For better or for worse?

Every week I get letters from readers wanting to know how they can make their computers run faster, and being confined to a measly Pentium III for nearly two months has taught me to treat such questions with more respect than I would have otherwise.
A computer is usually an exciting thing for someone who has never used one before, but it gradually and inevitably becomes a bore and an annoyance within a matter of months. It is in our blood to want to go faster and do things faster when we drive on the road – or are seated in front of the computer and this 'exciting' object looses its ability to thrill and entertain us.

One person who at least pretends not to have lost that excitement is Bill Gates – the founder of Microsoft (you'd be surprised how many people would fail to make the connection), who always talks about how excited he is about his job and the future of computers.

A few social critics however, are sceptical of the futuristic optimism of computer enthusiasts such as Gates. They question whether the apparent benefits of computer technology will outweigh the potential harms. There are those who argue that technology has done nothing to lessen the world's most critical problems such as environmental degradation, economic inequality, and the decline of cities. They even claim that in many ways, the development of technology has exacerbated rather than ameliorated these problems. In much the same way, there is a line of thought that the changes to society that computers will bring may be as harmful in some ways as they are beneficial in others.

For instance, the communication that takes place over computer networks pales in comparison to real human interaction. Since computers tend to decrease actual human contact, their use may weaken people's sense of community and widen existing social divisions.

Most of us who use computers regularly would be tempted to dismiss such thoughts as backward and foolish, without even considering them.

Though it is inevitable that computers will become more prevalent and will bring changes to the way people work and play, at a minimum, a critical eye should be cast on the rosy visions of the future presented by computer enthusiasts.

Computer professionals of today are faced with two main challenges. One is more widely accepted – to enhance human work conditions and productivity through the use of technology – and the other, less acknowledged challenge is to make the opportunities and benefits of technology equally available to everyone.
technopage@gmail.com