Does IT Improve Human Does IT Improve Human Existence?Existence?

Michael SimonettiMichael Simonetti

Oliver YuOliver Yu

Jason MillerJason Miller

Dandan RenDandan Ren

Stephen NedlStephen Nedl

Does IT improve Does IT improve humanhuman existence? existence?

Humans, as a whole, do not benefitHumans, as a whole, do not benefit The entire world is not includedThe entire world is not included Main beneficiaries are:Main beneficiaries are:

• North AmericaNorth America• Western EuropeWestern Europe• JapanJapan

The rest of the world falls further The rest of the world falls further behindbehind

Underdeveloped CountriesUnderdeveloped Countries

Underdeveloped countriesUnderdeveloped countries are are countries not equipped with the countries not equipped with the latest technologieslatest technologies• Most of AsiaMost of Asia• Most of AfricaMost of Africa• Latin AmericaLatin America• Eastern EuropeEastern Europe

Does IT improve human existence?Does IT improve human existence?

Majority of world’s Majority of world’s population does not population does not benefitbenefit• 70%70% have never have never

used a PCused a PC• 10%10% have Internet have Internet

accessaccess ““There are more There are more

hosts in New York hosts in New York than in all of than in all of Africa.” Kofi AnnanAfrica.” Kofi Annan

Negative ImpactsNegative Impacts As developed countries get wealthier As developed countries get wealthier

because of IT, underdeveloped because of IT, underdeveloped countries become more impoverishedcountries become more impoverished

Lack of economic wealth increases Lack of economic wealth increases likelihood of:likelihood of:• Unstable governmentUnstable government• Civil WarCivil War• Widespread hunger and diseaseWidespread hunger and disease

In modern times, underdeveloped In modern times, underdeveloped countries are havens for terrorists, countries are havens for terrorists, drug smugglers, and warlordsdrug smugglers, and warlords

Socio-economic IssuesSocio-economic Issues

Both global and domesticBoth global and domestic Global Consumer Advisory Board Global Consumer Advisory Board

finds the following problems:finds the following problems:• Cost for individuals and small Cost for individuals and small

businessesbusinesses• Cost of peripheral devices, software, Cost of peripheral devices, software,

services, and accessoriesservices, and accessories• Digital Divide effects consumers more Digital Divide effects consumers more

each dayeach day

Globalization As A ThreatGlobalization As A Threat

Large businesses are bringing in IT Large businesses are bringing in IT workers from India and China who workers from India and China who work for a fraction of the cost.work for a fraction of the cost.

In the United States - small In the United States - small businesses fail and jobs are lost businesses fail and jobs are lost because they can’t compete.because they can’t compete.

Extremely labor intensive work must Extremely labor intensive work must be done just to compete against be done just to compete against outsourcing.outsourcing.

Globalization As A ThreatGlobalization As A Threat

Discourages some people from Discourages some people from pursuing degrees in the IT fields. pursuing degrees in the IT fields.

Discourages some people from Discourages some people from starting their own businesses.starting their own businesses.

Larger firms control the suppliers who Larger firms control the suppliers who make it within information technology.make it within information technology.

Advance in Information Advance in Information technology leads to jobs being technology leads to jobs being

cut.cut.

Lost Manufacturing jobsLost Manufacturing jobs

More than 43,000,000 jobs More than 43,000,000 jobs disappeared between 1979 and disappeared between 1979 and 1994.1994.

Percentage of workers in Percentage of workers in manufacturing dropped from 35% in manufacturing dropped from 35% in 1947 to 12% in 2002.1947 to 12% in 2002.

Lost White-Collar jobsLost White-Collar jobs

Secretarial and clerical positions Secretarial and clerical positions eliminated eliminated

Spreadsheets and software packages Spreadsheets and software packages reduce the need for accountants and reduce the need for accountants and bookkeepers.bookkeepers.

For example:For example:

The economic recovery of 1991-1996The economic recovery of 1991-1996 Large number of white-collar, middle Large number of white-collar, middle

management management jobs were eliminated, even as jobs were eliminated, even as the economy grewthe economy grew

most of them had at least college educationmost of them had at least college education most of them were making more than most of them were making more than

$50,000$50,000 Only 35% were able to find jobs that paid as Only 35% were able to find jobs that paid as

wellwell Median household income dropped 3% Median household income dropped 3%

between between 1979 and 1994.1979 and 1994.

More recent exampleMore recent example

In early 2000 “Dot-Com Bust”:In early 2000 “Dot-Com Bust”:

862 high-tech start-ups going out of 862 high-tech start-ups going out of business between 2000 and 2002business between 2000 and 2002

High technology industry shed half a High technology industry shed half a million jobsmillion jobs

Unemployment rate among American Unemployment rate among American computer science professionals raised to computer science professionals raised to 5.1 percent.5.1 percent.

Working harder, Making lessWorking harder, Making less

Between 1970 and 1990, the number of Between 1970 and 1990, the number of hours spend at work increase by 163. hours spend at work increase by 163.

Caused by corporate downsizing, which is Caused by corporate downsizing, which is facilitated by information technologyfacilitated by information technology

Makes it easier for people to bring work Makes it easier for people to bring work home to continue workinghome to continue working

De-evolution of social skillsDe-evolution of social skills

Instant messaging Instant messaging

Email – Office and personalEmail – Office and personal

Online DatingOnline Dating

Overall Social interactionOverall Social interaction

Instant MessagingInstant Messaging

180 m users in 2004180 m users in 2004 This site also predicts that 60 This site also predicts that 60

percent of all real-time online percent of all real-time online communication will be driven communication will be driven through instant messaging through instant messaging technologytechnology

Kids have abandoned general Kids have abandoned general phone and personal interaction to phone and personal interaction to favor instant messaging and emailfavor instant messaging and email

These services lack voice patterns These services lack voice patterns and emotional overtonesand emotional overtones

http://www.clickz.com/stats/http://www.clickz.com/stats/sectors/software/article.php/sectors/software/article.php/756111756111

Email – Office and PersonalEmail – Office and Personal

90% of AOL’s 90% of AOL’s subscribers use emailsubscribers use email

Email also lacks Email also lacks emotion and voice emotion and voice patternspatterns

People favor email People favor email however it prevents however it prevents them from interacting them from interacting in person with their in person with their boss at work boss at work sometimes for weeks sometimes for weeks at a timeat a time

Online DatingOnline Dating

Are you kidding?Are you kidding? Best example of Best example of

de-evolution of S.S.de-evolution of S.S. 7 million registered7 million registered 48% of men, 53% 48% of men, 53%

of women have of women have used thisused this

What happened to What happened to old fashioned pick old fashioned pick up lines at bars?up lines at bars?

Social Skills De-evolutionSocial Skills De-evolution

Online dating, instant messaging, and Online dating, instant messaging, and email have come on to the scene and email have come on to the scene and promoted the loss of social skills in people promoted the loss of social skills in people who would have otherwise talked to these who would have otherwise talked to these various people via telephone or in person.various people via telephone or in person.

Future generation run the risk of having Future generation run the risk of having poor social skills in the work place and in poor social skills in the work place and in the dating scene, possibly giving rise to a the dating scene, possibly giving rise to a generation of intorverts.generation of intorverts.

Advancements in CrimeAdvancements in Crime

Cyber CrimeCyber Crime• Identity TheftIdentity Theft

Fastest growing crime in AmericaFastest growing crime in America• 1 in 20 adults affected 1 in 20 adults affected

• Cyber TerrorismCyber Terrorism Advancements in technology have paved Advancements in technology have paved

wayway• Compromising national securityCompromising national security

• Other forms of cyber crimeOther forms of cyber crime