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Understanding Universal Access to Computers and the Internet: Filters and Restrictions

Chapter 14 explores the varying levels of access to computers and the internet, discussing how this accessibility impacts technology use. It highlights challenges such as financial, technical, and social barriers to connectivity. The chapter analyzes filtering software, its effectiveness in blocking objectionable material, and the implications for freedom of expression, especially in the context of minors. It also examines the statistics on computer science majors and includes specific legislation like the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA) to provide insight into internet safety regulations.

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Understanding Universal Access to Computers and the Internet: Filters and Restrictions

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  1. Chapter 14 How Universal is access to Computers and the Web

  2. How Important is this Chapter to understanding how computers work? • 2 on a scale of 1-10 maybe

  3. How Important is this Chapter to understanding how to use a computer? • 1 on a scale of 1 to 10

  4. NOTE: The material in the book is at least a year old so the absolute numbers are probably too low

  5. Different Levels of Access • None • Very limited – only specific times or specific places • School classroom or library for example • Limited Access with restrictions • Dial up from home • Low Speed, easy access, few restrictions • Dial up from home with separate phone line • High Speed, easy access, very few if any restrictions • DSL, Cable modem, etc

  6. Specific Types of restrictions • Financial • Bandwidth charge. • Time charge. • Time of day charge. • Convenience • One computer in the home -- where is it put? • Phone connection -- when is it available? • Accessibility -- some areas may not have high speed connections available

  7. Factors that affect the ability to connect to the Net • Technical Considerations • A Computer • Electricity • Ability to connect to the Internet • Economic Considerations • High cost of computers • High cost of access. • Political Considerations. • Social, Political, Religious considerations. • Individual personal considerations

  8. Computer Science Majors • Most are male • 80% at the bachelor’s level • 75% at the master’s level • 80% at the PhD level • Why? • Look at chart on page 389 for ethnic stats.

  9. Software Filters • A software filter is a program that blocks information from coming to the computer as Web pages or e-mail messages or perhaps in other ways • Example: anti-virus software • More common Example: software that limits access to objectionable material

  10. What is objectionable? • Typically the user of the software can make choices. • Typically the software comes pre-configured with choices already made. • Typically filters can be set for classes of users.

  11. What gets filtered? • Pictures • Text • Multimedia • Sound • Video • Everything

  12. Effective filtering • What gets blocked? • What does not get blocked? • What about encrypted material?

  13. How is blocking achieved • Tables of objectionable Web sites • Tables of non-objectionable Web sites • Keyword examination • Sometimes blocked material is passed but “edited” • Congress shall make no laws abridging freedom of speech, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

  14. Who uses filtering? • Parents • Companies

  15. How effective is filtering? • Not very. • Although filtering is better at the corporate level than at the home level.

  16. Children’s Internet Protection Act • Federal law that provides for the protection of minors when using computers in some libraries --public, school, museum, not college. • Restrictions are on images only, not on text. • Obscene, child pornography, harmful to minors • These terms are defined “as an average person applying contemporary community standards” would . • Adults (people over 17 years old) may request that such filters be removed for their personal use.

  17. Terminology • Access • CIPA -- Child Internet Protection Act • DSL -- Direct Subscriber Line • Filtering software • ITAA -- Information Technology Association of America

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