Fostering Research on the Economic and Social Impacts of Information Technology (1998) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 7-20
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From page 7... ...
At the same time, there has been comparatively little investment in research to help understand how information technology has affected and will affect our society. The United States, and indeed the world, are facing critical policy issues involving intellectual property rights, privacy, free speech, education, and other crucial concerns armed with very little understanding and analysis of the consequences of possible choices.
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From page 9... ...
The Steering Committee on Research Opportunities Relating to Economic and Social Impacts of Computing and Communications organized a workshop to explore opportunities for research on the impacts of information technology and ways to assess these impacts. Since this was an endeavor of limited budget and time frame, and to be based in large part on input received at a single workshop, the committee adopted the approach of identifying and developing some significant examples and issues, rather than performing a more comprehensive study of the full range of relevant topics.
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From page 10... ...
At the same time, businesses and consumers have chosen to increase their spending on computers, suggesting that they find new uses of computers worthwhile. As a result, the real quantity of computer power deployed, which reflects both increased spending and increased computer power per dollar spent, has grown tremendously over the past several decades (Figure 1.3~.
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From page 11... ...
(1995) examined computer ownership data from the 1993 Current Population Survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census.
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From page 12... ...
1.1.3 Internet Use The most reliable figure on Internet use is the number of computer and network domains connected directly to the Internet, all of which must have a public Internet address. According to conservative estimates from a recently conducted Internet domain survey (Network Wizards, 1998)
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From page 13... ...
, about 36 million individuals worldwide have the technical capability to distribute or publish information via FTP or WHEW. The Netcraft Web Server Survey found 525,915 publicly accessible Web servers in an exhaustive search in November 1996; by December 1997 the number had risen to more than 1.6 million (Netcraft, 1996, 1997~.
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From page 14... ...
In 1987, the economist Robert Solow quipped, "We see the computer age everywhere except in the productivity statistics" (Solow, 1987~. Solow's comment reflects the fact that, despite the tremendous advances in computer power and affordability shown in Figures 1.1 to 1.3, the aggregate statistics suggest that economic productivity has grown more slowly since about 1973 than it did in the period from 1950 to 1973.
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From page 15... ...
As a result, the ways in which computers are used may be more important than the quantity of investment. In one instance, a large medical products manufacturer found that effective use of computerization required changes in two dozen work practices and policies, including those related to inventory, incentive systems, worker training, job responsibilities, and hiring criteria.
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From page 16... ...
, evaluation, and product life cycles have become more important than the traditional engineering concerns. Social scientists can help to design the questionnaires, marketing studies, pricing policies, and interfaces necessary to develop successful information technology.
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From page 17... ...
standard for credit card transactions over the Internet may be in use for some time, and careful thought should be given to their implications. Thus far, information technology standards setting has been successful in not hindering the dramatic growth just described.
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From page 18... ...
The collection of reliable data such as data on the penetration or use of a particular technology is an endeavor in which the methodology of social science can make an important contribution. For example, as noted in section 1.1.3, measurement of how many people use the Internet is complicated by the current lack of widely accepted, precise definitions of "use." Defining terms appropriately and precisely is basic to social science methodology, as are assessing the reliability of survey data and increasing the reliability by using particular techniques for sampling, increasing response rates, and assessing the impact of missing data.
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From page 19... ...
The value of social science research comes not from tracking the frequency of use of the latest technologies but rather from helping to develop common social and economic principles that can be applied to new circumstances. Those designing or relying on technology and those making policy decisions about the use of technology without reference to systematic theories of human behavior or economics will likely find themselves approaching each new issue in ignorance.
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From page 20... ...
Citing unmeasured improvements in these and other areas, the Boskin Commission recently estimated that the consumer price index overestimates inflation by approximately 1 percent (Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer Price Index, 1996)
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