Hanson looks at social impact of Internet, cell phones
Monday, September 10th, 2007
“24/7: How Cell Phones and the Internet Change the Way We Live, Work and Play,” a new book by Communication professor Jarice Hanson, was recently published by Praeger Publishing.
Just as the automobile radically changed people’s lives at the beginning of the 20th century, so too has the revolution in online services such as blogging, podcasting, videogaming, shopping, social networking and the introduction of cell phones have changed lives at the turn of the 21st century. Many other services, activities, and devices, including the Palm Pilot, BlackBerry, iPod, digital cameras and cell cameras, have been made possible by the combination of these two technologies. While the automobile allowed people for the first time to work in cities and live comfortably in the suburbs, extending the long commute beyond the limits previously circumscribed by public transportation, the Internet and cell phone allow people to interact with others from around the world–or a few hundred miles–from where they work or live, giving rise to the telecommuting phenomenon and allowing them to stay in touch with friends and families in the new virtual environment.
As Hanson demonstrates in her new book, these technologies enable people to work and play 24/7, anytime, anywhere. Hanson examines the wide-ranging impact of this change, including the effects on democracy by individuals posting their viewpoints on the Internet and views of privacy and communication shaped by cell phone and e-mail use.
She also examines whether it is possible to ever completely prevent identity theft over the Internet and the permanence of information stored on the Internet or hard drives. Hanson also delves into whether videogames teach new social principles.The book also explores to what extent individuals do have control and assesses how social and governmental services are responding to (or running from) the problems posed by these new technologies.
Currently on sabbatical for the fall, Hanson is coordinating and moderating a live webcast on digital democracy and freedom of speech from WHYY television in Philadelphia.