Since its beginning, the computer including the Internet, has quickly moved from the computer lab, to the workplace, and finally, into the home. It is becoming an increasingly popular form of communication, and a source of both information and entertainment. An important question to ask is how this affects people, and how will it continue to effect people in the future. This paper will attempt to address these questions. A brief introduction of various areas of concern will be looked at first, followed by an examination of each area, and finally recommendations for policies to deal with potential problems will be discussed.
Identity is synonymous with our individuality and our own personal make-up, and yet, due to the explosion of online, virtual communities, the singleness of identity is losing its meaning. MUDs, the most prevalent of all virtual communities, have created a new space, not physical, but just as real in terms of mental visualization, social interaction and self-actualization. Within these new virtual spaces identity is questioned, molded and exchanged like the daily changing of clothes. Who we are and how we are seen by others is now user-defined, multiple and mutable.
Since the first introduction of video games in the 1970's, concerns have been raised regarding the possible ill effects of video games on their players. In the 1980's, computer games were released. Like video games, they quickly became the most preferred leisure activity among its users. With the rapid improvement of graphics technology, and the increased competition between video and computer games, game contents were becoming more and more detailed and consequently, more graphically violent. As a result, concerns have increased greatly and many studies have been conducted on the impact of video games. If game content is increasing in violent, will this lead their frequent players to act more aggressively towards others?
An ever-growing field of research within computers is the study of the interaction between humans and computers. There are some people who feel very well integrated with the use of computers, while others feel estranged. Hence, what makes a computer friendly or unfriendly? This question is central for companies who manufacture computers, products, and software. This paper will inform the reader of different factors related to human-computer interaction, by discussing and giving examples of the user, graphical interfaces, ergonomics and the physical design of the computer.
The pervasiveness of the Internet in today's society necessitates a thorough examination into its potential effects on our social skills. Will high exposure to this relatively new media affect the ways in which we interact offline? Three possible answers and their consequences will be presented and explored.
The Internet primarily uses text as a means of communication between people, yet it uses text in new ways. With Internet technologies such as hypertext, on-line literature has the ability to be written in styles which differ greatly from the traditional method of printed text. What kind of impact will this have on literacy? These developments could lead to an increased ability to read and write among the general public, or they may have negative ramifications, such as language erosion, or even cause the end of the printed page.
Women are one of the fastest growing sectors of the population joining and participating on the Internet, despite the many hostilities they face while online. Differences between women and men in the areas of computer use, technological developments, barriers to access, and coping mechanisms will be explored. Recommendations will be made regarding policies that aim at equalizing the differences in Internet participation and comfort level between women and men.
The incorporation of the Internet as a teaching tool into education is a recent development which has become popular in classrooms and in distance education. How will the Internet be used successfully as a learning tool in classrooms and in distance education while maintaining face-to-face communication? Outcomes of the merging of education and the Internet on face-to-face communication and policies to facilitate successful education via the Internet are investigated.
With the advancement of information technology, telework is a concept, which has now flourished. Telework presents both advantages and disadvantages to various actors in society, such as, the government, employers, employees as well as women, single parent families, disabled persons and the disadvantaged
With the growing use of the Internet, and the increasing diversity of people and cultures engaged in Internet use, there is an issue that is now challenging the fast-accelerating growth of the Internet: censorship. It is a dilemma because different people, all wishing to communicate via this new form of communication, meet challenges to what is and is not acceptable.
One could assume we are moving into an open and boundless global community with the advent of the "information age". However, there is a great diversity in national policy regarding key elements of the information age. Encryption, Supercomputers, Internet infrastructure, and basic Human Rights are still under debate and restriction on a global scale.
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