Weekly Log 10

What I learned about computers, networks:
Huge impact on everything: Computers have a huge impact on society in terms of work, leisure, privacy, education, and democracy, and other social conditions. Some people say technology is the driving force of society while others believe that social forces that are dependent on technology impose a great effect. It is hard to determine since our sources information regarding computers and society are partisan.
computers and work:
Shifts in the way how humans work: First,computers are the first dramatic shift in the way humans works. Probably the first shift is from hunter-gatherer to agricultural humans, then from production based on humans and animal muscle and individual crafts to manufacturing (industrial revolution).During industrial revolutions, technology increase production, meanwhile, it deprives traditional workers (e.g. weavers) of a livelihood. Some of the workers even smashed the machinery. Those who did gain employment with the new machinery often had to work 12, 14 or even longer every day. In a sense, industrial revolution decrease workers living standard in the first a few decades (ironically).Reports shows that productivity grew very slowly during the first decades of the industrial revolution.
Same paradox happens in computer era. Even though technology largely increases our productivity, it seems to lengthen our working hours. Moreover, many blue/while collar jobs disappeared and lots of people work for longer due to the fear of losing their jobs. In 1980s and 1990s, reports showed that household incomes dropped as productivity went up. Some argue that we have traded more stuff for less time.
Unemployment and jobs: ebb and flow with the cyclical recessions. Many jobs created (services, computer-related sectors)  while others disappeared (typesetting, watchmaking, machining, telephone operators) due to the development of technology.
Working mode changes and telecommuting: Working mode changes dramatically as well.Increasing numbers of worker spent their working time in front of a computer and some use telecommute.Pros of telecommuting include flexible work hours, lower cost for office infrastructure,and a smaller social impact of commuting. Cons include intrusion into home life(lengthened working hours), reduced impact with co-workers, and less "visibility" to superiors.

Technology and privacy
We want network to share and there is a limit of how much we want to share. Some privacy is needed while some is bad, thus a balance is required. Using computers, privacy can be deliberately or inadvertently violated. Even though we can choose to share information narrowly with a certain group of people or with general public, privacy is often violated and information can be widely spread.Truth is, the surveys we do, our website viewing history, credit information, stuffs we buy,even current location can be accessible due to technology.Even laws are enacted to limit the privacy intrusion, computers accelerate the collection and spreading of this information. They also make it possible to combine information from several sources, so that you end up revealing a great deal more than you realized.