Essay/Term paper: Computers in society

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Sociology Term Papers

Computers have good and bad effects on society. This essay deals with both aspects of computers. This paper will deal with two articles that have been written about computers. One article deals with the positive side of computers and the other deals with the negative side of computers. Negative Effects of Computers Schengili-Roberts, Keith. "Holmolka Trial On BBS Raises Information Access Issues". Computer Paper, The. January 1994. pg. 12. This article deals with the fact that even though information on the Karla Holmolka-Teale trial has officially been banned by the Canadian government, it is still accessible to many Canadians. It is very easy to get a hold of this material. Anyone with a computer, modem, and some spare time could most likely get a hold of this information. The court transcripts, transcripts of the A Current Affair episode that was banned in Canada, and other articles from other publications banned in Canada are accessible from local BBSes, Internet, or by calling long distance to a BBS in the US or Europe. Also, Internet, a computer network of BBSes established all over the world, has various chat bases set up for people to discuss the information. People can also get the information by having it sent to them from friends or relatives living outside of Canada. While it is not illegal to have this information, it is illegal to have for the purpose of distribution. The reason that the above information was banned in Canada is so that Karla Holmolka-Teale's husband, Paul, is assured a fair trial. The lawyers, court, etc., were afraid that if the public found out about the court proceedings, they would make up their mind about Paul's innocence before he was given a trial and therefore, finding an un-biased jury would be next too impossible. Another problem with computers and modems is the distribution of X rated pictures and other pornographic material through the phone lines. Even though there are adult BBSes dealing strictly with this material, many other BBSes that do not restrict memberships to certain age groups have it available too. The children would then be able to receive this material by just lying about their age to the Sys-Op (System-Operators). This poses a problem for society and the government. It shows us that almost all information is accessible as long as you have a computer and a modem. It also tells us that information bans many times don't work and that there will almost always be an information leak. You can also see that because pornographic material is available, children may not be safe from pornographic images that they may accidentally stumble across one day and possibly effect them for the rest of their lives. Positive Effects of Computers Crane, David. "Electronic Highway Needs PM". Toronto Star, Business, January 23, 1994. This article deals with the fact that the government is trying to start up an "information highway." In other words, the Canadian government, under the leadership of Jean Chretien, is trying to get computers set up in schools, hospitals, and even homes. This is also what the U.S., under President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Administration, has been trying to do. Right now, U.S. companies are engaging in mergers, takeovers, etc., in order to have banking, home shopping, video on demand and video games ready for home computers. This plan includes spending $4 billion (U.S.) on the computer industry. Industry deregulation has also been announced in hopes of speeding up the private investment sector. A strong message that everyone must be linked up to networks or face new regulations has been sent. U.S. vice-president, Al Gore, has also asked for free services to U.S. schools, libraries, and hospitals. This same urgency does not yet exist in Canada. Ottawa is already helping out the private sector establish a project called the CANARIE (a $100 million electronic system linking regional networks). New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna was appointed Minister of State for the Information Highway. On February 1, the Information Technology Association of Canada and the Canadian Advanced Technology Association of Canada will start a two-day conference in Toronto to discuss the electronic highway. This information highway is good for two reasons. Number one, it is good for the economy. This is because it will create jobs for the public in areas of research and development, plus construction. The second reason it is good is because it will help people to learn. With computer networks in their homes, people will not need to go to the library for a project, they can simply download the information to their home. A student could also call the school with a modem and receive the homework he missed that day because he was sick. A parent could also check through medical information at the hospital to see how to treat their child for an ailment. Computers will also help long distance family and friends to communicate without having to pay for long distance phone charges or for stamps. One could just leave messages on computer networks such as Internet or UniNet that are connected to computers all over the world. Then, the receiver could call a local site of that net and receive all of their e-mail (electronic mail). Another use would be that you could pay your bills from your home without having to go wait in line at the bank or rely on the unreliable post office to deliver your check in time. As you can see, an information/electronic highway would be of great use to the public. This highway is greatly anticipated. Those articles are just two of the many effects computers have on society. Sometimes those effects are good, and sometime they are bad, but from here until far into the future, computers will always have a great effect on our lives and society in general. Bibliography Crane, David. "Electronic Highway Needs PM". Toronto Star, The. Business. January 23, 1994. pg. 1. Schengili-Roberts, Keith. "Holmolka Trial On BBS Raises Information Access Issues". Computer Paper, The. January 1994. pg. 12. Computers have good and bad effects on society. This essay deals with both aspects of computers. This paper will deal with two articles that have been written about computers. One article deals with the positive side of computers and the other deals with the negative side of computers. Negative Effects of Computers Schengili-Roberts, Keith. "Holmolka Trial On BBS Raises Information Access Issues". Computer Paper, The. January 1994. pg. 12. This article deals with the fact that even though information on the Karla Holmolka-Teale trial has officially been banned by the Canadian government, it is still accessible to many Canadians. It is very easy to get a hold of this material. Anyone with a computer, modem, and some spare time could most likely get a hold of this information. The court transcripts, transcripts of the A Current Affair episode that was banned in Canada, and other articles from other publications banned in Canada are accessible from local BBSes, Internet, or by calling long distance to a BBS in the US or Europe. Also, Internet, a computer network of BBSes established all over the world, has various chat bases set up for people to discuss the information. People can also get the information by having it sent to them from friends or relatives living outside of Canada. While it is not illegal to have this information, it is illegal to have for the purpose of distribution. The reason that the above information was banned in Canada is so that Karla Holmolka-Teale's husband, Paul, is assured a fair trial. The lawyers, court, etc., were afraid that if the public found out about the court proceedings, they would make up their mind about Paul's innocence before he was given a trial and therefore, finding an un-biased jury would be next too impossible. Another problem with computers and modems is the distribution of X rated pictures and other pornographic material through the phone lines. Even though there are adult BBSes dealing strictly with this material, many other BBSes that do not restrict memberships to certain age groups have it available too. The children would then be able to receive this material by just lying about their age to the Sys-Op (System-Operators). This poses a problem for society and the government. It shows us that almost all information is accessible as long as you have a computer and a modem. It also tells us that information bans many times don't work and that there will almost always be an information leak. You can also see that because pornographic material is available, children may not be safe from pornographic images that they may accidentally stumble across one day and possibly effect them for the rest of their lives. Positive Effects of Computers Crane, David. "Electronic Highway Needs PM". Toronto Star, Business, January 23, 1994. This article deals with the fact that the government is trying to start up an "information highway." In other words, the Canadian government, under the leadership of Jean Chretien, is trying to get computers set up in schools, hospitals, and even homes. This is also what the U.S., under President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Administration, has been trying to do. Right now, U.S. companies are engaging in mergers, takeovers, etc., in order to have banking, home shopping, video on demand and video games ready for home computers. This plan includes spending $4 billion (U.S.) on the computer industry. Industry deregulation has also been announced in hopes of speeding up the private investment sector. A strong message that everyone must be linked up to networks or face new regulations has been sent. U.S. vice-president, Al Gore, has also asked for free services to U.S. schools, libraries, and hospitals. This same urgency does not yet exist in Canada. Ottawa is already helping out the private sector establish a project called the CANARIE (a $100 million electronic system linking regional networks). New Brunswick Premier Frank McKenna was appointed Minister of State for the Information Highway. On February 1, the Information Technology Association of Canada and the Canadian Advanced Technology Association of Canada will start a two-day conference in Toronto to discuss the electronic highway. This information highway is good for two reasons. Number one, it is good for the economy. This is because it will create jobs for the public in areas of research and development, plus construction. The second reason it is good is because it will help people to learn. With computer networks in their homes, people will not need to go to the library for a project, they can simply download the information to their home. A student could also call the school with a modem and receive the homework he missed that day because he was sick. A parent could also check through medical information at the hospital to see how to treat their child for an ailment. Computers will also help long distance family and friends to communicate without having to pay for long distance phone charges or for stamps. One could just leave messages on computer networks such as Internet or UniNet that are connected to computers all over the world. Then, the receiver could call a local site of that net and receive all of their e-mail (electronic mail). Another use would be that you could pay your bills from your home without having to go wait in line at the bank or rely on the unreliable post office to deliver your check in time. As you can see, an information/electronic highway would be of great use to the public. This highway is greatly anticipated. Those articles are just two of the many effects computers have on society. Sometimes those effects are good, and sometime they are bad, but from here until far into the future, computers will always have a great effect on our lives and society in general. Bibliography Crane, David. "Electronic Highway Needs PM". Toronto Star, The. Business. January 23, 1994. pg. 1. Schengili-Roberts, Keith. "Holmolka Trial On BBS Raises Information Access Issues". Computer Paper, The. January 1994. pg. 12.