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Technology-Based Social Change

Posted by Zonk on from the bits-and-silicon-for-the-people dept.

vivekg writes "BBC has published an article featuring the highlights of technological social change from around the world for this year. It is amazing to find out how technology is being used in very different ways for very different communities. Victims of the Tsunami disaster, Virtual Wallets in Japan, and the Indian government, bringing technology to rural areas, all have been touched by the positive use of technology. Hope to see more good community-based collaboration in 2006."

12 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Too connected? by Scoth · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I miss the days when I could go out and have a nice dinner without people yammering on cell phones, tapping on PDAs, talking about computer problems, etc. Sometimes I think people are a little too connected and socially technological these days.

    I'm sure there have been positive effects too though.

    1. Re:Too connected? by pete6677 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The problem is that some people do not use good judgement about the use of technology. They must forget that their cell phone has voice mail and that they don't necessarily have to answer their phone every time it rings. Some people just naturally have poor judgement and don't think about why they shouldn't be yapping on the phone during a meeting/concert/church or other place where quiet is expected. I think eventually social manners regarding technology will catch on, and shouting into a cellphone while ignoring your dinner companion will be considered to be about as rude as picking your nose at the table.

    2. Re:Too connected? by travail_jgd · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Rude people will find a way to be rude, technology or no. The people on cellphones would just be having loud conversations with someone in their company. Some of the folks using PDAs would have their little black books, or planners, or folios with them. Teens always find a way to be loud (been there, done that :).

      Sure, there's bad with the good. Technology hasn't changed human nature, it's just a visible scapegoat.

    3. Re:Too connected? by metlin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The relationships between humans become more superficial, as technology-induced connectivity goes up.

      You miss body gestures, nuances and postures and become completely dependent on technology to get to know a person. I mean, you communicate at least as much on the phone and on IM/e-mails as you do in person; and while they maybe fruitful communications, they just aren't the same.

      Heck, I communicate with my room-mates over IM far more than actually walking down to their room and talking to them about something. While it certain has benefits, it also has downsides.

  2. Approaching overflow by mister_llah · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I have to agree... with the internet expanding exponentially and more and more collaborative tools being concocted... there is a point at which there becomes just too much information out there...

    Sure, you can find something on anything, but the lines of truth blur in the presence of so much information... and valid opinions and ideas become easier to overlook...

    I don't know, there are definate upsides, it is easier to communicate with people who I couldn't keep in close touch with, but in the old days, they would have just slipped away... and one day wondered 'I wonder how mister_llah is doing?' ... and then they would call me... now... they will know, and won't call, the curiousity is sated....

    Plus there is something to be said for face to face conversation and *whoa* physical contact... *shrug*

    --
    MoM++ - A Classic Expanded - [Master of Magic 1.5]
    http://mompp.sourceforge.net/
  3. Women gaming clubs by Rowan_u · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As far as the article on women in games go, I'd like to agree with the social aspect. That is often what brings the women into gaming. I've seen women pick up titles as diverse as Burnout 3, Call of Duty, or Dead or Alive, but only after being dragged to a LAN party by significant coercion. Once games are properly experienced nobody (Male or Female) sets them down lightly. The games speak for themselves.

    What is significant here is the gaming stereotypes that are keeping women away from gaming in the first place. You only need to turn on G4$ T.V. for approximately 5 seconds to see what I'm talking about. What you need to do to bring women into gaming is to stop marketing to 13 year old boys alone. It's pretty simple.

    --
    only one everything
  4. They forgot something... by komodotoes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It is amazing to find out how technology is being used in very different ways for very different communities.

    Like surveillance of the masses, more surveillance of the masses, tracking vehicle movements, really tracking vehicle movements, seriously tracking vehicle movements....



    NeverEndingBillboard.com

    --
    NeverEndingBillboard.com
  5. Does this apply? by Asakusa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I wonder if this feeling applies to solely older persons. Being 21 years old, I don't remember a time when you could go to dinner without people yammering on cell phones, as you point out. Having grown up with technology, it seems a natural order of life. I enjoy it. I use 3 different e-mail addresses, AIM, my cell phone, texting, Myspace and so on. I have about 7 ways to contact a single person, but it's convenient and it doesn't bother me. Maybe in 30 years when everyone is connected directly to the back of my brain I will reminisce about when we used to use cell phones and PDAs.

    --
    The prisoner of hope is sustained and encouraged by his hope, even as he is confined by it.
    1. Re:Does this apply? by jacksonj04 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The next logical step would be turning those 3 emails, AIM, cellphone, myspace and so on into a single address.

      When there's a single address which *will* get hold of you if you are available, there's only one thing to turn off.

      --
      How many people can read hex if only you and dead people can read hex?
  6. Social Based Technology Change by catmistake · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I think this is a case of wag the dog.

    If one thing is clear from the history of technology, its that people do not change. Technology changes.

    --
    The Admin and the Engineer
  7. Technology becomes commonplace by Ucklak · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I want my lightsaber and a personal transporter.
    I do not want a flying car because that means that the drivers who are idiots will then be in the air. (Disclaimer-I am a pilot)
    I don't want technology displacing pilot education and the requirements to become a pilot.

    There are a good bit of us here that remember when-
    you couldn't buy a phone, you had to rent them.
    when Russia was the bad guys. (anybody born in the '90s -huh?) Now everyone has a spycamera.
    Pull strings on toys. (Today's See and Says are battery powered, Mrs. Beasley - huh?)
    Movies used to have cartoons in front of them
        I remember the MGM movies had Tom and Jerry, UA movies had Pink Panther. Now it's only Pixar and commercials.

    --
    if you steal from one source, that is plagiarism, if you steal from many, well, that's just research.
  8. The illusion of connectedness by sjames · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It seems that the more 'connected' a person makes themselves through technology, the less they actually connect. Just how meaningful can a conversation be when it consists of:

    RING

    Hello?

    A: Hi Z! How's it going *BEEP*

    Z: Hang on, another call *CLICK* Hello?

    B: Howsit going?

    Z:It's cool, but I'm on another call, can I call you back?

    B:Sure, cool.

    Z: *CLICK* Hey man, sorry about *BEEP*, hang on...

    C: Hey man, whatcha doing?

    Z: Actually, I was just talking to A, can I

    C:Hey! I haven't heard from A in a while, tell him to call me when you're Done.

    Z: Sure, talk in a few. *CLICK* Sorry man, Hey, I just heard from C, he said *BEEP* hang on...*CLICK* Hello?

    C: Hello!

    A:Hey C! Whatcha up to?

    C: I'm sitting right next to you. We're on a date remember?

    A: WOAH! Sorry about that, so why'd you call me on the phone?

    C: That's the only

    Z: *BEEP* hang on a sec, I gotta answer that *CLICK*

    E: Hey man, what's up?

    Z: I'm on a date with C! How 'bout you?

    E: Just chilling man

    A: Hey? Where are you going? What's wrong? Man WOMEN. I can't believe she just walked off without saying a word. OH MAN she HUNG UP on me too!

    E: Yeah, go figure *BEEP* Hold on man *CLICK*

    That MIGHT be a little exaggerated, but I doubt it.