How it has reshaped the World Essay Example for Free

How it has reshaped the World Essay The history of science is marked by discoveries or inventions, great or small, which have, as a characteristic feature, refined humanity’s existing understanding of the world. Though many of these discoveries were accessible, and appealing, to those that had the knowledge and expertise to comprehend them, ever so rarely came a discovery (or invention) which redefined the world as we understood it with their remarkable scope, explanatory power, functionality or clarity. As the process of scientific discovery and technological development progressed, such moments of redefinition became genuinely rare, and it necessitated that only an invention of unparalleled accessibility could have as profound an impact on human society as, for example, the invention of the telescope or the discovery of Cartesian coordinates. The invention of the internet was one such event in the history of science. During an address in September 1999, Jeffrey Cole, (the then) Director of the Center for Communication Policy at UCLA, remarked that in 1996 â€Å"[he] discovered that television viewing among kids under the age of 14 was down for the first time in the history of television. For the first time in the 51 years of television, since 1948, kids had found something they liked as much or more than television – computers and the Internet. † (Cole, 1996, p. 1) That the interest in television had waned in itself was a startling fact. But, there are greater ramifications of this observation; the television was a source of information and entertainment, not a primary medium of communicating or doing business. It operated along regional, national and international networks, with varying accessibility. The internet, on the other hand, is expressly a global gateway (albeit with some restrictions, which we shall encounter below), characterized by the free flow of information with hitherto unknown swiftness. The ‘World Wide Web’, as the internet is sometimes called, has been an irreplaceable tool of the process of globalization, while the globalizing world has increasingly depended on the internet for faster communication, spread of information and economic transactions. The upshot here is that this mutually reinforcing dynamic has had a deep and lasting effect on human society; while we have witnessed an economic and communications transformation, the emergence of a global, homogeneous culture along with a global polity and risk culture cannot be denied (Aronson, 2004). Also, partly due to the internet revolution, time and space seem to be collapsing (Harvey, 1990; Agnew, 2001). We shall continue, now, to survey these various effects that the internet has had in â€Å"reshaping† the world. II. The Internet, Culture and Our Daily Lives To assess the impact the internet has had on culture in general, and the habits and practices of our daily live in particular, we must start by making am important qualification: the rise of the internet has meant that a â€Å"digital divide† is created between those who are comfortable with using the new technology and those who are not (Aronson, p. 635). The sharing of information and ideas through virtual communities also gives rise to â€Å"smart mobs† (Rheingold, 2003), meaning that individuals now interact with institutions in novel ways. The growth of technology subjects culture to pulls in several directions. A positive aspect of the internet is that it provides an inexpensive medium of communication, allowing individuals the possibility of maintaining their familial, cultural, religious or ethnic ties across geographical spaces. Equally, however, the exposure the internet grants also develops shared affections for things such as movies, music, cuisine, etc. So, identities become increasingly cross-cutting rather than remaining segmented; global citizens today share multiple identities (Aronson, p. 635). This leads to urban cultures resembling one another, with differences between people diminishing. In our daily lives, the advent of the internet has had many penetrating effects. For instance, communication through â€Å"social utility† websites such as Facebook, a concept inconceivable in the past, has now become an everyday activity, supplanting postal mail and (even) e-mail. Things such as buying groceries and movie tickets to paying bills and looking for a new place to stay can all be done instantly through a computer with internet access. Without expending a great deal of physical effort, many routine tasks can be performed from the comfort of one’s home. The perceived benefits, or lack thereof, of these changes vary from person to person, though there is no denying the convenience of completing everyday jobs online. The impacts of internet use are even more pronounced in areas where communication was previously a challenge; a recent study shows the positive changes in the Shippagan Area in Canada by easing daily operations and improving access to required information (Selouani and Hamam, 2007). However, the use of internet technology depends a lot on context; a study based on micro-level sampling in the Pittsburgh, PA, led scholars to suggest that â€Å"[using] the Internet generally predicted better outcomes for extraverts and those with more social support – but worse outcomes for introverts and those with less support. The studies suggest that many people, especially those with good social resources, have integrated the Internet into their ordinary lives to their advantage. † (Kiesler et al. , 2002. ) This takes us back to the qualification of the digital divide we made at the beginning of this section. A cultural connotation of the same could engender a concept of the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’, fueling the process of otherization between cultural perspectives. However, with the intermingling of cultures – meaning cross-cutting identities – as discussed above, such a turn of events looks unlikely in reality. III. The Internet and the Economy The biggest upshot of the internet is that it tends to promote economic growth, by way of increased trade, information on investment opportunities, expanding the range of options for consumers and providing an easy reach to products across the globe. Companies, as well as countries, that make use of the technological advantages of the internet may enjoy an â€Å"information edge as they compete and grow† (Aronson, p. 633). Locally, this means that any business can have instant global marketability, by setting up a website informing prospective customers of their products and employing an online transaction system. Globally, due in part to the proliferation of the above local phenomenon, and due also to the growing public awareness of the convenience of e-businesses, there is an increasing reliance on doing business through the internet. Over time, this inexpensive structure leads retailers and distributors to also take their businesses online. As this process intensified over the last (roughly) two decades, some sweeping expectations were fielded by analysts about the effects of the internet on specific industries in the economy. In a report published by Statistics Canada in November 2006, four key identified areas of change were analyzed: the paperless office, the end of postal mail, the demise of professional travel and the end of traditional retail. Upon surveying the facts, it was found that paper production and consumption in the world increased from 1983 to 2003, as did the volume of postal deliveries. So is the case with professional travelers and retailers in that time frame (Sciadas, 2006). This derives two important conclusions: firstly, the advent of the internet has had a great impact on the world, no doubt, but it is yet to supplant traditional means of conducting business totally; secondly, and more importantly, the changes in the economy effected by the internet shows the increase in the volume of transactions, business establishments and opportunities the world has experienced. Consumer adaptability to this new situation has also thrown up novel ideas. Online money transfer systems, such as PayPal, offer effective alternatives to traditional banking, especially for transactions online. The possibility of being cheated by fraudulent companies and retailers has spawned various kinds of consumer safety initiatives, like the Internet Crime Complaint Center and the Internet Fraud Watch. A study in 2001 showed that, among other things, internet users frequented retail stores more than non-users; they had access to a far greater range of products and services, and were more quality conscious (About. com, 2001). Importantly, the use of the internet does not guarantee an equitable distribution of growth within or among countries. In fact, global uneven development in a globalizing world is a recurrent theme in scholastic research; the gap between the rich and poorer countries has only widened after the internet revolution (Agnew, 2001), reflecting another facet of the â€Å"digital divide,† this time among countries. E-commerce may even go so far as to undermine national economic policies, while facilitating crime and corruption. Global networks, Aronson contends, are the glue which holds together transnational criminal activities, ranging from drug smuggling and weapons trafficking to the smuggling of nuclear weapons-grade material and human body parts, as well as human trafficking and money laundering (p. 635). IV. The Internet and Access to Information The internet revolution supplied a corresponding information revolution, which has meant that, on the whole, retrieving data and information on any subject is almost instantaneous. This virtual store of information, which is open to anyone interested enough to find things out, has been another great boon on the internet. Aside from the economic benefits of greater access to information, there are several socio-political benefits of such access. The distribution of public documents online has made it easier for people to use these resources and be more informed of public policies, legislations and the conduct of government. Due to this easy availability of information, the possibility of the emergence of a more aware civil society is greater than before. Individuals and groups, cutting across the political spectrum, can agitate administrations and influence decision-making precisely because they are armed with an increased access to vital information. However, some studies do suggest that this kind of political transformation still has a long way to go; though political mobilization has not grown as expected, while political balkanization has indeed risen (Cornfield and Rainie, 2006). In addition, the internet has had a huge impact on education and learning. The wealth of information online, along with the digitization of library resources, offers students the latest and most relevant information on any subject of study. Moreover, the utility of the internet in learning is valid vertically through K-12 education to graduate studies. The internet offers access to new methodologies in teaching and verbal communication in class, while for students there is a plethora of resources related to help them through their coursework, and aid preparations and strategies for tests. Students tend to use the internet to supplement their studies, using it for research, completing and submitting assignments and to find additional study materials (Machotka, Nedic and Nedic, 2002, p. 1). Of course, this increased access to information does not come without its disadvantages. Access does not equal internalization, and thus, having greater access does not mean a corresponding increase in knowledge. Gaining knowledge is a completely singular process, where the wealth of information can never be helpful without the ability to process and analyze the same. Further, the ready availability of much information, rare and treasured in earlier times, runs the danger of evaporating their value and depreciating their utility. For example, the excitement in encountering a classical text, of which libraries would carry few copies previously, is entirely lost when the same is available across the internet as a digital document. Though this enhances the possibility of a greater readership, it dramatically reduces the aura surrounding a great work. Apart from the more aesthetic perspective elaborated in the preceding paragraph the access to information also facilitates the dangers of which Aronson informs us above. Transnational crime feeds off the increasing web of information that is available, and uses the same to circumvent law enforcement agencies and employ new strategies of deception. V. The Internet and Social Interaction As briefly mentioned earlier, social communication websites (for example, Facebook, Orkut, Bebo, NetLog and many others) have redefined the way in which we keep in touch with our friends and family. These websites allow users to update personal information, upload pictures and moderate how much information they wish to make available about themselves online. These are not only popular among high-school and college-going students, but also among working professionals, providing an informal environment of communication. In fact, websites such as LinkedIn are now using similar architecture to create virtual networking portals where professionals can establish industry contacts. Craig’sList, on the other hand, is an effective tool which lists local classifieds. The global scale of such ventures is clearly evident in the increasing popularity of websites such as CouchSurfing, which allows registered users to offer or obtain free (or cheap) accommodation while traveling abroad. Another means of social interaction spawned by the internet has been the phenomenon of web-logging or â€Å"blogging† as it is more popularly known. There are literally millions of blogs on the internet, with many of them being sources of deep and insightful observation, commentary and analysis. Message boards are yet another means of communication, where individuals can anonymously socialize on the internet. With this expanding notion of social interaction, many believe that it is possible to involve and use technology strategically to bring about positive social changes. This argument is largely in view of the global civil society movement, in which the internet could be used as an effective tool for collaboration, mobilization, publishing reports and findings, and observation (Surman and Reilly, 2003). For researchers, the internet holds the key for the development of the social technology movement, and the differing views about the internet – the internet as an open network vis-a-vis the internet as a closed, commercial network – have stunted its growth. The variegated means of social interaction have also drawn detractors. Ru Guangrong, at the Chinese Information Center and Defense Science Technology, has a lengthy list of problems with the internet movement as a whole. (Though these issues pertain to all sections of discussion in this paper, we choose to highlight them here because they lead to the larger question of censorship on the internet. ) Guangrong claims that the internet: propagates Western beliefs and values; â€Å"degrades and repudiates† opposing viewpoints; can be used against national sovereignty; advocates Western lifestyles; assists â€Å"dominant cultures†; corrupts people’s minds and morals; is a waste of time and resources (1998, p. 5). As a remedy, Guangrong suggests, among others, a system of restrictive access and the moderation of available information. While this take on the World Wide Web may strike one as extreme, it does inform the reader on the climate of internet-related restrictions that prevail in the People’s Republic of China. It also poses the question of whether those in power should reserve the right of censoring information on the internet, however harmful or inappropriate they might consider the same. Indeed, there are compelling views on either side. On one hand, censorship on the internet encroaches upon the freedom of expression, a right which is universal in free societies. It makes no sense, for those sharing this view, for the internet to be censored, not least because it has no territorial underpinnings and is not governed across geographical spaces according to the laws of different countries. On the other hand, supporters of censorship argue that if there can be laws protecting consumers against internet fraud, the there could also be laws that restrict the flow of information online. The latter appears to be a paternal argument, claiming to secure internet users from unknown dangers; though it is difficult to support it, the jury is still out on the question of internet censorship. VI. Conclusion There are fears that because of the growing influence of the internet, an overwhelming commoditization of values, where one’s existence is measured in terms of possessions and acquisitions, shall tend to supplant societal values that have developed over centuries. A generalization of this, along with a rapid spread of the â€Å"demonstration effect† could mean the evaporation of cultures and cultural identities, which would only be preserved in nomenclature. However, such a view is unduly (and overly) pessimistic; it does not take the good of globalization, be it the advancement of scientific enquiry and discovery, empowerment of civil society, or greater accountability and transparency in governance. The internet, regardless of its detractors and many negative effects – as discussed above – remains a tool which carries the potential of bringing people together by making them more tolerant of different cultures and worldviews. Future generations will come to depend on the services of this great invention more heavily; indeed, there shall come a time when life without the internet would seem inconceivable. The use of internet technology has made life increasingly simpler; it is this aspect of the internet that one must focus on to contemplate the paths to the future, rather than magnifying its ill effects. References About. com. (March 12, 2001. ) Americas New Consumers: How Internet Use is Redefining the Marketplace. Retail Industry, About. com. Retrieved 28 May, 2008, from http://retailindustry. about. com/library/bl/bl_rsw0312. htm Agnew, J. (April 2001. ) The New Global Economy: Time-Space Compression, Geopolitics, and Global Uneven Development. Center for Globalization and Policy Research, School of Public Policy and Social Research, University of California at Los Angeles. Retrieved 28 May, 2008, from http://www. sppsr. ucla. edu/cgpr/docs/workingpaper3. doc Aronson, J. D. (2004. ) â€Å"Causes and Consequences of the Communications and Internet Revolution. † In Baylis, J. and Smith, S. (Eds. ). The Globalization of World Politics (3rd ed. ). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 621-644. Cole, J. (September 21st, 1999. ) Speech: How the Internet Is Changing Our Social, Political and Economic Lives. The Milken Institute Forum, 1-12. Cornfield, M. and Rainie, L. (November 5, 2006. ) â€Å"The Impact of the Internet on Politics. † Pew Internet American Life Project. Washington DC: The Pew Research Center. Guangron, R. (1998. ) â€Å"The Negative Impact of the Internet and Its Solutions. † The Chinese Defense Science and Technology Information Monthly, 121, 1-9. Harvey, D. (1990. ) â€Å"Pt. III: The Experience of Space and Time. † In The Condition of Postmodernity: An Enquiry into the Origins of Cultural Change. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, 201-325. Kiesler, S. , Kraut, R. , Cummings, J. , Boneva, B. , Helgeson, V. , Cra