Societal Issues in the Networked Economy

Part 4Part 4

Living in Internet Time• 24 hour day

– Work never ends

• Personal Outsourcing– Help with day-to-day chores

– Do online banking, shopping

• Reach Creep– No separation of work and home

Living in Internet TimeCornerstones of Networked Economy

Computing andCommunicationsAlways available

Freedom ofIdeas and

TradeEducation

Side Effects of the Networked Economy

• Death of Distance–Telecommuting

• Homogenization of Time

• Disintegration of Borders

Living in Internet Time

Global Business Drivers

• Global Markets

• Global Production and Operation

• Global Coordination– Virtual office and telecommuting

• Global Work Force– Electronic immigrants

• Global Economies of Scale

61999

A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE• Tony Tang is the marketing manager of a small

but thriving software company which does business in three continents.– There are only four employees in the office -- Tony Tang,

president, and two senior programmers.

– The other 23 employees, all experienced programmers, live and work in other countries such as India, Germany, England, and Japan.

– The employees collaborate on the project using various information and telecommunications technologies.

– Tony can check inventory with eight software retailers -- four in the U.S., two in England, and two in Japan -- and issue an electronic shipping order and an electronic invoice.

Challenge of Global Information Systems

• Language Differences– National laws often forbid businesses to run accounting

and other systems in foreign languages

• Cultural Differences– Many in which people work and importance of ethical

issues

– Some European countries severely restrict businesses from collecting and maintaining personal data

Challenge of Global Information Systems

• Economic– Scientific information is a national resource and source

of income for corporations with conflicting interests

– Governments do not allow the exchange of information on Military Weapons

– Some computer hardware and software may be prohibited from trading

– Different countries treat trade secrets, patents, copyrights differently

Economic Issues in the Networked Economy

• Taxation of Electronic Commerce– Sales Taxes– Internet Tax Freedom Act 1998– Only if same state

• Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce

• Loss of Local Revenue

Challenge of Global Information Systems

• Legal Barriers to International Data Transfer– While many of the problems involved in cross-

border data transfer have been resolved, privacy is not even mentioned in the constitutions of many countries including the U.S.

– Different nations have different approaches to the privacy issue.

Economic Issues in the Networked Economy

Government Control of Internet Content

Challenge of Global Information Systems

• Standards – Because of different standards, records may not

be compatible• Zip codes, phone #…

– Metric vs. “English” system of measure– Ways dates stored may vary

Book Publishing in Industrial EconomyStep

NumberActivity Communications Mode

1 Write manuscript by hand, typisttranscribes it, and make corrections

Inter-office

2Manuscript reviewed by faculty experts Postal service or package delivery

3Authors rewrite manuscript and have ittranscribed

Inter-office

4Editor edits manuscript for spelling,style, and grammar and result isreviewed by authors

Postal service or package delivery

5Compositor creates galleys which arereviewed by authors

Postal service or package delivery

6Paste-up artist creates page proofs fromgalleys and artwork which are reviewedby authors

Postal service or package delivery

7 Page proofs sent to printer for printing Postal service or package delivery

Living in Internet Time

Book Publishing in Networked EconomyStep

NumberActivity Communications Mode

1Author writes book in desktoppublishing software and sends toreviewers

Internet

2Author makes revisions and sendsto manuscript editor for editing forstyle and grammar

Internet

3Author transmits Postscript files toprinter for printing

Internet

Living in Internet Time

Comparisons in Book Publishing

Living in Internet Time

Economic Issues in the Networked Economy

• Productivity and Workplace Issues– Technology is being used to increase and

improve productivity

– Office Automation

– Artificial Intelligence

Office Automation

Use of computers, communications, and office

technology to support the many activities of the business

environment.Increase Productivity

Share resources

DISTRIBUTE KNOWLEDGE OFFICE AUTOMATION SYSTEMS:

• Word Processing• Desktop Publishing• Web Publishing• Imaging• Electronic Calendars• Desktop Databases• Voice Mail• Video Conferencing• Intranets

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS:

• Computer-based Systems With Abilities to Learn Language, Accomplish Tasks, use Perceptual Apparatus, Emulate Human Expertise & Decision Making

*

AI

BUSINESS INTERESTS IN AI

• Preserve Expertise

• Create Knowledge Base

• Mechanism Not Subject To Feelings, Fatigue, Worry, Crisis

• Eliminate Routine / Unsatisfying Jobs

• Enhance Knowledge Base*

FAMILYFAMILY

NATURALNATURALLANGUAGELANGUAGE

ROBOTICSROBOTICSPERCEPTIVEPERCEPTIVE

SYSTEMSSYSTEMSEXPERTEXPERT

SYSTEMSSYSTEMSNEURALNEURALNETWORKSNETWORKS

ARTIFICIALARTIFICIALINTELLIGENCEINTELLIGENCE

AI

Natural Language

• Computer speech recognition and generation

• Text recognition

• Uses:– Placing Orders by Phone– Collect Calls– Database Queries

Robotics

• Perform tasks • Use

– Manufacturing

• Advantages– Unsafe conditions– Long hours– Repetitive tasks– Decreasing costs

Perceptive Systems

• Camera with computer

• Uses:– Routine Inspections– Weather– Defense

Expert Systems

• Knowledge-based• Solve Problems via Rules of Expert• Interactive• Uses:

– Medicine– Automobile Diagnostics– Game Playing– Credit Approval

AI EXPERT SYSTEMS

• RULE - BASED EXPERT SYSTEM : AI System Based on IF - THEN Statements Rule Base: Collection of IF /THEN Knowledge– FORWARD CHAINING: Uses Input; Searches Rules

for Answer

– BACKWARD CHAINING: Begins with Hypothesis, Seeks Information Until Hypothesis Accepted or Rejected

*

• Mimics Structure of the Brain

• Learn, Patterns• Use:

– Buying Securities– Pap smear test

Neural Networks

Fuzzy Logic

• Make decision according to scale vs. just “Yes” or “No”.

• More Like Human Thought

• Use– Focus on Video Camera– Antilock Brakes

Telecommuting• Telework• Supportive Federal Laws

–Amendments to the Clean Air Act 1990

–Family and Medical Leave Act 1992

Telecommuting• Telecommuting Locations

– Virtual/Mobile Office– Satellite Office– Telework Center

• Advantages and Problems– More productive– Less stress– Hard to manage– Self-initiative– Always working….

Health Issues• Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)

– Cumulative Trauma Disorder (CDT)/Typing Injury (TI)

– Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Workstation Design

• Tendonitis

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Health Issues• Causes of RSI

– Motion Required

– Workstation Design

– Education on Proper Use

– Management Attitude Toward Worker

– Worker’s Own Physical Characteristics

Health Issues• Mouse Problems

– Trackball Alternative

• Ergonomics– Human Factors Engineering

• Psychological Problems

• Web Addiction

Web Content Issues• Adult-Oriented Web Sites

– Restrictive Legislation

– Using Filtering Software

– Installing Filters on Material Coming into a Country

• Free Speech Protections

Web Content Issues• Terrorist-Oriented Sites

– Protection versus Free Speech Debate

• Web-Based Gambling Sites– Australian States Internet

Gambling Licenses

– Subject to U.S. Laws

Future of the Networked Economy• Consumer Appliances

• Cellular Internet Connections

• Home Computer Networks

• Client Computers in Hotel/Motel Rooms

Future of the Networked Economy• Time Will Be Scarcest

Resource– Videoconferencing

• Continued Personal Outsourcing

• “A day in the life of Mary 2005”

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Copyright 2001 by Harcourt, Inc. All rights reserved.