138
Mayuri Odedra
10.1 Introduction...138
10.2 The role of foreign forces on Africa...139
10.3 Impact of such forces on Africa and its society...142
10.4 Conclusion...146
11 Whose New World Order?...149
Vincent Mosco
11.1 Introduction...149
11.2 Background...149
11.3 The old order...151
11.4 Building a US order...151
11.5 The Strategic Defence Initiative and the New Order...152
12 The summer school on 'Social citizenship in the information age': origins, highlights, and outcomes...155
Diane Whitehouse
12.1 Introduction...155
12.2 Origins of the summer school...156
12.3 Aims and intentions of the summer school...157
12.4 Some highlights of the summer school...158
12.5 Outcomes of the summer school...161
Preface...ix
1 Social citizenship in the information age...1
Colin Beardon
1.1 Social citizenship...1
1.2 The crisis of citizenship and the crisis of legitimacy...3
1.3 The information age...6
1.4 Community in the information age...7
1.5 Equality in the information age...9
1.6 The institutions of citizenship in the information age...11
1.7 Social progress in the information age...12
1.8 Conclusion...13
2 Women as citizens and the role of information technology...15
Rian Voet
2.1 The present situation: women as second-sex citizens...15
2.2 The first option: exactly the same citizenship as men...17
2.3 The second option: reinterpreting citizenship from a female perspective... 19
2.4 The third option: reinterpreting citizenship starting from a feminist perspective... 22
3 Psychosocial environment and the information age... 27
Gunilla Bradley
3.1 Introduction... 27
3.2 Computers, psychosocial work environment and stress: from theory
to actions...28
3.3 Organisational communication and computer technology...38
3.4 Conclusion...44
4 Overcoming disability: a UK perspective...46
Tom Mangan
4.1 Introduction...46
4.2 "Modern Day Freak Show"...46
4.3 Integration...47
4.4 Enabling technology...48
4.5 Access to technology - Part I...49
4.6 Access to technology - Part II...50
4.7 Realising the potential...51
5 Education in the field of information technology...53
Anton Reiter
5.1 Introduction...53
5.2 The Challenges of information society...54
5.3 The new education crisis...56
5.4 Literacy in the information age...59
5.5 General approaches to implement IT...61
5.6 Evaluative research and findings...63
5.7 Information technology in Austrian education: a survey...66
5.8 Computers in the daily life of Austrian schoolchildren...71
5.9 Conclusion...72
6 Individuals, culture and the design of information systems...76
Karamjit Gill, Tania Funston, Jim Thorpe, Masao Hijikarta & John
Gotze
6.1 Introduction...76
6.2 The human-centred tradition...76
6.3 IT and user involvement...77
6.4 Tensions local and global...83
6.5 A crossroad of IT and culture...85
6.6 From user friendly systems to human-centred design...87
7 Social aspects of computer viruses...91
Simone Fischer-Huebner & Morton Swimmer
7.1 Introduction...91
7.2 Technical misconceptions...91
7.3 The impact of computer viruses...94
7.4 Why computer viruses are written...99
7. 5 Legislation and computer viruses...100
7.6 Ethics and computer viruses...103
7. 7 Conclusion...105
8 What is happening now with technology assessment?...108
Jacques Berleur
8.1 Some definitions...108
8.2 Technology assessment as an institution... 110
8.3 The institutionalisation of TA...111
8.4 Functions of TA...112
8.5 TA methods...113
8.6 Link between function and methods...116
8.7 The balance after 20 years of TA...118
9 Development, self-determination and information...120
Chrisanthi Avgerou & Shirin Madon
9.1 Introduction...120
9.2 Theoretical perspectives on the significance of information and IT for development...121
9.3 Development and the notion of self-determination...123
9.4 Information related trends and the self-determination of developing countries...125
9.5 Information developments and the self-determination of the poor...130
9.6 Conclusions...132
10 The enforcement of foreign technology on Africa: its effect on society, culture and utilisation of information
technology...138
Mayuri Odedra
10.1 Introduction...138
10.2 The role of foreign forces on Africa...139
10.3 Impact of such forces on Africa and its society...142
10.4 Conclusion...146
11 Whose New World Order?...149
Vincent Mosco
11.1 Introduction...149
11.2 Background...149
11.3 The old order...151
11.4 Building a US order...151
11.5 The Strategic Defence Initiative and the New Order...152
12 The summer school on 'Social citizenship in the information age': origins, highlights, and outcomes...155
Diane Whitehouse
12.1 Introduction...155
12.2 Origins of the summer school...156
12.3 Aims and intentions of the summer school...157
12.4 Some highlights of the summer school...158
12.5 Outcomes of the summer school...161