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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Computer Sciences

Selected Works

2008

Social Implications of ICT

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Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Australia And The New Technologies: Towards Evidence Based Policy In Public Administration, K. Michael, M. G. Michael Jul 2008

Australia And The New Technologies: Towards Evidence Based Policy In Public Administration, K. Michael, M. G. Michael

Professor Katina Michael

This workshop addresses the application of evidence based policy in public administration. It specifically focuses on the issue of new technologies in the form of product and process innovations rolled out in Australia since major international events (e.g. Sept 11, Boxing Day Tsunami, Avian Flu outbreak). These product and process innovations introduced for the ‘common good’ are usually mandated by government agencies, designed and implemented by private business, and obligatorily adopted by citizens in the name of national security. The workshop investigates how information is gathered, processed and disseminated to provide evidence toward policy making. What qualitative and quantitative methods …


Historical Lessons On Id Technology And The Consequences Of An Unchecked Trajectory, Katina Michael, M G. Michael May 2008

Historical Lessons On Id Technology And The Consequences Of An Unchecked Trajectory, Katina Michael, M G. Michael

Professor Katina Michael

This paper traces the use of identification techniques throughout the ages and focuses on the growing importance of citizen identification by governments. The paper uses a historical approach beginning with manual techniques such as tattoos, through to more recent automatic identification (auto-ID) techniques such as smart cards and biometrics. The findings indicate that identification techniques born for one purpose have gradually found their way into alternate applications, and in some instances have been misused altogether. There is also strong evidence to suggest that governments are moving away from localized identification schemes to more global systems based on universal lifetime identifiers.


The Social Implications Of Humancentric Chip Implants: A Scenario - ‘Thy Chipdom Come, Thy Will Be Done’, Rodney Ip, Katina Michael, M G. Michael May 2008

The Social Implications Of Humancentric Chip Implants: A Scenario - ‘Thy Chipdom Come, Thy Will Be Done’, Rodney Ip, Katina Michael, M G. Michael

Professor Katina Michael

Radio frequency identification (RFID) chip implants for humans are no longer the tales of science fiction. Already preliminary findings have shown that the number of people willing to get chipped has increased since the technology’s commercial arrival in 2002, despite the fact that adoption rates have been very low. This investigation presents three case studies of the main users/ innovators of humancentric chip implants. The first case is of a British researcher in an academic institution who has conducted several implant experiments; the second case, is of a hobbyist and entrepreneur who has focused on the use of RFID implants …


National Security: The Social Implications Of The Politics Of Transparency, M G. Michael, Katina Michael May 2008

National Security: The Social Implications Of The Politics Of Transparency, M G. Michael, Katina Michael

Professor Katina Michael

This special issue of Prometheus is dedicated to the theme of the Social Implications of National Security Measures on Citizens and Business. National security measures can be defined as those technical and non-technical measures that have been initiated as a means to curb breaches in national security, irrespective of whether these might occur by nationals or aliens in or from outside the sovereign state. National security includes such government priorities as maintaining border control, safeguarding against pandemic outbreaks, preventing acts of terror, and even discovering and eliminating identification fraud. Governments worldwide are beginning to implement information and communication security techniques …


Location-Based Services And The Privacy-Security Dichotomy, Katina Michael, L. Perusco, M G. Michael May 2008

Location-Based Services And The Privacy-Security Dichotomy, Katina Michael, L. Perusco, M G. Michael

Professor Katina Michael

Location-based services (LBS) rely on knowledge of a user’s location to provide tailored services or information by means of a wireless device. LBS applications have wide-ranging implications for society, particularly in the context of tracking and monitoring groups of individuals such as children, invalids, and parolees. Despite a great deal of attention paid to technical and commercial aspects of LBS technologies, consideration of the legal, ethical, social and technology momentum issues involved has been wanting. This paper examines some of the more pressing issues that are expected to arise from the widespread use of LBS. The outcome of this paper …