Al Gore's invention has placed us beyond the pale in our understanding of business, entertainment, information exchange, and even interpersonal interaction. Previous models of knowledge in each of these areas have been found to be inadequate with respect to the internet. As a psychologist, I take particular interest in what for lack of a better term can be called the "Psychology of Cyberspace".
I believe that near instantaneous access to information (especailly as broadband service becomes more widely available) is the most significant change the internet has made to society and culture. What used to take a trip to the library, bookstore, or consultation with an expert can now be accessed online (and the information is up to date, not limited by whenever the book was published or by the expert's limitations). Let's take a the area of sports. As a kid, if the Reds played on the West Coast and you couldn't stay up late to see/hear the game, you would have to wait two days for the score to show up in the paper, as it wouldn't even make the next day's paper due to missing the submission deadline for the paper. Now, I can see/hear the game in real time over the internet with statisitics updated pitch by pitch.
In the past, holders of information have held significant power over those needing or requiring that information. To some degree, the balance of power has tilted to everyman (or at least everyman who has a computer and internet access). Keep in mind that it is still primarily white, affluent, males who spend the most time roaming the waves of the internet. In the past month I have done the following things via access to the internet: kept in touch with family/friends hundreds of miles away; made hotel reservations for a trip to Florida; bought multiple items including several hard to find items I could not have found within 100 miles of my home; shared photos of children with others who would otherwise never get to see them; researched multiple projects for work; applied for a loan repayment program; tracked my 401K; checked the weather forecast; keep up with the news; and find others who share some of the esoteric interests that I have. Just ten years ago I would have needed to visit a travel agent, a stockbroker, the post office, the library, and government office to complete all of these tasks. While this is empowering at the individual level, what costs are associated with this instantaneous access to information?
Is the information reliable and valid?
If not, is anyone liable when others rely upon that information to their detriment?
How does intstantaneous access to information on the world wide web affect our expectations for access in other spheres of our lives?
How do we assure (or should we even be concerned about) equitable access to this information for all?
Who is in control of the information?
Should you have to pay for access to the information?
Can you get sued for information you share (or don't share) on the internet? For example, there was a recent suicide attempt in an online chatroom and several people encouraged the young man to kill himself. Are they liable?
Quotation is a serviceable substitute for wit. - Oscar Wilde
Friday, August 19, 2005
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Darwin Awards
Darwin Awards: Darwin Awards One of my favorite websites documenting those individuals who do the rest of us a favor by cleaning out the gene pool.
List of Texas Inmates' Last Meals
List of Texas Inmates' Last Meals Fascinating look at the last meals of inmates on death row in Texas. What would your last meal request be?
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