Internet Research Ethics

The Winner article discusses how technological items have qualities that can exert power and authority. At first glance, I thought to myself, “no way”, but the more I contemplated the situation, the more I realized how much technology has political characteristics. In addition, Winner states the importance of society in technology and how they relate, “societies choose structures for technologies that influence how people are going to work, communicate, travel, consumes…In the processes by which structuring decisions are made, different people are situated differently and possess unequal degrees of power…” (p. 8). People are divided in society not only because of politics, but because of the design and arrangement of tangible, technological objects. Technology does create power and authority. The example that I think of is, the television.

In Rafel Capurro’s article he also discusses technology and society, but refers to it as an ethical challenge. How the benefits from it be distributed equally? There not only needs to be a legal code of ethics with respect to technology, but also a self-moral code as well. Capurro says that through institutions and moral and legal codes we can decrease the informational divide among the “information poor” and the “information rich.” This brings out a point of why I chose to pursue a degree in information science.

As a researcher in a large firm library, I usually see the side of the “information rich.” As a for-profit library, acquiring materials is never a problem. The attorneys have the resources to obtain information quickly and usually for a reasonable price. In addition, the researchers who work in the library have access to the necessary books, electronic databases and software to perform their job with optimal success. However, on the other side is a small law firm library who is the “information poor.” They don’t have the resources or funds to access all the expensive databases or purchase costly books. As an information professional, I want to see this gap diminish. While, companies must make money, I think it is important for librarians to share (as long as it is in the contract) information with others. Another reason for wanting to pursue a degree in library science is the aspect of helping others. I enjoy assisting attorneys with finding obscure government documents or an old medical journal article. In addition, I think the public library system is vital to the success of individuals. If someone can’t afford a computer, they have free access at their local library. This can also help diminish the information gap. Another value of the information professional field, is the importance of cultural and ethnic identities. Each person is treated as an equal and is privy to the same information. There are no racial or ethnic boundaries. The wealth of knowledge on the Internet has made it even easier for people to obtain information and this excites me.

Technology has taken great strides since I typed my first paper on a type writer or had to wait weeks to develop film from a vacation. The following is a chronological list (to the best of my knowledge) about technology and society and how it has affected me.

1992 - Typed my papers on a typewriter/word processor
1994 - My first portable CD player
1996 - My first personal computer (desktop)
1998 - My first laptop
1998 - My first DVD player
2000 - My first cell phone
2000 - Purchased my first airline tickets online
2001 - My first digital camera (very big J)
2005 - My first digital video camera
2005 - My first iPod

All of these technologies have affected the way I live…what would I ever do without a cell phone (haha :-)