SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION
CMNS 353-4

SOCIAL IMPACTS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Prerequisites:

CMNS 253; and CMNS 261 or 362.

Overview:

This course asks the student to consider the social impacts of communication technology. That is, the impacts of communication technology on the national culture, family dynamics, interpersonal relationships, and individual psychology. We will do this using a participatory method that will have students create and then critique communication technologies and services.

The course is in two parts. In the first half of the semester, small groups of students will design a communication technology or service. In the second part of the semester, we will write reports on the possible social impacts of those technologies. Presentations will be made to the class after each half is completed.

The course will use two current/emerging communication technologies as focal points: high speed digital communication to the home and handset. We will look at the near future (three to five years hence) and consider possible evolution/revolution in these areas and the impacts these may have.

Required Texts:

Dorothy Leonard and Walter Swap, When Sparks Fly, Harvard Business School Press 1999, ISBN 0875848656.
C.J. Barrow, Social Impact Assessment: An Introduction, Edward Arnold 2000, ISBN 0340742186.
In addition, selected readings will be placed on reserve in the Library.

Grades and Assignments:

There are two major groups assignments and two major individual assignments for this course. The individual assignments are each worth 15% of the grade and the group assignments are each worth 35% of the grade. All assignments will be marked based on a balance of critical thinking, sound logic, and persuasive language. Correct use of spelling and grammar will be required in all assignments. Detailed instructions on these assignments will be provided in class.

The School expects that the grades awarded in this course will bear some reasonable relation to established university-wide practices with respect to both levels and distribution of grades. In addition, the School will follow Policy T10.02 with respect to “Intellectual Honesty” and “Academic Discipline” (see the current Calendar, General Regulations section).

The first individual assignment is to prepare a “what next” document on an existing home or handset technology and how it may evolve in the next three to five years.

The first group assignment is to develop a “creative brief” on a possible new technology in the focus areas and present this to the class.

The second individual assignment is an “impact statement” on how an existing communication technology has significantly affected (positively or negatively) someone you know.

The second group assignment is to prepare a social impact assessment and “tetrad analysis” of one of the other groups’ creative briefs and present this to the class.