The Impact of Communication Technology Part 2

Economic Impact Today, businesses rely on computers, high tech telephones, fax machines and local area computer networks. These systems have a real effect on our economy. Today, businesses rely on computers, high tech telephones, fax machines and local area computer networks. These systems have a real effect on our economy. With global communication comes a global economy. Things that happen this morning in New York can affect business in Tokyo, thousands of miles away, a few hours later. With global communication comes a global economy. Things that happen this morning in New York can affect business in Tokyo, thousands of miles away, a few hours later.

Economic Impact Communication technologies are also moving us from a production economy to a service economy. Instead of building things in a factory, more and more people are performing services. Communication technologies are also moving us from a production economy to a service economy. Instead of building things in a factory, more and more people are performing services. Technologies make factories more efficient and they require less people to work in them. Technologies make factories more efficient and they require less people to work in them.

Economic Impact – Use of Credit Many people live on credit. Many people spend more than they earn. Unlike people of the past, they are unwilling or unable to save for what they want. Many people live on credit. Many people spend more than they earn. Unlike people of the past, they are unwilling or unable to save for what they want. Do you think that high speed communications may be a part of the reason people seem to want everything right away? Do you think that high speed communications may be a part of the reason people seem to want everything right away? What about TV advertising. Everyday we watch while hundreds of commercials urge us to buy, buy, buy. What about TV advertising. Everyday we watch while hundreds of commercials urge us to buy, buy, buy. Does TV affect our spending habits? Does TV affect our spending habits?

Environmental Impact Communication tends to be “clean” technology. Communication tends to be “clean” technology. Compared to “smokestack” industries like steel production, communication industries are easier on our environment. Compared to “smokestack” industries like steel production, communication industries are easier on our environment.

Environmental Impact - Downside People thought that computers would allow us to have a “paperless” office of the future. People thought that computers would allow us to have a “paperless” office of the future. Computers and photocopiers generate more paper copies than ever before. Computers and photocopiers generate more paper copies than ever before. When we harvest trees and use energy to produce paper, we make an impact on the environment. When we harvest trees and use energy to produce paper, we make an impact on the environment.

Cultural Impact Many people believe television has made us a less literate society than we were a generation or two ago. Many people believe television has made us a less literate society than we were a generation or two ago. People who are literate are able to read and write well. People who are literate are able to read and write well. School test scores have declined. School test scores have declined. Could that be because we read less and watch television more? Could that be because we read less and watch television more?

Cultural Impact – The Video Revolution Many television shows change scenes or images every couple of seconds. Something seems to be happening constantly. Many television shows change scenes or images every couple of seconds. Something seems to be happening constantly. We have come to expect this constant action or we are bored. We have come to expect this constant action or we are bored. Many teachers report short attention spans among today’s students. Many teachers report short attention spans among today’s students. Is television to blame for this? Is television to blame for this?

Cultural Impact - Violence What about our attitude toward violence? What about our attitude toward violence? Have they changed because of television? Have they changed because of television? When we constantly see violent movies and violent stories on the evening news, does it desensitize us toward violence? When we constantly see violent movies and violent stories on the evening news, does it desensitize us toward violence?

Cultural Impacts - Advertising Shopping has become a national pastime. Shopping has become a national pastime. Instead of spending Sundays going to museums or visiting, many families wander around shopping malls. Instead of spending Sundays going to museums or visiting, many families wander around shopping malls. Do you think the constant advertising on television might have something to do with this? Do you think the constant advertising on television might have something to do with this?

Ethical Issues Ethical concerns have to do with matters of right and wrong. Ethical concerns have to do with matters of right and wrong. Things that are unethical may not necessarily be against the law, however, most people agree that they are wrong. Things that are unethical may not necessarily be against the law, however, most people agree that they are wrong. New developments in communication bring with them some ethical problems that did not exist before. New developments in communication bring with them some ethical problems that did not exist before.

Digital Editing One of the things about digital files is that they can be changed very easily. One of the things about digital files is that they can be changed very easily. This process is called digital editing. This process is called digital editing. While digital editing makes many tasks much simpler, it may also be used for questionable purposes. While digital editing makes many tasks much simpler, it may also be used for questionable purposes.

Digital Editing - Continued Photographers pictures can be altered with digital editing systems with a few keystrokes, often by someone other than the photographer. Photographers pictures can be altered with digital editing systems with a few keystrokes, often by someone other than the photographer. The question is, what rights do photographers have regarding their pictures? The question is, what rights do photographers have regarding their pictures? ?id= ?id= ?id= ?id=6909 Digital sound editing enables an audio technician to alter the voice of a singer or the sound of an instrument. They can make anyone sound good singing. Is this right? Digital sound editing enables an audio technician to alter the voice of a singer or the sound of an instrument. They can make anyone sound good singing. Is this right?

Data Security The ability for programmers to alter software creates a problem known as data security. The ability for programmers to alter software creates a problem known as data security. When should a programmer be allowed to alter software developed by someone else? When should a programmer be allowed to alter software developed by someone else? Who should be allowed to access data stored by a computer. Who should be allowed to access data stored by a computer. When should software be copy protected so it may not be easily duplicated? When should software be copy protected so it may not be easily duplicated? Should companies that purchase software allow employees to make a copy for home use? Should companies that purchase software allow employees to make a copy for home use?

Computer Viruses In the late 1980’s, computer viruses became a major data security issue. In the late 1980’s, computer viruses became a major data security issue. A computer virus is a program hidden within another program. A computer virus is a program hidden within another program. When that program is loaded into the computer, the virus copies itself onto floppy or hard disks that are run on that computer. When that program is loaded into the computer, the virus copies itself onto floppy or hard disks that are run on that computer.

Computer Viruses Continued Sometimes the viruses are meant to be harmless. Example just taking up space or making the computer run slowly. Sometimes the viruses are meant to be harmless. Example just taking up space or making the computer run slowly. Others may display a graphic or message on the monitor. Others may display a graphic or message on the monitor. Some viruses are written to destroy data in the computers they infect. They can completely wipe out large databases and destroy years of work. Some viruses are written to destroy data in the computers they infect. They can completely wipe out large databases and destroy years of work.

Ethical Questions Some people have predicted that a virus could bring our country to its knees if it infected key databases. Some people have predicted that a virus could bring our country to its knees if it infected key databases. Others have suggested that it is now easy to “fix” an election since voting results are handled by a small number of computers. Others have suggested that it is now easy to “fix” an election since voting results are handled by a small number of computers. All these legal and ethical questions must be answered. All these legal and ethical questions must be answered.