1 CS5038 The Electronic Society Lecture 1: Introduction to CS5038 Course Organiser: Frank Guerin f dot guerin at abdn dot ac dot uk Course Website:

2 Marshall McLuhan, "we shape our tools and they in turn shape us.

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen3 What is E-Society About l How IT and (especially) Internet/Web are/could change society »E-commerce, e-government, etc l Non-technical issues that limit or affect this change »Legal, ethical, policy

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen4 E-Society in the News From BBC news web site l UK government responds on Phorm l Crackdown on 'suicide websites' l Computer games drive social ties l Web 'must separate rumour' from science

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen5 Topics l Broadly a 2-way split l Sectors »E-commerce, e-govt, e-learning, e-health, e-science, e-entertainment l Issues »Legal, ethical/professional, organisational, policy, digital divide

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen6 Course structure l Schedule »See web page »Tutorials: sign up via Web l Staff »Frank Guerin (course organiser, co-teaching) »Matthew Collinson (co-teaching) »Unconfirmed: ?Matt Dennis? (demonstrator)

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen7 Reading l Information page on course website »Books, websites, seminars »All background/optional »No course textbook as such »

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen8 Assessment l 75% exam »Topics from lectures, tutorials, assessment –NOT just what's on powerpoint! l 25% coursework »Two articles (25%) –NOT just what's on powerpoint! »Oral presentation – not marked, but could help article

9 Introduction: What is eSociety About?

10 Introduction: What is eSociety About? Electronic Technology Human Society

11 Marshall McLuhan, "we shape our tools and they in turn shape us.

12 Some definitions… Technology: the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems Technology: a broad concept that deals with a species' usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt to its environment Society: an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization Society: a grouping of individuals, which is characterized by common interests and may have distinctive culture and institutions.

13 Technological and social developments through the ages…

14 Technological and social developments through the ages…

15 Technological and social developments through the ages… Development of farming

16 Technological and social developments through the ages… Settlement

17 Technological and social developments through the ages… Settlement They interact and feed each other – technological and social development

18 Technological and social developments through the ages… Development of money

19 Technological and social developments through the ages… Specialisation

20 Technological and social developments through the ages… Specialisation Some unexpected, like traders

21 Technological and social developments through the ages… Development of Writing

22 Technological and social developments through the ages… Specialist knowledge Mathematics Scribes Education Classes … So technology is the motor for major social changes Now technological change is so fast and profound interesting times for society We are only at the beginning of this social change

23 phone screens fast data transmission and processing large databases search Encryption Specific technologies were necessary for specific sectors Sometimes one is driving the other Much has been discovered very recently

24 Freedom of information Censorship Freedom of speech Blogging Technology provides a new opportunity + society makes use of it (in unforeseen ways) =Society changes Society has a new need Technology fills the gap

25 Music Movies TV Web 2.0 Again… Technology provides a new opportunity + society makes use of it (in unforeseen ways) =Society changes Society has a new need Technology fills the gap

26 Why study eSociety? Learn about effects on society Learn about new/old needs of society Learn about non technical challenges Looking at the big picture maybe you can see the pattern helps you predict how technology will change how society will change business opportunity (Google, eBay, Amazon, Youtube) social engineering opportunity

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen27 Topics: Sectors l E-Society sectors »E-commerce »E-government »E-learning »E-health »E-science »E-entertainment l Potential benefits? Barriers?

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen28 E-Commerce l Potential benefits »Shop open 24/7 »Customers all over world »Unlimited catalogue l Issues »Business models (organisational change) »Security/privacy/trust »Legal barriers to international sales

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen29 E-Commerce l Potential benefits »Shop open 24/7 »Customers all over world »Unlimited catalogue l Issues »Business models (organisational change) »Security/privacy/trust »Legal barriers to international sales

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen30 E-government l Potential benefits »Info is easily accessible to all »Easier tax forms, voting, etc l Issues

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen31 E-government l Potential benefits »Info is easily accessible to all »Easier tax forms, voting, etc l Issues »Unfair to people who lack access to web? –Poor, elderly, deprived

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen32 E-Learning l Potential benefits »Distance learning »Material can be customised to student l Issues

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen33 E-Learning l Potential benefits »Distance learning »Material can be customised to student l Issues »Ownership/use of material? »Many people want face-to-face teaching –Interaction with peers

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen34 E-Health l Potential benefits »Sharing medical information (eg, A&E) »Fewer medical errors »Detect disease outbreaks, etc, better l Issues

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen35 E-Health l Potential benefits »Sharing medical information (eg, A&E) »Fewer medical errors »Detect disease outbreaks, etc, better l Issues »Security/privacy of medical data »What happens when computers crash? –Natural diasasters?

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen36 Reflect: Systems Thinking l Systems, which perform functions and provide services, are complex assemblies and combinations of technological, human/social, economic, and policy components. l How can we organize our understanding? l How can model systems so that we can explore and reason about all of the interacting and conflicting components and requirements? l How do systems fail? Systemic failure, component failure, individual culpability? l Security examples.

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen37 E-Science l Potential benefits »Universal access to scientific papers and data sets »Better collaboration, sharing of resources l Issues »Organisational: researchers judged by research papers in conventional journals »How detect bogus material

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen38 E-Science l Potential benefits »Universal access to scientific papers and data sets »Better collaboration, sharing of resources l Issues »Organisational: researchers judged by research papers in conventional journals »How detect bogus material

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen39 E-Entertainment l Potential benefits »Much broader range of material »Interact with people around world l Issues »Privacy (esp of children) »Rights to material (IPR)

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen40 E-Entertainment l Potential benefits »Much broader range of material »Interact with people around world l Issues »Privacy (esp of children) »Rights to material (IPR)

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen41 E-Society l Internet/web/IT can change society for the better l But these changes require many non- technical barriers to be addressed.

Dr. Ehud Reiter, Computing Science, University of Aberdeen42 Standard for new tech l To effectively use cars, society needs »Infrastructure: roads, petrol stations… »Public policy (speed limit, age limit) »Laws, regulations, licenses »Professional bodies (AA), training (BSM) »Mechanism to deal with failures –Police, ambulances, etc for crashes l Much more than actual vehicle

43 Electronic Technology Human Society "we shape our tools and they in turn shape us.