The emergence of ChatGPT and related Artificial Intelligence (AI) tied to Large Language Models (LLMs) is the hot-button issue of the day. There are those who see AI as the new-new thing that will boost productivity and jobs. Others have raised concerns over LLMs being error prone – like other media, in not getting the … Continue reading AI and The Fifth Estate: The Power Shift of the Digital Age
Shaping the Internet
New Histories of Information and Media Technologies
New Historical Perspectives on Media and Information Technologies? For decades, students of media, communication, and internet studies have been so focused on the future that the past is too often ignored. Is there a rising interest in the history of media and information technologies and policies? Might more attention to the past hold promise for … Continue reading New Histories of Information and Media Technologies
Linking Cybersecurity Capacity Research to Development in Africa and Worldwide
The value of having a global constellation of cybersecurity capacity centres was brought home today. I viewed the many sessions of the hybrid annual conference of the network of cybersecurity research centres focused on cybersecurity, which was organised by C3SA in Cape Town, South Africa. Conferences held at other centres, including Oxford’s Global Cybersecurity Capacity … Continue reading Linking Cybersecurity Capacity Research to Development in Africa and Worldwide
Douglas Engelbart in a Flow of Inspirations
Douglas Carl Engelbart (1925-2013) is cited most prominently for his 1968 “Mother of All Demos”. He introduced his team’s research program by using of an early time-sharing computer system, what he called an “oN-Line System” (NLS), that used a “mouse” to support human interaction with the computer. For example, as you can see from his … Continue reading Douglas Engelbart in a Flow of Inspirations
Robots: Commentary by A. Michael Noll
REIN IN THE CLOUD REJOICE IN THE ROBOTS [The following commentary is authored by A. Michael Noll, and posted with the permission of the author. It illustrates the disagreement among experts on the social implications of new technologies, such as robotics, AI, cloud computing, and the Internet, demonstrating the value of continued research on the … Continue reading Robots: Commentary by A. Michael Noll
Flawed Economics Behind Online Harms Regulation
The Flawed Economics of Online Harms Regulation I am not an economist, but even I can see the huge flaws in a recently published “cost/benefit analysis of the UK’s online safety bill”.[1] My immediate reactions: The author, Sam Wood, of 'The Economics of Online Harms Regulation' in InterMEDIA, begins with an argument that the pandemic ‘[feuled] concerns … Continue reading Flawed Economics Behind Online Harms Regulation
Value Tradeoffs for a Cashless Society
A recent news story (Sunday Times 6 June 2021) highlighted the potential for Sweden to lead the way to a ‘cashless’ future.[1] Not surprising in the context of so many observable trends moving in this direction. However, it reminded me of the early forecasts of a cashless society that were debated in the 1970s, and sense, … Continue reading Value Tradeoffs for a Cashless Society
Society and the Internet
The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the Internet and related social media and digital technologies to the forefront of societies across the globe. Whether in supporting social distancing, working at home, or online courses, people are increasingly dependent on online media for everyday life and work. If you are teaching courses on the social aspects of … Continue reading Society and the Internet
Women and the Web
News reports today citing one of the inventors of the Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, as arguing that the Web “is not working for women and girls”. Tim Berners-Lee is a hero of all of us involved in study and use of the Internet, Web, and related information and communication technologies. Clearly, many women and girls … Continue reading Women and the Web
Managing the Shift to Next Generation Television
Columbia University’s Professor Eli Noam was in Oxford yesterday, 17 October 2019, speaking at Green Templeton College about two of his most recent books, entitled ‘Managing Media and Digital Organizations’ and ‘Digital and Media Management’: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9783319712871. The title of his talk was ‘Does Digital Management Exist? Challenges for the Next Generation of TV’. Several departments collaborated … Continue reading Managing the Shift to Next Generation Television