SCN: "Panopticon or Power to the People" talk at Evergreen

[Doug Schuler]

This talk is in Olympia -- probably fairly south for many of
you.  We'd still love to see you there!  Also, please help us
spread the word on this -- especially if you have Oly friends
or colleagues.

Thanks!

-- Doug


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ******
NOVEMBER 1, 2000                Contact: Doug Schuler 206.634.0752


Plato Lecture Series 2000 - 2001

      "Tech Threats!! Exploring New Computer Enabled Challenges"

            First Free Public Lecture of the Season


             "Panopticon or Power to the People:
    Some Social Implications of Ubiquitous Wireless Networks"

       Wednesday, November 8th, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Lecture Hall  1


On November 8th 6:00 -7:00 p.m., Marc Smith, Microsoft's only "Research
Sociologist," (Collaboration & Multimedia Group: Microsoft Research) will
explore the social implications of wireless networks which he believes are
poised to become ubiquitous.

Two sociological concepts, (1) Power/Knowledge and (2) social dilemmas,
will be discussed in the lecture as a guide to the kinds of social
institutions and relationships that are likely to emerge through the
use of these tools.


         Will people control these new networks,

                    or will the NETWORKS be in charge?!?


According to Smith, "Wireless computer networks and the devices to
communicate with them are about to become ubiquitous.  A profusion of
devices is likely to emerge quickly from handhelds to cheap, disposable
sensors.  Groups of people using these tools will gain new forms of
social power, ways to organize and coordinate their interactions and
exchanges just in time and just in place.  Using these tools, people
will be able to collectively construct a range of resources that were
too difficult or expensive, or simply impossible to provide before.  At
the same time these tools will gather a constellation of intimate data
about each of us.  Eventually wireless devices will penetrate every
nook and cranny of the social world, bringing the efficiency of
information technology to the production of panoptic power."

This free public event, sponsored by The Evergreen State College
through a Plato Royalty grant, will be held at TESC in Lecture Hall 1.

We are also pleased to announce some of the other speakers for this
series.  Note that this information is tentative.

  * Phil Bereano, University of Washington, 
      "Genetic Engineering and Threats to Privacy" 
  * Paulina Borsook, Author of Cyberselfish. 
      "Of Greed, Technolibertarianism and Geek Omnipotence"
  * Langdon Winner, author of Autonomous Technology, the Reactor 
    and the Whale and many other books and articles.  
       "The Automatic Professor"

We don't have dates yet for the 2001 speakers.  We are currently 
planning on Wednesday night presentations.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *  From the Listowner  * * * * * * * * * * * *
.	To unsubscribe from this list, send a message to:
majordomo at scn.org		In the body of the message, type:
unsubscribe scn
==== Messages posted on this list are also available on the web at: ====
* * * * * * *     http://www.scn.org/volunteers/scn-l/     * * * * * * *