Politics and Technology of Control: Introduction

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Syllabus


January 28

The Internet at its core is simply an expression of a technological protocol that allows for a particular way of sharing information. But its role has never been this understated. The Net has great potential for “good” (e.g. innovation, economic growth, education, and access to information), and likewise is a great platform for the bawdy, tawdry and illegal. So is this platform about fundamental social, political and economic change, or about access to solipsistic blogging, pornography, cheap pharmaceuticals, free music, and poker at home? This question leads us to a host of interesting issues that weave their way through the course related to openness, access, regulatory control, free speech, anonymity, intellectual property rights, democracy, transparency, norms and values, economic and cultural change, and cyber-terrorism, as well as scamsters and thieves.

Download slides from this week's class.

There is a small assignment to do before class. See Assignment Zero below.


Preparation (Assignment "Zero")

Reflect on what you believe are the most significant social, cultural, political or economic changes associated with the spread of digital technologies. In a few sentences, please offer 2-3 examples in the Class Discussion section below and be prepared to discuss them during class.


Readings/Watchings

What is the Internet?

How does the Internet change governance?

Who governs the Internet?

Who is the Internet? Who is it not? What can we do about it?

Optional Readings


Videos Watched in Class

Links From Adobe Connect Session

Some more info on traceroute: http://www.exit109.com/~jeremy/news/providers/traceroute.html

Tim Wu on Colbert: http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/432449/january-23-2014/end-of-net-neutrality---tim-wu

Sealand: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Sealand

An example of surreptitiously activating webcams: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2013/12/18/research-shows-how-macbook-webcams-can-spy-on-their-users-without-warning/

SOPA/PIPA Background: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Online_Piracy_Act

Chatham House Rules: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatham_House_Rule

Class Discussion

Welcome to Internet and Society: Technologies and Politics of Control! This is the section of the page where you should add your comments to complete "assignment zero." Once you have registered an account, just click the "[edit]" button at the upper right hand corner of this section to add text! Please remember to sign your postings by adding four tildes (~~~~) to the end of your contribution. This will automatically add your username and the date/time of your post, like so: Andy 15:12, 7 November 2013 (EST)




The spread of digital technologies has created many significant changes, including but not limited to, a social explosion, a political revolution, and even major cultural and economic impacts. Quite often the boundaries is not definitive, whereby there are socio-economic impacts. Socially, the speed at which we communicate, the manner in which we communicate, and how we expect to be communicated with, has shifted into warp speed. This has economic ramifications as well.

For instance, we no longer are limited to waiting on hold to speak with a customer service representative of a company, we can access their Facebook page to find out company information or tweet about a bad experience, and almost instantly receive not only a response, but even action. Numerous of unhappy customer experiences have ended up online as blogs, thus becoming an impetus for change in how a business does business (i.e Change.org). One such account was that of a cell phone customer who was unhappy and another cell phone carrier's CEO joined an online twitter discussion and won the customer from the other carrier and even remarked that that's the type of personal service you can expect from T-Mobile that you will not get from AT&T. It was great, free advertising.

From a cultural aspect, many people go to churches, mosques, halls, et al for fellowship and worship. Now, many people are accessing their place of worship's service via live streaming technology. I've even noticed more people carrying less bibles and more tablets and/or smartphones to access online versions of bibles in churches via apps like YouVersion. Churches have opened multiple satellite locations, where a mere screen is erected and streams the live broadcast to to each location. Many people come each week to watch a screen and act as if the minister, pastor, bishop are there and seemingly enjoy the digital experience as if it were the real person. MOOCs are the equivalent in the educational arena.

Politically (or socio-politically), our 44th President ran an entire political campaign online, raised more money virtually, reached more of the younger generation, and won his first election via his seemingly transparent and online access to his campaign, campaign schedule, people's "access' to him online, and his overall ability to embrace digital technologies. We also have more access into wars. Soldiers are carrying smartphones and taking pictures of what's going on and posting those online.

Natural disasters have caused massive damages to places like Sandy Hook and Haiti. Americans used technology to text donations to aid victims of those misfortunes. The aid received for the Earthquake in Haiti was in the billions.404consultant 23:09, 2 February 2014 (EST)



The most significant changes associated with the spread of digital technologies would be the speed of information exchange and increased opportunity for information sharing.

With the help of social networking websites, it takes only one click to inform your friends and family about the birthday party that will be held next week in downtown, and you will be able to do a head count by looking at how many people click the “Going” button. It saves time and effort to exchange information nowadays. Although this attributed to the fact that people have been less careful when sharing information, we could not deny that digital technologies has contributed a lot in a positive way such as improving efficiency.

Another good example of showing how rapid the information sharing process could be via digital technologies is Edward Snowden. He would like to warn the public “as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them” by releasing classified material to The Guardian. It only took a day for the news to travel around the world. Jolietheone 16:41, 28 January 2014 (EST)



The spread of digital technology and the influence of the Internet have changed our society immeasurably. I am particularly interested in exploring the social, cultural, and political influence of digital technology on our society and in developing countries. From this perspective, one of the most significant moments of change on the Internet was the Arab Spring of 2010. As a grassroots movement facilitated by Twitter, this was a defining moment in demonstrating the power of online communities. The Arab Spring proved that individuals were able to cultivate communities online and more importantly, were able to organize themselves within the community to become a force of change. The democratization of information, ability to communicate, and the freedom to communicate gave the promise of justice for the voiceless and oppressed. Today, citizen advocacy has brought once quieted issues to the mainstream, like the NSA leaks, the 2012 Delhi gang rape, or the Boston Marathon Bombing.

However, the Internet and digital technology has influenced many other areas besides society and government. A critical step in progress for modern technology is the mapping of the human genome. The ability to store and access this information has ushered in unprecedented changes in medical fields. Furthermore, the Internet has increased access to medical tools like WebMD or the development of medical mobile applications, which will be an important development as technology becomes more globalized. Julie 16:14, 28 January 2014 (EST)



Access and participation afforded by the spread of digital technologies have had a significant impact socially, culturally, politically, and economically. Socially, access to networking platforms, social media, internet calling services and instant messaging have changed the quantity of individual connections- and quality of relationships- regardless of location throughout the world. Culturally, stratification of identity or orientation has shifted significantly; the emphasis on national, religious, ethnic, and other cultural differences has been diluted by the rise of interconnectivity, access to information and the ability to participate across cultures. Politically and economically, the impact is largely similar- access to non-traditional and real-time news sources fostered by the spread of digital technology empowers the consumer as well as the constituent. The ability to inform oneself and advocate for individual and collective interests has changed the landscape of economic and political participation; unfortunately this has been coupled with increased concerns about rights to information disseminated on the internet and the protection of privacy at the individual and organizational level. Akk22 11:04, 28 January 2014 (EST)



The explosion of digital technology has dramatically impacted society in all facets of life. It has evolved us as a species and will continue to change the way in which we interact with each other, the way we think, and eventually the human body itself will gradually transform. In terms of inventions, the birth of the internet has far surpassed any other invention known to mankind with respect to the magnitude of change occurring within the relatively short lifespan of its existence. As a child, I recall when robots were once considered something so distant in the future, but now we have a form of a robot with the internet. It contains more "knowledge" and holds more information than any human being.

Digital technology has altered society in several ways that I have observed and experienced:

Socially & Culturally - Digital technology has changed the way humans make plans and interact with one another. It appears that encounters and relationships have somehow become more casual and less personal via the advancement and widespread use of social media. Formalities and formal interactions are becoming less common. A simple text message now is the norm for setting up a date with a potential mate rather than a phone call or knocking on the lady's door to ask her parents' permission for a proper date.

Along these lines, for better or worse, it appears that even the cultural style of dress for those in the younger generations has evolved into a more casual trend. People are generally more accepting with an "anything goes" type of attitude. The iconic CEO Facebook creator, Mark Zuckerburg, is often seen wearing his T-Shirt even when meeting with other high profile CEOs and officials.

The so-called "dot-com" generation has also been known to feel the need for "instant gratification" and appear to have less patience than the elder members of society. This makes sense given digital technology's ease of immediate information sharing and overall access to information at the click of a button. Only a few years ago it seemed normal if someone did not respond within a day or two. Now if someone does not answer after one or two days, 911 is serious consideration.

General reliability between friends is also another changing element of human interaction because with the click of a button someone can cancel plans or easily evade previously planned obligations. A few decades ago, if I told someone we were to meet at the train station, I had better show up because I had no way of letting my comrade know I could not make it. It used to be considered nearly impossible to ask someone to "hang out" on the same day because planning with such short notice was simply not possible. With cell phones and text messaging, "meeting up" is now the norm and planning events out is becoming less common (or so has been true in my experience).

Governance & Governing: As Jack Goldsmith and Timothy Wu illustrate in their example about Yahoo in "Digital Borders", the internet has and I believe will continue to erode the general power of government. The internet has no borders and trying to determine the convoluted doctrine of privacy is a grapple for any expert to endure. The internet also enhances the power of the individual (for better or worse) as it affords all members of the world with a platform for anyone to view. With an unlimited audience propaganda becomes all the more powerful and any thought can be expressed and followed by the masses. Culturally, this can also enhance narcissism to the extent that one's own thoughts, photos, and individual power/image can be continually broadcasted for the world to see.

The internet has obviously changed the way laws are enforced and the modus operandi in which criminals operate. While the internet has arguably made it easier for law enforcement to catch certain types of criminals, other types of threats (namely, cyber crime) are more difficult and sometimes nearly impossible to detect.

Economy: While the internet has worked wonders for many economic gains such as providing general efficiency; the downside is the threat that if the internet crashes or otherwise becomes inoperable, business suddenly takes a back seat and can become totally paralyzed acting as a prime target for adversaries (as the recent Target credit card hacking events have shown). In other words, the benefits of efficiency are only truly beneficial to the extent that internet platforms are operating smoothly. The overdependence on the internet is perhaps the most frightening thing our society faces. I will never forget the first time I was at a store and the "servers" were down at the checkout counter. After two hours of shopping and loads of groceries, I was turned away even after offering cash! The computer system required all transactions to be logged. The damage to the economy if this were to happen on a grand scale would be damming.

The internet has actually changed the very definition of success and perception of success in my opinion. In one minute, you can become rich off the internet. One youtube video posted can start Justin Bieber's Hollywood career; the advent of a social media website can make someone one of the richest in the world. Striking it rich has become much easier for some who thrive off the popularity contest the internet provides. How this has impacted the traditional view of the American dream remains to be seen.

AmyAnn0644 20:48, 27 January 2014 (EST)



The spread of digital technologies has sparked an ubiquitous world. Communication is instantaneous, global, and self-published. As a result, the public has chosen which social and political interactions to reject and trust, causing a potentially biased perception of their contemporary world. The irony of this bias is that the ability to access information from a variety of sources is unprecedented; sorting through the inundation of un- and published materials - fact or opinion - becomes a challenge for even the most educated. For the youth, privacy becomes re-defined as being alone physically, yet open to sharing the most insignificant or significant details of their lives digitally (how will these tendencies shape the future?). The combinational effects of these changes establish a gateway for future technologies to be adapted (or rejected) by the public; however, improving awareness and education of the general public is of utmost importance in order for society to fully embrace the power and impact of these future tools.

Margorm 20:48, 27 January 2014 (EST)



“Change” holds neither a positive, nor negative connotation, so I will provide an example of each:

The negative: The ubiquity of camera-equipped, internet-connected smartphones allows millions of Americans to digitally upload and share photographs with ease. Sometimes, though, these photos are compromising and end up in the hands of nefarious purveyors of “revenge porn.” The proliferation of revenge porn can and does compromise the privacy (and oftentimes safety) of private citizens who become unwitting victims of sexual harassment. And in most cases, law enforcement is unable to prosecute offenders. Many U.S. states punish “cyberstalking,” but only as a misdemeanor, which means that law enforcement cannot obtain warrants that are necessary to collect evidence needed to prosecute. Recourse in civil court proves equally futile due in large part to antiquated copyright law. I believe that revenge porn serves as an example of the social and political problems that can arise when technology moves faster than the law.

The positive: Digital technology continues to reinvent the culture of higher learning. For instance, I am currently participating in this discussion, and will attend this Cambridge-based class remotely, from my home in Manhattan, NYC. Moreover, MOOCs offered by EdX and similar providers allow interested parties to engage in courses out of genuine interest.

Vance.puchalski 00:33, 27 January 2014 (EST)



significant social, cultural, political or economic changes associated with the spread of digital technologies:

1) culturally and politically, spin control held by governments and regional authorities ( religious, corporate, ethnic ) loses traction in the minds of individual internet users; digital tech results in a macro shift of the rhetoric of belief from formerly established originators of spin to the web itself as provider of deconstructed information that individuals more typically use to form their own beliefs and to question the validity of formerly established paradigms.

2)economically, web commerce fast outdates the economics of traditional physically-based logistics. Serious privacy issues among users of new technologies stand as barriers to user confidence, even as new tech info systems tend to present prospective users with no viable lesser-cost alternatives.

Mbouscaren 14:55, 25 January 2014 (EST)



1. The ability to communicate instantly has changed social interactions and relationships on a personal level (i.e. the instant feedback available on social media and communication via email, text, etc.) and in wider communities (i.e. forums, comments on news articles and blogs, etc.). The access to and engagement with new communication technologies can be empowering for those who may have otherwise felt voiceless, while a sense of anonymity can lead to harassment with minimal consequences.

2. Fast and easy access to information that allows individuals to educate themselves (though that has to be balanced against the challenges of finding reliable sources) and have more control as consumers (compare products, read reviews, etc.).

Jkelly 16:25, 26 January 2014 (EST)



  • Significant social change - People with traits of autism, Asperger's, ADD, dyslexia, social anxiety are becoming over-represented among successful CEOs and entrepreneurs, relative to the population at large. The current economy has been rewarding companies run by people who have mental characteristics adapted to software programming, engineering, and creativity (for example) much more than in the past.
  • Economic change - (To be honest, both of my answers could fit into social, political and economic...) Markets are shifting from broadcast, one-size fits all models of communication towards narrowcast, peer-to-peer conversations. On the Internet, consumer-driven input, quality products/content and sometimes even user-generated content are valued more highly than tightly-controlled corporate 'spin'. Of course this may change substantially with the fall of net neutrality.

Erin Saucke-Lacelle 20:15, 26 January 2014 (EST)



Significant social change: The way in which news spreads has changed drastically with the advent of the internet. Social networking sites, such as Facebook and particularly Twitter, have become news outlets that have, in some cases, proved to be quicker at providing up-to-the-minute current event info than traditional news providers.

Cultural/legal change: The spread of digital technologies has impacted the music industry and amateur artists in a profound way. A great example is the issue of mash-ups, the cutting and pasting of previously-recorded songs to make a brand new tune. Mash-ups have proven to be an outlet for amateur creativity, as the average person can take different songs (often times of different genres and beats) off the internet and make something entirely new. That amateur can then share her music with others. The music industry is not a fan of mash-ups, claiming that the infringe upon copy-right law. Current copy-right laws in the US are far behind the internet and do not provide guidelines on how to maintain a balance between what mash-up artists consider their 1st Amendment rights and what the music industry consider copy-right infringement.( There's a lot more I could say about this, as I wrote a paper on it, but in the interest of keeping it short, I'll end here.)

Lrsanchez 10:25, 27 January 2014 (EST)



Technology and the internet have changed the face of communication in all of its various subjects-- political, social, cultural, etc.-- which is to say that it has mostly replaced actual faces and voices with a computer screen. This is not to say that there aren't benefits, as there certainly are a plethora of benefits, ranging from the accessibility of information and quick dissemination of news. With a mere device, one is capable of staying connected to their family, friends, and the community at large no matter where they travel. Like never before, people are being brought together from drastically different backgrounds and geographical locations. We are being exposed to stories about the cultural traditions of the smallest microcosms and have access to nearly every facet of companies, governments, et cetera. While there is certainly power in this digital age of communication, as demonstrated clearly in the political realm with the recent revolution in Egypt, the internet and technology have paradoxically separated us from one another. There is less and less human-to-human contact, with people preferring to sit at home behind their computer or telephone screens instead of discussing events in person. Individuals may now be able to see everything with Google Maps, for instance, but is this a satisfactory substitute for actually experiencing these places and incidents with every sense? And aside from sensory deprivation, we are creating an emotional barrier which spans the gamut from creating social awkwardness in person to allowing thoughtless online bullying to run rampant. However, even with plenty of negatives, can we condemn the very same internet and technologies which have advanced medicine and businesses the world over? The world economy has benefitted greatly, with global commerce being as easy as clicking a button or filling out a billing form. Individuals anywhere can start a business with minimal effort and are able to participate in global trade. As with most good things, there are certainly positives and negatives that go along with the internet and technological advances. Castille 12:46, 27 January 2014 (EST)



Digital technology helps us to automate repetitive, time-consuming, and error-prone tasks, enabling humans to spend more time doing what only humans can do: generate ideas. To use a timely example, TurboTax.com analyzes data and runs calculations for a consumer, saving them time and money by avoiding interaction with an accountant. However, sometimes replacing humans with a machine does not work so well. I personally dislike the self-checkout machines at CVS. They are too loud, and somehow always make some sort of mistake, requiring an attendant to come over and punch in a code, wasting time and failing to fulfill their basic function.

Although digital technology makes our lives easier in countless ways, many of which I might not even appreciate or understand, I think the ease and gratification of digital technologies can take a toll when humans become alienated from basic life tasks that might have their benefits. As "Castille" mentions - the constant use of and reliance on GoogleMaps might prevent people from actually gaining a sense of their environment and making observations that could help them memorize directions or landmarks, and allow them to be more self-reliant. Although digital technology allows developers, artists, educators, etc. to be really creative and productive, it also allows a lot of people to get away with being complacent.

Sballister 18:20, 27 January 2014 (EST)

EDIT: I don't mean to say that TurboTax and self-checkout are examples of great social change, but they are signs of greater change like automation which will in turn affect standards for human interaction, self-reliance, etc. Sballister 07:29, 28 January 2014 (EST)



There are several important factors to consider with the rise and spread of digital technologies. From a human interactive tactile context the PC has to be the front runner that covers many sociological concerns that I consider important.

Prior to the smart phone, the personal computer (PC) has to be (and still is) one of the most important aspects of all digital technologies to be thrust upon mankind, because of the potential power it endows upon its owner, knowingly or unknowingly; as it allows one to cross state lines, oceans and continents in mere seconds without much effort by its user. This, coupled with the widespread use of the internet provides an important context to the discussion from a sociological framework. To have so much computing power at ones finger tips, yet it is often relegated by its user to social networking, video games and entertainment, that human contact is subconsciously negated by the user. Having to get out of the house is becoming more of a chore due to what can be done online. Hiking out in the woods for field trips or class projects is becoming more and more a novelty for students and teachers alike. We can't wait to get laptops in the hands of students in third world countries, for what, so that they too can watch life on a screen, rather then be poor and kick a soccer ball around a field somewhere.

At the end of the day, from both a global and sociological standpoint, the widespread use of digital technologies has just as many concerns as it does rewards.Dancoron 23:08, 27 January 2014 (EST)



1. The launch of Sputnik changed many things — scientific, technological, military, and political — and the cold war of course spurred the beginnings of the internet in its earliest forms amongst the military, scientists, and researchers who used ARPAnet to transfer information, which fed American interest in the sciences and provided a foundation for the very digital technologies that now aid in the spread of our current digital technologies.

2. This leads into a second point, which is that intensified globalization of cultural elements — arguably beginning with WWII and intensifying in the '90s — promoted commercialization of the internet in the early '90s and put digital technology propagation into fast-forward. Suddenly we are able to access information on the other end of the world, rapidly, from the comfort of our own homes, and this allowed for ideas and digital technologies to spread over (again) the very digital technologies that made them possible. Twood 11:23, 28 January 2014 (EST)



Free speech ideals are one of the political, social/cultural, and even economic challenges of the spread of digital technologies. Some people want to be able to say or produce whatever they want on the World Wide Web. And some people think like the author of "A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace", that the internet community can police themselves. But how would the internet prevent child pornography, or financial fraud from occurring without the help of government agencies? These are real questions that are worth debate. No one has all the answers yet.

Socially and culturally the challenges presented by the spread of digital technologies, revolves around how we use these technologies to communicate. We are still deciding what is acceptable, and what is not acceptable, socially and culturally. This social/cultural debate about the Internet is often about privacy-how much are we willing to share online. Each person is different and each culture/country feels different about how much should be revealed or restricted online. This leads us to economic results related to the spread of internet technologies.

One of the reasons that privacy is a concern with digital tech, is that companies want Internet user information. They want to know where you live, where you work, what are your favorite TV shows, and your food preferences, so that they can better sell to you. Economics also plays a role in how you will receive your Internet content/speed. Verizon and the FCC were recently in federal court arguing about whether Verizon could add additional charges to content providers, i.e. in theory, Verizon could charge these providers to reach their customers.

Politically, we have seen that digital technologies can be used to spy on citizens, and they also can be used by whistleblowers to shed light on secret activities by governments, as in the Edward Snowden incident.Mikewitwicki 13:04, 28 January 2014 (EST)



(Apologies in advance for the length) Seems there is quite often a direct and indirect "significant change" that can be associated with each of these areas and advances in digital technologies.

The evolution of popular social networks such as Facebook or match.com are prime examples of where the technology has prompted significant change in our social behaviors. These and similar services have shifted the dynamic in our relationships with others. The ability to discover, connect and continually communicate with "friends” without geographical limitations, and without significant costs, has allowed communities, groups and couples to form tightly knit units. This has lead to countless new marriages, allowed us an ability to sustain long-distance relationships via Skype and FaceTime technologies. Such relationships were economically and technically impossible during the days of the Bell Telephone monopoly, which seem not too long ago. Yet, plenty of indirect "significant changes" related to this same area are also becoming more frequent... As a quick example, plenty of divorces have been linked to the "discovery" of online affairs, and the same social technologies have been exploited by predatory sex offenders who can easily pose as a "friend" on Facebook to unsuspecting children.

Politically, the expansion of the digital technologies has certainly allowed for many to enter into politics and effect public policy. A standard strategy now, but web-savvy politicians have been able to exploit the new technologies as a means of reaching their followers for not only "connecting" with potential constituents, but also it has allowed those who may never have considered running for public office, a means of "discovering" their political base, building  support and financial contributions through the internet to drive their campaign. Not only for "career politicians", but also for the grassroots network that can help bolster a campaign for political outsiders the likes of Jessie "the Body" Ventura, and help launch a foray into politics. Conversely, political careers have certainly been destroyed by improprieties that the advances in digital technologies have made all too quick & easy.  Best exemplified recently by a US Congressman (who needs no introduction) uploading certain digital photographs to an online "friend"...which indirectly has ramifications for his entire political party's platform which cannot afford to lose that 1 seat in the House of Representatives.

Culturally - the spread of digital technologies have allowed us to collaborate and learn from communities around the world as never before... The instantaneous ability to share news, images, sound and video has brought us a greater understanding into the lives and conditions of many different cultures around the world. We learn how they must thrive, struggle and persevere within unfamiliar regions worldwide. The world's news can become as "local" as the reports we hear everyday on our city's local TV news station. The consumer need only choose from where they wish to receive a daily RSS feed, or return daily to a "Bookmark" linking to their country's leading news service. Indirectly, this same ability to glance into another culture via online technologies can trigger an all-too-limited view of what a particular culture's values may or may not be. The predominant exposure of anti-American videos and rhetoric promoting atrocities against westerners by radical Islamic militant groups using the internet to build and recruit an international army of terrorists, has certainly skewed the non-Islamic world's understanding of the culture of Islam and the very large majority of Muslims around the world who are as peaceful, humane, and caring as we all strive to be.

Economically, the significant changes that have been prompted by advances in digital technologies are numerous. The entire economic model in many industries has needed to adapt to the new opportunities that digital technologies allowed (and expected) or risk their corporation’s demise. Photography, Music and Publishing have all seen major shifts in their production, marketing, distribution and sales models. Amazon was an early player in adapting to the new online economy, and many brick-and-mortar shops fell victim to the competition. In the publishing world, and ever more frequently within the music world, we are now leasing our content at the same (and sometimes much larger) costs than what consumers formerly paid to physically own the content. In addition to the content itself, providers are also able to charge for delivery mechanisms (propriety interfaces to interact with the content) or require “subscriber fees” to access cloud storage of your personal collection of digital assets (Music, e-books, library archiving projects, etc) How we read, listen, and enjoy the many arts are all indirectly changed because of the advances in digital technology and our reliance on the internet combined with smart devices to deliver content to us. Psl 13:17, 28 January 2014 (EST)



The recent technological advances, and the development of the internet in particular, have brought about many changes to every part of our lives as individuals, as well as to the functioning of the society as a whole.

One of the most far-reaching effects of the development of the internet is the ease of mobilizing thousands and millions of people behind shared goals, for good, or for bad. From a satellite launch crowdfunded on Kickstarter, through the decline of “pink slime” following a change.org petition, to oppressing governments using online media to remain in power, the last few years in particular have hinted at the things to come. Indeed, what we're starting to see is that contrary to predictions of centuries past, the future of computing is turning out to center not on improved artificial intelligence through ever increasing computational power, but on real people empowered by technology.

A concept seemingly opposite to the idea of crowdsourcing is decentralization, another keyword for this decade. Governments across the world are beginning to wrap their heads around the internet and are becoming increasingly good at policing it. Internet giants such as Google and Facebook are also constantly tightening their grip on the large sections of the internet within their reach and control. The recent developments in federated social networks, decentralized authentication methods and currencies, and independent mesh networking however suggest that internet might in fact grow more uncontrollable than ever in the years to come. Seifip 13:51, 28 January 2014 (EST)

Thanks for the comments, and for the formatting update as well! If people would like to treat each of these as the start of a thread and reply feel free to do so - just insert a colon before your reply. Andy 13:57, 28 January 2014 (EST)



Digital techniologies have created the promise of instant access to answers and information. They have removed the middle men and connected information producers and consumers, for example, with the advent of digital publishing authors, musicians, etc have more access to their readers and as such produce content with seemingly more artistic control. This in turn may have created microcosms of demand and increased the polarization of the conversation and reduced our experience with consensus building and effective dialog.

Additionally, the advent of digital technologies has increased the transparency of individuals and governments as they engage and as such has both benefited and hampered the international political dialog. Individual actions and the actions of individuals within governments and institutions are open for scrutiny often by entities who are not familiar with the context. Rstempfley 15:00, 28 January 2014 (EST)



The birth of digital technology changed the landscape of how equities, futures, options, and currencies are traded globally. From an economic perspective, exchanges worldwide were once left with limited ways to conduct transactions, to include the telephone (the ones hanging on a wall attached by an annoying cord) and face-to face communication, primarily through large financial institutions and advisors.

Technology has allowed the general public, who are now users of large public exchanges such as the NYSE, Nikkei, & NASDAQ ,open availability to markets that were once only offered to the elite and wealthy. Political constructs changed, as the general public were allowed into a market place that was once driven strictly by large financial institutions. Market entry for the general consumer changed the social environment of the stock market, and a more level playing field developed through the adoption of online brokerage firms such as AB Watley, E-Trade, and Ameritrade. Trading securities across not only state lines, but also entire countries, provided unlimited opportunity for those who wanted the option to trade securities without the use of a personal stockbroker. This type of transaction was unheard of in the early 90’s-today purchasing ones own stock online without the advise of a broker is the norm.--Melissaluke 15:19, 28 January 2014 (EST)



The digital universe has revolutionized access to information. Today, anyone can find anything by simply asking their phone! This overabundance of information is connected to a number of global issues including terror, freedom, energy and political polarization. Anyone can look up how to make a bomb online, but does that make it ok for the federal government to spy on all of us? These new technologies have increased our consumption of energy, yet we are inching toward renewable energy slower than the polar caps are melting. And to cap it all off, political parties now have access to so much information that there is data to support any claim, increasing the frequency of gridlock. Art.Mescon 15:32, 28 January 2014 (EST)



Culturally: Digital technologies have given us instantaneous access to current events around the world. They have also given us an incredibly cheap way to communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time. Initially, these technologies resulted in a sort of digital melting pot of beliefs, ideas, and knowledge. As we have matured as Internet users, and grown more proficient in harnessing this newfound ability, these technologies have begun to birth such innovations as Crowd Sourcing – changing the way we fund everything from aid relief to feature films.

Politically: We are only just beginning to see what is possible, politically, as a result of the digital landscape. By 2011, the increased adoption of smartphone technology, intersected with the rise of social media, helped launch a political protest in Tahrir Square that resulted in the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak – proving that this development in communication has far reaching implications for Democracy around the globe.

Economically: Despite many governments insistence to the contrary, via tariffs, trade is freer than ever. This is especially so on the consumer goods level, filling our grocers with foreign fruits and vegetables, and retail stores with products manufactured anywhere. The individual consumer, if so inclined, may hunt down the rarest of items on the other side of the world, and in days have them delivered to their doorsteps.

MikeJohnson 15:35, 28 January 2014 (EST)



EXAMPLE 1: ONLINE MATH LEARNING IN SINGAPORE

Background: I founded ACE-Learning Systems Pte Ltd in Jan 2001 to develop an online math program for secondary schools. Obtained $60,000 funding from the Infocomm Development Authority and started with 6 pilot schools from the Ministry of Education. Now, we are the largest online math vendor in Singapore with almost all secondary schools using the program.

Social: In the past, student success depended primarily on family's economic background. Parents found it necessary to engage private tutors to ensure their children get high grades to enable them to progress to better schools from primary school through university. Students from poor families tend to be left behind. Now, with online learning, access to quality education is now a level playing field.

Economic: Very poor students under government subsidy schemes are given free access to the program, free computer, and free internet access. Revenues from the school subscription contracts enable the company to further develop and improve the learning resources to its current state-of-the-art.

Technological: Problems in traditional chalkboard teaching: (1) Students cannot remember what was taught in class (2) Pace of the classroom instruction was too fast (3) Unable to multitask in copying chalkboard information and trying to listen to the teacher at the same time (4) Poor visibility of writing/drawing on the chalkboard depending on sitting location of the student (5) Teacher erases chalkboard information before students could finish copying. (6) Questions from students may require erased chalkboard data and teacher has to rewrite/redraw the information. The introduction of the use of Powerpoint amplify the problem, especially in cases where teachers refuse to distribute their Powerpoint slides to the class. The scantily written notes and lack of audio with Powerpoint sometimes make learning difficult. With online learning, all these problems are resolved. Furthermore, teachers now have effective interactive teaching resources which were impossible and inoperable with chalkboard or Powerpoint instruction. These can also solicit co-operative class participation. Students can now learn more effectively and at an accelerated pace. Students can also view the online videos as many times as they need at their own convenience at home or on mobile iOS or Android devices.

Political: Grades for homework or quizzes no longer need to be "cast in stone". Teachers can now encourage their students to re-do their homework assignments or quizzes with new questions generated by the online system to improve their performance with immediate feedback thus giving them the opportunity to improve their grades. With the online multi-criteria performance monitoring tools, teachers can now quickly track their students' progress. Now, they can better manage their time and help the weaker students. Teachers are now better empowered in their role as teachers and facilitators of learning.


EXAMPLE 2: PROPOSAL FOR BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, PHILIPPINES .....will be continued in my next email, in case I run out of time.

Ichua 15:38, 28 January 2014 (EST)



The Internet has changed the way people interact socially and has impacted the economic realm in a tremendous way.

Before major technological developments, for one to interact with someone personally they would have to physically have access to that individual. But with the modern innovations of email, video chat, and social sites like Facebook and Twitter, one can access a whole world that was previously unknown to them.

Internet has changed the way in which commerce works; economically speaking industries are not the same. If someone wished to buy or sell commodities they would need to travel to a store, but with internet an individual from New York can make a purchase from a store in China and then sell that same item to someone in California and never even touch the product. The world has been drawn together since the advent of the Internet, and because of the changes society has benefited as a whole. It’s a powerful tool that all should learn about!

Emmanuelsurillo 15:52, 28 January 2014 (EST)



The internet and digital technology has changed the way we live. The power to have access to the collective information of the world cannot be understated. A person can take out there phone and "google" the answer to any question that pops up. Books and libraries are now all in one location online. The internet is a massive, evolving resource that everyone has access to.

The internet has changed the way people interact socially. Social media has created ways for people to broadcast their lives online. People upload events and pictures from their lives instantly, updating friends and family as things happen. There is the question too whether our digital lives online distract us or remove us from our relationships in the real world.

The internet and digital technology has permeated every aspect of our lives. It is impossible to walk down the street and not see someone engrossed in their phone. Companies all over the world rely on the internet to do business. The world is more connected than ever, and the internet's impact is reshaping the world very quickly.

Patcorrigan



Geolocation: It is now possible to locate nearly anyone anywhere, including 6'4" bogeymen.

Manipulation of Media: Photoshop your face into a self-portrait of/by Vincent van Gogh. Conduct an interview and edit the outcome to suit your favor. Watch protests, view "Tank Man" from Tiananmen Square, and watch his real-life counterparts in near real-time be shot in the streets of Egypt by Egyptian soldiers and tanks, brought to you in part by the U.S. Government.

Navigation: Deciphering actionable intellignece v. information glut will be the only way to "break on through" to the otherside of the revolution. Alas, it is not being televised.A. Tom Anteus 16:26, 28 January 2014 (EST) --A. Tom Anteus 16:26, 28 January 2014 (EST)A. Tom Anteus 16:37, 28 January 2014 (EST)



Internet and digital technology has changed every aspect of our life. I can provide the following examples: 1.Socially. Internet brought a lot of information into people's life and made people more conscious about surrounding world. Whatever you wish in terms of information (of course generally speaking) can be found immediately via the internet. Education sphere has also benefited from the internet opportunities, for example these courses are possible because of Internet. Even online music courses are offered to those who wishes to play musical instrument or just learn to sing. 2. Government. Internet maybe will turn into one of the major tool of governance. A lot of electronic state structures such as e-notary, e-state Registry exist in many countries. Internet provides the opportunity to for using e-singature which means that even official documents will be signed electronically. 3. Economy. Internet has changed economy dramatically. Practically everyone can establish its own minor e-enterprise by offering goods, services and etc. 4. Legal environment. Internet created absolutely new type of social relations which require the scrutinized legal approach which will lead to establishment of new branhces of law..maybe Internet Code in future Aysel 16:42, 28 January 2014 (EST)



My three examples of significant change are 1. Economically and Socially; Music and the way it is shared, valued by consumers and created by artists has been forever changed worldwide. 2. Cultural change has created a large divide between generations that understand and "live within" technology and the older generations who do not understand it or have not made it a daily part of their lives. The lack of understanding and communication, or effective communication between these generations is startling. 3. From a political perspective; the current challenge that politicians have with elections to reach the generation gaps is why (I believe) that the costs of campaigning has gone up so dramatically. There is no longer a universal way to reach your target demographic. Texting services, versus radio, versus TV commercials versus print ads or online ads with or without social media is a boggling world to create effective ad campaigns. By: TriciaBy



It’s overstated that digital technologies have helped us become more connected. The ability to Skype my sister while she is in traveling in Kenya, or take this Cambridge based course while living in Sydney, Australia is a wonderful result of the internet. This ‘digital cosmopolitanism’ is making us more virtually connected, but can potentially move us farther away from globalization at the same time. These technological developments haven't increased the volume of international migration. An example of this is how Australian companies will virtually outsource jobs to skilled workers in India, while reaping the cost-efficient benefits of paying them Indian wages, which are significantly lower. (Similar outsourcing practices of the United States). Australia has since increased the difficulty for these skilled Indian workers to live here. In other words, we want your in-demand skills, virtually, but make it harder for you to get a visa and come here, which would mean paying Australian wages. Jobs are mobile but people are not. This shows us that the same technologies that make us more connected and seemingly more globalized, have the practicing power to move us further away from it.

A second significant social change associated with the spread of digital technologies is how online introductions have become one of the most common way to meet a partner. However, technologies that can foster relationships will also play a role in what ends them. Social media evidence has dominated the divorce courtroom, where about three out of four cases now contain it. Text messages have become the “Digital lipstick on the collar,” as Tiger Woods and Anthony Weiner have demonstrated to us all.

By: Marissa Barkey Marissa1989 00:42, 29 January 2014 (EST) Marissa1989 08:51, 29 January 2014 (EST)


The spread of digital technologies has brought significant changes to humanity. From providing free access to useful knowledge, generating revenues for world economies, and preserving cultures, I believe that it is now an indispensable force to be reckoned with. For instance, throughout history, humans have sought to sharpen their minds through traditional education. Nowadays, with the evolution of search engines such as YouTube in general and the Khan Academy YouTube channel in particular, anyone from anywhere can learn virtually any subject at anytime.

Again, the spread of digital technologies has led to a more widespread social entrepreneurship. Younger generations from across the globe are finding jobs and opportunities, hence are being economically enabled in ways that would not have been possible in the absence of the internet. More businesses are relying on the internet to expand their reach as well. Finally, the spread of digital technologies has inspired the invention of global encyclopedia such as Wikipedia, which serves to preserve cultures among other forms of knowledge. cheikhmbacke

Our economy is increasingly shifting towards one that is dominated by the manipulation of information. Digital technologies, which have enabled this information-transformation, also transcend some of the physical limitations pertaining to time and space that were inherent in industrial processes--one does not to arrive at a certain place (such as a factory) at a certain time (such as to fulfill one's exact place in a production line). I think we're only at the very beginning of what this a-geographical, asynchronous change to work and play means. These changes will be profound and will change the way we interact with each other in every way. At the same time, we may face significant cultural problems as more and more elements of the information economy depend on developing skills that are only gained through advanced study and as many forms of labor are replaced by automation. Jradoff 20:38, 3 February 2014 (EST)



I think AKK22 made an excellent point in discussing the stratification of identity. The internet enables private actors to mask themselves and essentially create their own identity with relatively little risk of a subject's true identity being unveiled. In a way, this new medium to create one's own cyberspace "identity" reminds me of Plato's "Ring of Gyges" conflict coming to fruition. A new reality television show (the name escapes me) premiers this identity issue by showing how people were tricked into thinking they were in an online relationship with someone posing as someone else. In the end, the identity portrayed by the character is a mere fantasy entrenched in a false sense of reality.

As Vance and others have noted, the legal and justice systems are clearly not up to par with the expansion of digital technology. The few convoluted reforms that have been indoctrinated appear to be more reactionary than proactive in nature and contain muddied channels for justice to prevail as can be seen through the troubles with copyright law.

On the other hand, transparency vis-à-vis the internet has perhaps brought more justice into politics by exposing scandals. However, the "Age of Information" has transformed what citizens believe to be a right in terms of privacy for both the individual and also privacy for the government to operate in the best interests of national security. More available information seems to have made citizens more apt to demand more information.

Some of the comments on cultural change also reminded me of a paper I wrote last term on British women during WWI using primary sources. I could not believe how these uneducated women wrote with such pride, prose, and precision even in their own personal diaries which they would not assume others would never read. Grammar and prose have largely degraded since the birth of digital technology and some have argued this could be connected to the declining education systems in the United States. In math, students no longer have importance of learning to add, subtract, multiply or divide with the advent of the calculator. Generally, studies have shown that the attention rate of younger generations is much lower which makes it difficult for children to focus in school.

I read an interesting article called "The Internet and Youth Culture". In it, Gustavo Mesch describes the generational phenomenon as the "bedroom culture" and discusses a lot of the elements we have been discussing.

If anyone is interested:

http://www.iasc-culture.org/THR/archives/YouthCulture/Mesch.pdf

--AmyAnn0644 04:58, 3 February 2014 (EST)



For me, the most significant changes associated with the spread of digital technologies would be internet privacy issues (social) and cybercrime (Hacking, Corporate/Government Espionage and Hacktivism). Choosing to allow my phone to be tracked or my web trail doesn't bother me if it’s a personal decision. I imagine like most consumers, if the task is limited to improving service, advertisement selection or research we comply. However, there is a strong sentiment that personal information being shared with another group without our knowledge is a violation. We have a conflicted thoughts on the nature of digital privacy. People place significant life events, thoughts and problems on social media, yet take offense that someone might be data mining their online activities.

The recurring incidents of hacking and hacktivists, as well as the concerns raised by details of governmental programs place the spotlight on the issue of cybercrime. While there are many efforts (PCI-DSS for credit cards, etc) the attacks and the resulting damage increases each year. The issue of hacktivists presents an especially interesting case since they may be a very diverse demographic. Perhaps the only concept that unites all their efforts is belief that information should be freely available on the internet. VACYBER 10:28, 4 February 2014 (EST)



I believe that most significant change due to the spread of digital technology is that of instantaneous news reporting. Today, every person with a Smartphone is, in sum, a newsperson. In years past, it was the news professionals and news stations that reported newsworthy items. However, when social media was introduced, it gave the ability to the layman to report news. For example, when John Lennon passed away in a hospital emergency room in 1980 in a hospital in New York, his wife requested that the death of John not be reported until she could get home to her son, who was watching television. In today's world, the death of John Lennon would had instantaneously been reported, thus resulting in John's son being made aware of his father's death before his mother could get home from the hospital. The second example was reflected during the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013. News was disseminated prior to sources being checked. The events were occurring very fast. Each news stations was reporting a different account of the events as they unfolded. Some stations reported 1 device, some stations reported 3 devices, some stations even reported hostages being held in a building. In the end, it was Twitter data that was the most reliable. That Twitter information was provided by ordinary civilians, not news persons. Ben Harmatz Benh 17:14, 4 February 2014 (EST)



Digital technology is crucial to our development today. We are interconnected and interdependent economically, socially, politically… Etc. As technology continues to flatten our world and bring us closer, we are more connected and more accountable to each other. There are many examples of connectivity and accountability and it’s most valuable result: action.

Technology spurs us to see global issues and respond. For example when a natural disaster hits, such as the Tsunami. Technology allows us to know within seconds of what is happening thousands of miles away from us. This information resulted in many actions such as fundraisers. With the use of technology, people were able to easily donate and the money was able to quickly reach those in need. Technology makes it harder to turn a blind eye to disasters while also making it easy to contribute to relief efforts. This is a crucial social development.

Not only does it allow us in a humanitarian front, it also allows us to call for revolutionary changes to injustices. The anonymity of the internet may be a problem but the transparency it provides are very beneficial to civilians in unveiling social injustices, political corruption, corporate fraud and other public issues that would have easily gone unnoticed before digital technology made it available. The entire Kony movement that launched on the Internet and its ability to spur action in Washington is an example of how powerful digital technology can be. There are certainly dangers involved, however, digital technologies have changed the way we think about other people and brought a lot of positive action towards a more humane and interconnected world. Lpereira 14:54, 7 February 2014 (EST)

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