Social Context of Computing: Impact, Equity, and Responsibility

TAKEAWAYS:

• Computing technologies reshape societies by altering communication, economies, and governance, but their benefits are often unevenly distributed.
• The digital divide (access gaps) and digital inequality (skill gaps) create social disparities that IT professionals must address.
• Cultural context matters: technologies must respect local norms, languages, and values (e.g., Nepali scripts in eSewa, Islamic finance in Khalti).
• Accessibility in IT ensures inclusivity for people with disabilities, aligning with ethical and legal standards (e.g., screen readers for blind users).
• Social responsibility of IT professionals includes advocating for equitable access, combating misinformation, and promoting digital literacy.
• Case studies (e.g., Pathao’s traffic routing, NEPSE’s market transparency) show how computing can solve—or exacerbate—social challenges.

1. Computing’s Role in Society: Beyond Technology

Computing is not neutral; it amplifies societal structures, whether for good or ill. This unit examines how IT systems interact with:

• Economies (e.g., e-commerce, gig work like Pathao drivers).
• Governance (e.g., eSewa for tax collection, NTC’s digital services).
• Culture (e.g., language preservation via digital archives, memes shaping youth identity).
• Environment (e.g., energy use of data centers, e-waste in Kathmandu).

Key Concepts

1. Social Impact of Computing

   • Technologies like WhatsApp or Khalti enable financial inclusion but also create dependency on digital infrastructure.
   • Example: During COVID-19, Nepal’s eSewa saw a 300% rise in digital payments, but rural areas lagged due to poor internet.
   • Visual: How does a digital payment app (like Khalti) change trust in transactions?

     flowchart TD
       A["User"] -->|"Taps 'Pay'"| B["Khalti App"]
       B -->|"Verifies"| C["Bank/Nepal Rastra Bank"]
       C -->|"Processes"| D["Merchant"]
       D -->|"Confirms"| A

2. Digital Divide vs. Digital Inequality

   • Digital Divide: Lack of access (e.g., no smartphones in remote villages).
   • Digital Inequality: Lack of skills (e.g., urban youth using YouTube but rural elders excluded).
   • Real-world tie: Nepal’s NTC provides free Wi-Fi in public spaces, but digital literacy programs are rare in schools.
   • Visual: Compare access gaps in Nepal.

3. Cultural Context Matters

   • Localization: Nepali scripts in eSewa, Islamic finance rules in Khalti.
   • Example: Daraz’s success in Nepal relied on translating product descriptions into Nepali and offering cash-on-delivery (trusted by rural users).
   • Ethical dilemma: Should Google Maps prioritize traffic routes that serve tourists over locals during festivals (e.g., Dashain)?

2. Accessibility and Inclusivity in IT

Accessibility ensures IT systems are usable by all, including people with disabilities. Key principles:

• WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines): Standards for websites/apps (e.g., alt text for images, keyboard navigation).
• Universal Design: Designing for diversity upfront (e.g., Ncell’s Braille keypads for visually impaired users).
• Example: Pathao’s app includes voice commands for drivers who can’t read, but Nepal’s public transport apps often lack such features.

Worked Example: Screen Readers for Blind Users

1. Problem: A blind student in TU cannot access online lecture notes.
2. Solution: Use screen readers (e.g., NVDA, VoiceOver) that convert text to speech.
3. Ethical Check:
   • Are all university websites compatible? (Test with WAVE Evaluator.)
   • Does ePaisa support screen readers for its mobile app?

Visual: How a screen reader works.

3. Computing and Economic Development

IT drives economic growth but can also exploit workers or displace jobs.

Case Study: Gig Economy in Nepal (Pathao, Foodmandu)

Key Question: Should Pathao be treated as a tech company (light regulation) or a transport service (worker protections)?

Visual: Gig economy power dynamics.

classDiagram
    class User {
        +Hails ride
    }
    class Pathao {
        +Matches driver
        +Sets fare
    }
    class Driver {
        +No benefits
        +Unpredictable income
    }
    User --> Pathao : "Uses app"
    Pathao --> Driver : "Exploits labor"
    Driver --> User : "Provides service"

4. Computing and Governance

Governments use IT for transparency (e.g., NEPSE’s stock market data) but also for surveillance (e.g., Ncell’s SIM registration).

Case Study: NEPSE’s Digital Market

• How it works:
  1. Investors trade stocks via online platforms (e.g., Merolagani).
  2. Blockchain (emerging) could reduce fraud.
• Ethical Issues:
  • Manipulation: Insider trading via leaked data.
  • Exclusion: Rural investors lack internet access.
• Visual: NEPSE’s trading flow.

Surveillance vs. Security

• Example: Ncell’s SIM registration (2018) aimed to curb terrorism but violated privacy of millions.
• Question: Is facial recognition at ATMs (used in some banks) a security measure or unethical tracking?

5. Environmental and Ethical Trade-offs

IT has a carbon footprint:

• Data centers (e.g., Google’s servers) consume 1% of global electricity.
• E-waste: Nepal imports 300+ tons of e-waste yearly (mostly from India), but lacks recycling infrastructure.

Worked Example: Cloud Computing in Nepal

• Pros: Banks (e.g., NMB) use cloud for disaster recovery (e.g., earthquake-proof backups).
• Cons: Energy use in Pokhara’s data centers during load-shedding.
• Solution: Green hosting (e.g., solar-powered servers).

Visual: E-waste in Kathmandu.

6. Combating Misinformation and Digital Literacy

Problem: Fake news spreads via WhatsApp (e.g., COVID-19 rumors in 2020) and Facebook (e.g., political propaganda). Solutions:

• Fact-checking: Kantipur’s digital desk verifies claims.
• Media literacy: Nepal’s schools lack IT ethics curricula.
• Example: During the 2022 local elections, Daraz removed fake "vote-buying" ads, but small businesses still spread misinformation.

Visual: Misinformation spread in Nepal.

graph LR
    A["Fake News"] -->|"WhatsApp"| B["Group Chats"]
    B -->|"Shares"| C["Facebook"]
    C -->|"Goes Viral"| D["Elections Chaos"]

In the Real World

1. eSewa (Nepal)

   • Idea Used: Digital inclusion (government payments) but exclusion (rural areas lack QR codes).
   • How: Enabled 20% of Nepalis to access services during COVID-19, but 30% still use cash due to digital illiteracy.

2. Pathao (Nepal)

   • Idea Used: Algorithmic fairness (route optimization) vs. worker exploitation (no benefits).
   • How: Uses AI to reduce wait times but ignores drivers’ safety (e.g., no accident insurance).

3. Google Maps (Global)

   • Idea Used: Cultural bias in traffic predictions.
   • How: In Kathmandu, it prioritizes tourist routes (e.g., Thamel) over local markets (e.g., Asan), worsening congestion for residents.

Exam Tip

This unit is conceptual but application-heavy. Expect:

1. Case study questions: Analyze Pathao’s ethics or NEPSE’s transparency.
   • Structure: Use PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link).
2. Compare/contrast: Digital divide in Nepal vs. India (access vs. skills).
3. Ethical dilemmas: Should Ncell sell user data to advertisers?
4. Visuals: Sketch a flowchart of eSewa’s payment system or a Venn diagram of digital divide causes.
5. Short answers: Define digital inequality and give one Nepali example.

Top Marks Tip: Relate every answer to Nepal. For example:

• "Ncell’s SIM registration improved security but violated Article 17 of Nepal’s Constitution (right to privacy)."
• "Pathao’s algorithm reduces traffic but exploits gig workers—similar to Uber’s global model."

Key Formula to Remember:

Social Impact = Technology × Cultural Context × Accessibility