SOC 880

Information technology is now one of the major influences in modern life. Given the unprecedented rates of change, how do we formulate reasonable expectations? How do we make choices when we don't know what the future of technology holds? To answer questions such as these, we need to learn more about the interaction between technology and society. This course looks at the use and impact of information technology in areas such as engineering, medicine, manufacturing, education and law. It looks at issues such as privacy, personal dignity, and the kind of life we want to lead. The course provides a historical framework and ideas which may be applied to other areas of technological change.