A Gift of Fire

1
Introduction
2
Overview

• To frame our discussion, consider
• What are some of the significant events in
  computing of the last fifty years?
• What criteria allows you to classify these events
  as significant?

3
Outline

• Information Technology
• A Gift of Fire
• Example
• Themes

4

• "Everything that can be invented has been
  invented."
• -- Charles H. Duell, U.S. Patent Office, 1899
• "I think there is a world market for maybe five
  computers."
• --Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943
• "I have traveled the length and breadth of this
  country and talked with the best people, and I
  can assure you that data processing is a fad that
  won't last out the year."
• --Editor, Prentice Hall, 1957
• "There is no reason anyone would want a computer
  in their home."
• --Ken Olson, president Digital Equipment Corp.,
  1977

5
Generations of Computers

• First (1945-1956)
• Second (1956-1963)
• Third (1963-1971)
• Fourth (1971-present)
• Fifth (present-????)

6
Moore's Law
http//www.chartoftheday.com/20000719b.htm
7
Data

• 48.5 million desktop and portables were sold
  worldwide in 1984.
• approximately 1 in three U.S. households have a
  computer.
• the lunar landing module used by the Apollo
  astronauts had less computing power than a 1994
  automobile.

8
Significant Events
9
A Gift of Fire

• Prometheus, in a Greek myth, brought us the gift
  of fire. It gives us the power to heat our
  homes, and cook our food. It is also a
  destructive force.

10

• Why use the "gift of fire" analogy in discussing
  computing and information technology?

11
ATM

• The ATM allow us to withdraw cash or conduct bank
  transactions at any time. What issues might be
  associated with the use of ATMs?

12
Unemployment

• In 1983, there were 480,000 bank tellers. In
  1993, there were only 301,000.

13
Alienation

• Automating teller functions eliminates human
  contact between the customer and the live teller.

14
Crime

• People are robbed at ATMs. ATM cards are stolen
  or counterfeited.

15
Loss of Privacy

• ATMs can provide information about the person's
  whereabouts and activities since the transactions
  are recorded in a database. Furthermore, the use
  of video surveillance devices to prevent crime
  increases the loss of privacy.

16
Errors

• An error in the ATM software for a New York bank
  cause accounts to be debited twice the amount of
  the actual withdrawal. In less than a day, more
  than 150,000 transactions, totaling 15million,
  were incorrectly recorded.

17
Themes

• Changes in technology usually require adaptive
  changes in laws, social institutions, business
  policies, and personal skills and attitudes.
• As technologies are developed we need to
  understand the potential and the problems.
• Our decision making should be informed and
  deliberate integrating our understanding of
  personal choices, as well as, social norms and
  laws.