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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."

7 of 132 comments (clear)

  1. Girl gamers? by mister_llah · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This could mean good things for the gamer guys... but something tells me that the author (whose photo looks rather mousey) ... won't be as lucky as others...

    Poor guy!

    --
    MoM++ - A Classic Expanded - [Master of Magic 1.5]
    http://mompp.sourceforge.net/
  2. Social change by defeating censorship by cryfreedomlove · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I have a very positive emotional reaction whenever I see technology being used to defeat censorship from fearful totaliatarian governments around the world. This article describes how the current government of mainland China is struggling mightily to embrace information technology while at the same time censoring personal blogs. Their efforts are futile and I think that in 10 years you will see a very different system of government there.

  3. The Next Social Equalizer? by TheSixth1 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I see one of the big benefits of the spread of these new technologies is in the vein of social equality. Every few decades there seems to be a surge in society that, for better or worse, makes a great change in the way that people interact. I think the surge we are riding right now is acting as a social equilizer that has the potential to blind us to the bigotries triggered by economic status, religion, race, or whatever.

    I am not saying that this technology makes everyone equal, but what I am saying is that this technology gives everyone the chance to start out on the exact same footing when they use these new technologies to interact. Whether you connect to the web via your own dual-processor hyper pentium uber-computer with a dedicated T1 at your house or from a free terminal at a public library, the packets are the same. At that point no one cares about your race, economic status, religion, whatever, the playing field is level for you to express yourself. Now, what happens after you post -- that falls back to the current social climate and really depends on what you the individual has to express.

    A lot of hopeful thinking I know... but hey, it's that time of year.

  4. Negative changes, anyone? by tlk+nnr · · Score: 3, Interesting
    What about negative changes?
    • UK plans to build a national database of all vehicle movements
    • European Commisions decides to create a database of all phone calls (Only numbers - the actual content will be added to the bill in two years), all sms messages (I'm not sure if the content is included)

    I'm sure the US list is similar.

    ---

    Please click me, it won't hurt
  5. Re:Too connected? by Marxist+Hacker+42 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You miss body gestures, nuances and postures and become completely dependent on technology to get to know a person.

    In other words, the rest of the world becomes just like I've been all along. I've got Asperger's Syndrome (NOT self-diagnosed) and I always felt weird growing up. No wonder I'm far more verbal in text based communications than in real life.

    --
    SJW: a person who perceives an injustice, and while correcting it, commits a greater injustice.
  6. Re:Too connected? by Animats · · Score: 4, Interesting
    I've seen couples in Palo Alto coffee houses where both people had laptops up and running. Twice in the last two weeks. They were dating, not having a business meeting or doing homework. Seeing half a dozen people having a meeting in a coffee shop, laptops at the ready, has been going on for a while. But now people are taking all this gear on dates.

    One good-looking young couple had in use, between them, two laptops, two cell phones, a Blackberry, and a graphing calculator. Plus at least one iPod. But no annoying ringtones. They're using the gear, not showing it off.

  7. facebook by SnprBoB86 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I am amazed that no one has mentioned http://www.facebook.com/
    facebook has had an increadable impact on the social lives of college students.

    Not to mention, it is an increadable well designed web app.

    --
    http://brandonbloom.name