Effects of Computer Society Essay

Traditionally, courses that deal with computers and society issues focus primarily on enumerating the various ways in which computers impact society. This is done by listing categories of topics such as privacy, computers in medicine, military uses of computers, etc. Classic cases of computer abuse or errant systems are typically described in detail, as a way of simply making students more aware of how computers affect society. These examples are meant to serve as warnings to future professionals, in the hopes that they will practice their profession with greater care. What is missing from these discussions, however, is  why  computers have the impact they do on society. What are the characteristics that are the root of this impact? Are there fundamental differences between this technology and others that have transformed our world in the past? The intent of developing a list of these characteristics is that it could lead to a better understanding of the nature of the social impact of computers. In this way, it might be possible to examine a new computer project at the time of its  design  (not, as is the usual case, a long time after the project has been implemented and disseminated) to determine its potential impacts as a social change agent. The characteristics given below are not necessarily unique to computer technology. However, in many instances computers have created situations that were previously impossible to accomplish (such as space flight), were essentially inconceivable until the technology was applied, or at least were very difficult to achieve without the aid of computer technology. Furthermore, even though other technologies may have had impacts similar to computers in many ways, computer technology has greatly amplified their effects to the point of entirely overshadowing any previous technology’s impact. Finally, the term  computer technology  is meant to be inclusive of any device that is essentially controlled by a basic computer (CPU, program, etc. ). This would include, therefore, modern telephones, VCRs, microwave ovens, CAT scanners, supermarket scanners, and the like. The following are in no particular order. Also, some devices or examples are likely to fit into more than one of the categories below: (1) Ubiquity – It is perhaps stating the obvious that computers appear to be everywhere today. Even when we don’t encounter them directly in their various forms of modern convenience devices, such as digital watches, microwave ovens, VCRs, and the like, we generate transactions that are processed via computers without actively doing anything: the utility companies are recording our usage, the phone company records incoming calls, our answering machine might be recording a message while we are doing something else, someone is performing a credit check on us, etc. (2) Magnification – Computers tend toward magnification in several different ways. First, the explosion of the availability of information is due in large part to the computer’s ability to generate, collect, and store an ever increasing amount of raw data. Since the ability to create and collect data is growing exponentially, so too is the generation of information that can be synthesized from this data. Second, the types of negative impacts a single error can have has grown enormously with computer technology. Finally, the number of people directly affected by a system error has also grown enormously, to where a single software system literally can affect millions directly. 3) Accessibility – Access to information continues to increase at hard to believe speeds. Many information resources are available only in digital form, via, for instance, the Internet. As more information is converted to digital form (e. g. voice and video), the ability to duplicate and distribute such information increases enormously. Indeed, there are some forms of publishing that can exist only within the context of a computer system. The concept of hypertext and hypermedia (including audio and video), the ability to create non-linear accessibility to information, was conceived out of the ability to randomly access information via computers. Its increasing success easily shows how important information in a digital form has become already. (Oz, 1994). (5) Lack of Accountability – It has become a popular complaint that it is getting more and more difficult to locate a human being who is willing to accept responsibility for an error made by a computerized system. While it is tempting to blame such problems on incompetent employees, in truth the problem may be a poor user interface, lack of training, or an error in the software, none of which can be solved by those providing the front-line service. Another difficulty is finding someone who will, indeed, fix an error in an account. It is often the case that service representatives are reluctant to accept the responsibility for making a necessary change. In addition, it can often be difficult to even find a human being to deal with a problem. Getting lost in a voice-mail system has become a modern urban legend. (Nissenbaum, 1994). (6) Temporality – Computers have several effects on time and the timeliness of information. It seems that computer technology is to blame in large part for the â€Å"speed p† of modern society – everything has to get done faster, be there sooner, be available immediately. Another form of temporality in computer systems is that information can be retained over long periods of time, even when they appear to have been destroyed (consider the classic case of Col. Oliver North). There is little reason that information should be entirely lost any more, even due to accident. And it is reas onable to suspect that every scrap of information generated today will be available virtually forever. Another temporal shift for which computers have been responsible is that people who work together do not necessarily have to do so at the same time. Finally, services and information are more frequently available on a 24-hour basis. This allows people to request a service or seek information when it fits their schedule, rather than when it fits the service provider’s schedule. (7) Spatiality – Computers have done more to shorten distances than any previous technology, even the supersonic jet. It is possible to send large amounts of data, messages, video, etc. virtually anywhere in the world via networks such as Internet. Long distance learning, using information databases or video feeds of courses via satellite, is a reality for a growing portion of our modern society. We can now even be on the move when we talk with someone on the phone, or receive a fax. (8) Surveillability – Is there any doubt that computers have made surveillance easier than at any time in history? In addition to the usual surveillance equipment such as cameras and microphones, transactional data is increasingly being collected for virtually all types of transactions, even cash purchases and the acquisition of services. There has even been discussion by the government of using a universal health card, which is seen by many as the first step toward finalizing the move (begun with the co-opting of the social security number) in the US toward a national identification card. (9) Shifting of Relationships/Changes in Intercommunication Protocols – One of the more difficult characteristics to track is how computer technology has changed communication between people and groups of people. In particular, the use of email has been shown to eliminate a lot of the usual visual and verbal cues we often use in communicating with one another (whch can be viewed as both an advantage and as a disadvantage). In addition to removing such cues, computer-mediated communications mask attributes such as race, gender, age, or physical disability, in addition, perhaps, to the person’s social or management status within an organization. (Grudin, 1994; Perrole, 1987). (10) Illusion of Precision – It is not difficult to make many (perhaps even most) people who are not in the computer field believe that any numeric result generated by a computer is correct. Those not well versed in the hardware of computers have little understanding of the fact that numbers must be converted back and forth between decimal and binary forms, or that there is a limitation on the accuracy of numbers due to memory constraints. As a result, they willingly accept values generated by a computer as infinitely accurate. (Liffick, 1985). Conclusion The characteristics described above are factors in the social impact of computer technology. For most there is at least anecdotal evidence of their existence (with seemingly countless examples). For some, there is also experimental evidence. It has finally become widely accepted that technology is not value neutral, as originally thought. By examining this list and using it as a set of landmarks for evaluating new systems, it may be possible to better anticipate the social impact of new systems, prior to their dissemination.

Land Reclamation

Notable examples in the West include large parts of the Netherlands, parts of New Orleans(which is partially built on land that was once swamp); much of San Francisco's waterfront has been reclaimed from the San Francisco Bay; Mexico City(which is situated at the former site of Lake Texcoco); Helsinki (of which the major part of the city center is built on reclaimed land); the Cape Townforeshore; the Chicago shoreline; the Manila Bay shoreline; Back Bay, Boston, Massachusetts; Battery Park City, Manhattan; Liberty State Park, Jersey City; the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium; the southwestern residential area in Brest, Belarus, the polders of the Netherlands; and the Toronto Islands, Leslie Street Spit, and the waterfront in Toronto.In the Far East, Japan, the southern Chinese cities of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau, the Philippine capitalManila, and the city-state of Singapore, where land is in short supply, are also famous for their efforts on land reclamation. One of the earliest and famous project was the Praya Reclamation Scheme, which added 50 to 60 acres (240,000 m2) of land in 1890 during the second phase of construction. It was one of the most ambitious projects ever taken during the Colonial Hong Kong era. 1] Some 20% of land in the Tokyo Bay area has been reclaimed.Monaco and the British territory of Gibraltar are also expanding due to land reclamation. The city of Rio de Janeiro was largely built on reclaimed land. Artificial islands are an example of land reclamation. Creating an artificial island is an expensive and risky undertaking. It is often considered in places that are densely populated and flat land is scarce. Kansai International Airport (in Osaka) and Hong Kong International Airport are examples where this process was deemed necessary. The Palm Islands, The World and hotel Burj al-Arab offDubai in the United Arab Emirates are other examples of artificial islands.

Delivering Customer Value Through Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Delivering Customer Value Through - Essay Example Talking on this note, it can be said that the entire process of globalization has played a major role in the process of opening of markets around the world and making information from various corners available to the masses, irrespective of their geographical locations. As a matter of fact, it can be said that the entire process of globalization has played a major role in the process of influencing the consumer behavior, needs and demands of the masses all over the world. The high level of influence that are being implemented on the masses by the process of globalization has led to the evolution of needs and demands for various kinds of new products and service in various markets around the world. ... rnments around the world concentrate on attracting foreign investments of diverse nature like the Foreign Institutional Investments (FIIs) and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI). The factors of favorable government frameworks, economic policies as well as tremendous demand from various markets for various new products and services are encouraging the companies around the world to focus on the process of catering to the growing demands of the global masses. As a result, the companies around the world are designing strategies like product development, market development and even diversification strategies for the purpose of entering new markets. This has automatically resulted in the increase of the level of competition in various markets around the world and is also providing the customers in various markets around the world with a significant number of alternative products. This is resulting in the increase in competition for products and services and is promoting inter firms rivalry a mong various companies in multiple markets around the world. With the rise of similar types of products and services in any particular market, the consumers are left with a wide array of choices. Acting on the basis of normal and rational consumer behavior, it is quite natural for the consumers to select the products and services, which provides the best fit to their consumption trends as well as lifestyle patterns. Hence, with regards to standards economics philosophy of marginal and total utility, it can be clearly said that the consumers will show ample signs of choosing products and services which provides a lot of values to them as compared to other alternatives that are available in the market. Literature Review Overview From the view point of micro economics, it has always been

The Notebook Movie Review Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

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Ethical competence and moral grasp of the right business practice Essay

Ethical competence and moral grasp of the right business practice - Essay Example Ethical competence and moral grasp of the right business practice During the past decade there have been numerous accounting scandals that have caused corporate collapses which have shaken the financial arena and created huge losses for investors, the present financial crisis of the latter part of 2008 revealed the greatest challenges yet. The majority of these collapses were caused directly by the unethical behavior of CEO’s, directors, officers and employees who misrepresented the financial condition of the corporation by providing misleading financial information (Ashe & Nealy, 2010, pg. 1). Public accounting firms as being a â€Å"part of the contemporary ‘enterprise culture’ that persuades many to believe that ‘bending the rules’ for personal gain is a sign of business acumen.† This stands in stark contrast to the differentiating public interest perspective of a profession, and we suggest that cultural change in the profession is necessary for real and lasting change to occur (Stuebs & Wilkinson, 2010, p g. 30). Such, this paper is prepared by the undersigned to show ethical competence and moral grasp of the right business practice as he prepares himself to enter the corporate world and before taking the CPA board exam as a certification of competence on the field of Accountancy. The ethical dilemma comes in especially when the Accountant is being asked by a superior whether explicitly or implicitly to be â€Å"creative† with the books to serve the end of the company. ... There are several reasons why an accountant does this. First, it may have been under the prodding and order of a superior to â€Å"skew or massage the numbers† to the company’s favor. Second, to make the company look good as it reports to the public with regard to its performance or to potential investors who would like to put their money in the business. Or, to pad the expenses so that the net earnings would appear to be low compared to actual earning and thus, requiring the company to pay only minimal taxes. The ethical dilemma comes in especially when the Accountant is being asked by a superior whether explicitly or implicitly to be â€Å"creative† with the books to serve the end of the company. This can be quite difficult for an accountant as he/she may be admonished for insubordination which may result from losing one’s job especially in today’s difficult times. Also the Accountant may become sympathetic to the company. It being the source of h is/her employment, the Accountant may be tempted to â€Å"window dress† the company’s financial statements to preserve it and his/her job to the detriment of the interest of the general and investing public. III. The American Institute of Certified Public Accountant Code of Conduct Instituting ethical practice among Financial Professionals is critical not only for the sake of being ethical in the practice of a profession but also to prevent the dire consequences if such unethical behavior becomes pervasive. For this malpractice has singlehandedly caused the recent financial disaster that â€Å"no other single issue is of greater concern to accountants in industry and public accounting than ethics. If the public cannot place

Importance of Providing Additional Support to the Prisoners, Prison Research Paper

Importance of Providing Additional Support to the Prisoners, Prison Management - Research Paper Example The rate of crime has increased drastically over the years and in the absence of a comprehensive professional and continuous learning and development program, that seeks to enhance the lives of the citizens as a whole, curbing crime and ensuring a safe neighborhood is inconceivable. Statistics reveal that approximately two-thirds of the prisons in England and Wales are stuffed with inmates well beyond their actual capacity. According to the Howard League for Penal Reform, approximately 52, 500 prisoners are stuffed in jails which are overcrowded, similarly, in HMP Preston, 661 prisoners are forced to live in a jail which has a capacity of holding 356 inmates, the worst case by far. (BBC News, 2009). Such staggering statistics call for immediate reformative measures which involve proactive policies to keep people out of jails. This, however, can be achieved only through the adoption and implementation of a wide-ranging program that focuses on providing adequate training to those in ch arge, i.e., the prison officers who are entrusted with the responsibility of providing security, supervising, offering training as well as rehabilitating the offenders through motivation and encouragement. Preventing prisoners from reoffending is one of the key objectives of any criminal justice system. Although punishing the offenders for their crimes, is the most widely accepted tools of justice, punishment alone cannot and does not guarantee a safe and healthy society. In order to create a harmonious environment and safeguard the interests of the general public, it must be ensured that the offenders abstain from indulging in any criminal activities.

History of Taxation in Britain Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

History of Taxation in Britain - Research Paper Example The twentieth century started with high spending, which was based on war spending. The First and Second World Wars both lead to very large increases in public spending and rather smaller increases in tax. The Korean War is reported to have a discernible effect, but neither the Falklands (1982) nor the Gulf (1991) conflict seems to have had an impact on spending. The need for more revenue during the war led to increases in tax rates, increases in the coverage of existing taxes and the introduction of wholly new taxes. Perhaps the most dramatic change was to income tax. Prior to the war, income tax had never been a mass tax. It was first introduced in 1799 and was permanently in place from 1842, but there were still fewer than 4 million taxpayers in 1938. By the end of the war, the number of taxpaying families had increased to over 12 million, an increase which was sustained into the following decades. The two marked periods of growth in the last quarter of the century, in the early 1980s and the late 1980s / early 1990s; both the period experienced turmoil in the economic activities of the country, which led both to shrinking GDP and to higher cyclical government spending as unemployment increased gradually. ... pretend as, for each UK household the government allocated 14,000 and 15,000, the amount is equivalent to the post-tax income a childless couple would need to be in the middle of the income distribution, or the amount required by the retired UK national. Local taxes have been an important type of revenue for the UK economy, it accounted for one-third of total revenues, however, its importance declined after World War I and II. 'In the early twentieth century, these accounted for up to a third of total revenues, but their importance declined as the taxes required to pay for both World Wars were raised at the national level', (A. Dilnot and C. Emmerson, 'The economic environment', in A. H. Halsey with J. Webb, Twentieth Century British Social Trends, Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2000). Revising the British history of tax returns, local taxes, (chiefly a property tax called 'rates', which had both business and household components) was estimated to be seven percent of GGR. However, after 196 0, the local taxes represented more than 10 percent of GGR, and have remained consistent throughout. However, from 2000 onwards, local taxes have again become much less significant, representing only between 3 and 4 percent of revenues in the last decade of the twentieth century.  Ã‚