Computer And Society Today

The computer revolution is the most important revolution in world history. The rate of change in computer technology is so fast that it dwarfs one’s imagination. Microelectronics has been he driving force behind this quantum technological leap. Today’s micro computer that of a mammoth computer that cost $ 1 million in 1950. You world wonder at the rate of growth of this technology, and this rate of change will increase furthermore. War live in a computerized society and whether we like it or not, it is going to become more and more computerized.

The Impact on Society:

Part of the reason that ht impact of computer on society is so great is the fact that computers are becoming smaller,chaper, faster, and more reliable. Already they are an indispensable way of life. They are all-pervasive, i.e., they have filtered into almost every aspect of our lives, and the only safe assumption is they will continue to do so at a greater rate in the future.

In 1951, the first general computer was installed by the Bureau of Census in the USA. This time periods corresponds to the life maturation cycle of today’s adults. Thus one whole generation had been raised in a computer averment. The psychological impact of this fact was of enormous importance because people began thinking interims of computers. 

Though technology we have been able to put all the functioning parts of a computer onto a single silicon chip that is smaller than a thumbnail. When this chip and its related components are installed in your car’s carburetion system, you have what we call a “smart” or “intelligent device”.

This same technology has given us ‘smart” sewing machine where pressing a button determines the switch pattern that will be sewn. Low-price copter video games, had-held devices than play chess with us (and may win more often than not electronic typewriters than correct spelling mistakes before reproducing the ms -list is endless.

An electronic flash subassembly for an Eastman Kodak camera, equipped with a device of a light- sensitive integrated circuit chip and pr-programmed intelligence, automatically monitorslighin conditions, and decides when the flash is needed. In effect you have a computerizes camera. The list does not stop here, as the technology is being extended to an amazing number of areas. For example, withess the incredible boom in the sale o electronic games. Not only do these games (chess, checkers, video games) seriously challenge, and of then beat the user, but many of them have the capability of voice output. These games defy our imaginative powers. Ten years earlier who would have thought that computer driven games would be sold so cheaply today?

A spin off of these games is being developed by the auto company’s factories, where certain sensor-triggered potential problems such as low fuel condition, low oil pressure, incorrect battery charging etc. The top-of –the –line computer games use your home television as an output device for the system. Mattel’s Intelligent Television System offers a variety of programmed packages than tinkled math games, sports, social judgment, and even family finance planning. Then some of these intelligence dives outgrow their game statue when manufacturers realize at users where becoming more aware of computer capabilities. 

Probably the first encounter most of us have had with computers is through our interaction with large corporations and the way they process data banks.Deaptement stories, the grocery stories, the telephone company, utility companies they., all use computers to transact business on the spot, than ties as it occults. As a matter of fact as these firms have gone into automation, it is highly unlikely they will continue to make more and more use of the electronic tool.

A newer and perhaps greater revolution is on its way. It is the second part of the computer revolution brought about by the merger of computer and communication technology. All nations are today dominated by information. Industry has an overwhelming need to acquire and disseminate information to idly dispersed locations. The methods and hardware of both data processing and communications have been integrated into a combination that has been the way in 1980s and 199s.

Remote data processing using small typewriter like terminal devices means that more of businesses and individual’s alike-have now access to the owner of the computer. Through networks of terrestrial and satellite communication stations, data processing capability is available almost everywhere. For example, a concept called view data or videotext is underway already I France and the United States. It ties together the local telephone, tour TV set, and the computer. By dialing a local number you will have pages of data displayed on the screen. The ultimayefoal of the operation is to eliminate the annual expenses of printing telephone books of very home. Of course informanceiton retrieval thought this system is not limited to the telephone book, the system offers thiopental of delivering customized information into the home and office .An extension of French Videotext is Teletel Videotext service . For the price of a single call, the easer can call up and see video information, including new.
   
Many applications are heir apparent to this new and powerful force. in fact, almost all areas of society have urgent needs that can be addressed by the combined computer/communications technology.

Privacy in the Computer Age

Right to privacy is the hallmark of a green society. This right is now coming under attack form a source the might never had been visualized by the people. The vary aspect of computers that makes them such a useful toll for society, it threatens our most precious right. Computers operate most effectively onlarge, homogenous masses of data called data banks or data bases. Without computers, the government as we know it today should cease to function because computers are highly efficient processors of information.

Since the efficiency of a computer system tends to increase (and costs decrees) as the system grows larger, there is a natural tendency to gravitate toward larger and larger data banks. And the most cost effective way to do this is by tying together many compute systems into a network of data banks. Thus the users do not have to generate each piece of information is needed butt can simply tie into the data bank that is developed by another regency. Theoretically a participating agency could gain access to records in any of the databanks. Obviously there is a great potential for abuse. At this point some questions need be asked: What happens if the data falls into the working hands? Exactly what kind of data on individuals can store? By whom can this data be stored? Who is responsible for it scarab? Who authorize access to it ? Who provides unauthorized access?

Before there is cause for panic, it is good to have a look at the orate side of large computer networks. First, just because a large data band exists, one cannot automatically assume that the information is being abused.