Title: Computers and Society in the Past Half Century
Subtitle: The Conquest of Will Revisited
Subject Classification:  Technology, Society and Culture, Artificial Intelligence  
BIC Classification: TB, JF, UYQ
BISAC Classification: COM059000, HIS037070
Binding: Hardback, Paperback, eBook
Publication date: 17 Apr 2024
ISBN (Hardback): 978-1-80441-542-9
ISBN (eBook): 978-1-80441-543-6
ISBN (Paperback): 978-1-80441-544-3

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Description

Almost fifty years ago, the author wrote the first comprehensive critical study of social issues in computing, The Conquest of Will (1976). This new book revisits this seminal study, featuring an overview of technological advances over the past half century, and provides a unique comparison between what was believed and expected of computers back in 1976, and actual outcomes up to the present time.

Despite the extraordinary changes in technology, much of what has emerged in contemporary society was anticipated fifty years ago, and we are still grappling with some of the same basic challenges. For example, the computer’s threat to privacy has been a constant issue ever since the late 1950s, but the regulatory framework designed in the 1960s has been upended by the Internet. Artificial Intelligence too has been a contentious issue since the late 1950s, but until recently discussion was largely confined to academia, and there was little urgency to regulate its further development and application. The comparisons offered in this book will highlight what we got right and wrong in the past, and point to the sources of good and bad predictions.

While there have been many studies of social issues in computing published since The Conquest of Will appeared in 1976, this is an unusual and valuable longitudinal comparison of the current situation with what prevailed and was predicted half a century ago.

Biography

Author(s):  Dr. Abbe Mowshowitz is Emeritus Professor of Computer Science, The City College of New York, USA.

Reviews

"This book is unique among those broadly addressing societal issues of computing. Dr. Mowshowitz’s intriguing strategy of returning to his study of computing, written nearly 50 years ago, gives a fascinating insight into the situation then and the predictions of what might follow. The prescience of the original work is remarkable. And, of particular interest is the history of, among other themes, the very topical area of Artificial Intelligence, the roots of which came long before the current decade. This book would certainly be an excellent resource for a course or unit regarding computers and society or ethics in computer science, information science, data science, cognitive science or the history and philosophy of science. However, an equally appropriate audience, given the extent of the impact of computing technologies in all areas of life, would be those who have followed its rapidly expanding encroachment with interest and who seek more insight. The careful analysis and background given in the original work and the subsequent exploration of the situation today provide such readers with a deep comprehension unlikely to be found elsewhere."
- Lois Wright Hawkes, Emeritus Professor, Computer Science, Senior Associate Dean, Arts & Science, Florida State University