Computers Are Not Independent of Social Change

Introduction

The period of socialization influenced social demands connected with technological development. The main source of information technology is considered to be computer giving opportunities to fulfill operations through the global network. Computer technology is the background of contemporary social interaction; it can be explained by social need in computerization as basic means of decision making and discussion processes. There is a tendency to believe that computer technologies and the process of computerization are an integral part of social change and these two phenomena are closely interacted with each other.

Social Change and Computerization

There is a well known saying: “If you knew what I do, you’d understand why we have to do it my way”. It means that society is eager to know more; the information and socialization are principle components of modern times functioning together. Growing pervasiveness of Communication Technologies and Information influenced academic controversy as to social consequences caused by their development. With every passing step of technological innovations promotion the needs of modern society widen due to active broadening of business sphere. The technological revolution brought positive effects to social changes. Nevertheless, this view is considered to be contradictory. According to utopians, the era of computerization improved professional and private life of the society due to increased opportunities of communication means. As to dystopians, computer technologies and internet are only passive means of social leisure which steal time to communities. Such completely opposite positions caused a row of discussions connected with the analysis of new opportunities provided by computer technologies and their contribution to social change (Finnegan, 2000).

New ways of communication is considered to be one of the elements provided by computerization. Taking into account this aspect it should be noted that social change contributed greatly to the development of computer technologies. It is merely caused by growing demand of the society in innovations meeting the requirement of contemporary fast way of life. Thus, internet is integral part of modern social activities. The introduction of new synchronous communication ways, various digital signals and electronic files interchange gave an opportunity for people to save their time and fulfill communicative and business operations in a distance on a high quality. It was proved that time and social progress are the principles movers of technological development and computerization (Lesnard, 2007).

Social structure and culture are ruled by norms and principles of the society demanding the functioning of techniques and acquiring the information. Social changes highlight people’s roles and teach them to make use of information they get. Due to it the standards and norms of the society are formed resulting in establishment of social institutions and formation of professional fields. It is important to stress that social relationships, business transaction and even international contact are merely fulfilled due to the functions fulfilled by computers. Joseph Deken and Alvin Toffler considered that computers are developing independently of social change consequences leading to electronic traps for users.

The changes in the sphere of education have not remained untouched by computers development. Modern system of education is aimed at providing people with necessary recourses for intellectual development. Critics state that computers technologies involvement into this sphere is caused by the following factors:

• Human demand in quick and fast access to the major informative recourses;
• Social degradations and desire for convenience, absence of time and efforts necessary for information search in a natural way.

Computer literacy is considered to be innovations brought by social change. This concept caused a lot of aggression and discussion by critics. It is connected with the fact that computer literature and computerized access to the information do not provide future generations with information basis. Computers touch insufficient development of analytical skills of the society. Thus, people try to solve all mathematical tasks by means of computer programs. Thus, it is impossible to state that social change does not contribute to the development of computers. One should underline the fact that computerization completely substituted the previous era introducing new opportunities and developing new skills required for control of computer programs. Contemporary education system tries to integrate general education program with computers on the professional level (Institutional Impacts, 2008).

The theme of computers and social change interaction has been discussed during social conferences for several times. Some aspects expressed over the meetings were devoted to the fact that computers were created in order to provide complete control over humanity and oppress the society. Nevertheless this statement caused strong contradictions. The first argument in support of technological change and computerizations was aimed the computers political function. It was stated that computers fulfill political informative role in state activities of every country. They are used for political interchange, conference organization and establishment of new solidarity forms. One more issue expressed for the purpose of computerization support was devoted to the business function of computer system. Rapid development of industrial and business spheres caused the necessities to keep relationships and constant contact between the partners. Such changes in the system of human activities resulted in sharp broadening of computer technologies field. (Pokras, 2001)

Thus, it is important to underline the principle links of social change and computerization stimulating mutual development:

• Communicative function;
• Political role;
• Business contact and international support;
• Education and informational resources.

So, the number of critics supporting the position that social change and computer technologies development are interdependent much prevails. It is connected with the functions performed by computer in the society and demands of the population.

Conclusion

To sum up the analysis it is important to underline the idea that telecommunication and computer technologies are created due to constant social progress we strive to. One should note that computers main function in the society is to enhance the power, wealth, military, government, wellness and international relationships.

References

1. Pokras, Stan. 2001. Computers for Social Change. A Conference Report. New York City.
2. Institutional Impacts: Virtual Communities in a Capitalist World. 2008.
3. Chapter 6. Computer-Aided Socialization.
4. Lesnard, Laurent. 2007. Social Change, Daily Life and the Internet. University of Essex. Web.
5. Finnegan, Ruth. 2000. Information Technology: Social Issues. OP.