Computers and Society. Just as the tools people invented
transformed the societies in which they lived, so the needs of
these societies inspired inventions, of which computers became a
cornerstone in the 20th century. Throughout the world computers
have become a source as well as a conduit of information. This
article takes a discursive look at computers, related
technological developments, and social issues affected by the
inclusion of computers in everyday life, with particular
reference to issues of privacy. The Information Revolution.
Information technology has long been acknowledged as a
revolutionary social force. In medieval times the invention of
the printing press by Gutenberg eventually broke down the
monopoly of the church over written knowledge. Previous to the
printing press, handwritten manuscripts, approved and edited by
the church, were the only texts available; easily available
books unapproved by the church were viewed by some monks as a
threat to their control over learning. Printing presse