Panel members included Jim Johnson, vice provost in the Information Technology Division; President Bill Chace; Cliff Cockerham, director of Alumni University; Deborah Hyde, director of student disability services; and John Banja, associate professor of rehabilitation medicine.
Johnson focused on the changing rules of society since the introduction of the Internet, equating this introduction to the industrial revolution. Because there is "no real central Internet authority," Johnson claimed that the Internet has "changed the rules of how we have lived." To illustrate, Johnson said, "All the rules we came up with to deal with the industrial revolution do not necessarily deal with cyberspace. All the things we do in publishing that apply to the printing press do not necessarily apply to the age of hypermedia and hypertext. Technology makes new things possible, and old rules do not apply."
This, in turn, said Johnson, leads to "dramatic changes in privacy and accepted rules of behavior. Before, there was always some sort of constraint. There is freedom of the press, but in order to have it, I have to buy a printing press, not to mention other costs. The Internet reaches 40 million people worldwide at virtually no cost."
Chace spoke of the "low valleys and high plateaus" of the Internet, focusing on the good and bad aspects of such readily available technology. "The computer revolution will continue to attract suspicion, resentment and fear. One response is that a computer is only a tool, neither good nor bad. It is used to store, transfer and manipulate information more efficiently and at a much higher speed," he said. "People can be defined ethically. Machines can't."
The attractions of virtual reality, according to Chace, may lead to "not wanting to cope with the world as it is. The freedom to depart real life to go to virtual reality does not free us from the responsibility of the here and now." Chace said another flaw of the Internet is its capability to draw a strong line through the haves and have nots due to cost and technological competency through education. As a final thought, Chace offered the question, "Where will we direct the force we have created?"
Cockerham echoed Chace on several issues concerning cyberspace. Choosing not to focus on the future, Cockerham instead asked the question, "Where are we today and what society will we spawn?" Cockerham said the three main problems people have with the Internet are hiding data, speaking freely at the expense of others and making money. The money issue concerns not only hackers, but also those Chace referred to as "the haves and have nots," and Cockerham said that the increasing gap between the two groups is both an immediate and an urgent issue. When the Internet becomes a major tool "that connects parts of our society and becomes a central nutrient of everyday life," he said, "we cannot afford to let access be a factor that widens the gap."
Hyde agreed with Cockerham, saying that the Internet "should embrace the entire range of human perspective. People with disabilities should not be left out." Claiming that one out of five people are currently disabled in some way, Hyde said this number may go up in the next few decades because of increased longevity and better medical care. The disabled have problems accessing the Internet, not only because of cost but also due to their disabilities. However, Hyde said that in a best-case scenario, with necessary changes made, "the Internet should be a great leveling ground" for the disabled.
Banja's speech touched on "technological narcosis," or the addictive nature of the Internet. "What are the needs of the individual who departs to a virtual life?" he asked. Banja gave several scenarios of Internet addiction and discussed the dangers of individuals who use the Internet to avoid functioning as real citizens. "Our cultural richness is not available on the Internet. Some people turn to it because of their own failures to build a nourishing, real-life community. We have to regain control of our real space and real community."
-- Danielle Service