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Show July 18, 1996 Hilltop Times 7 Second thoughts on today's computer culture us personally. And it's those effects that make me wonder why so little skepticism is ever applied to computing, and the social effects of computing." But it's not only Stoll who feels cyberspace leaves us yearning for something more. Realists like computer guru Bill Gates says the Internet has become a lot of hype, and that most people spend too much time trying to find information. Gates, in his book "The Road Ahead," predicts that people will start questionof working with coming the puters. Are some people addicted to the Internet? Stoll says it's not easy to break free from computing ... going from site to site looking for more information. School teachers are even speaking up and saying students are not paying attention to their studies. In fact, with word processing, some schools are penmanship. Stoll says the Internet is "a wonderful tool for avoiding work," pointing to problems today with kids using computers instead of reading, using the library or even writing. "I'm spending less and less time I own a half dozen computers. logged-in- . There's hardly an operating system that I haven't programmed in. Frankly, I'd rather be with my friends than he said. up in rapid change because of hype over the assumptions about computers are at computers. He points out that the com- best unproved and, at worst, puter is supposed to be just a tool, and false," Stoll explains. "What worries me is not that we're all questions, "Has it become something latched on to the Internet, it's we're not more?" While most people concede that com- being honest about the promotion. We're puters have revolutionized the way we not talking about the downside of comlive, there are real concerns about peo- puters." Stoll, one of the pioneers of the at the Internet and a leading computer consulple spending too much time tant, said his argument centers around expense of family and even social conthe view that we all have a finite span, tacts relating to work. by MSflt. David P. Masko Air Force News Service Features out-and-o- Conventional wisdom has it that one of the greatest boosts to Air Force productivity is computers. But author and computer visionary Cliff Stoll argues that this electronic tool has become a threat to humanization and produc- on-lin- e tivity. "The culture of computing encourages Moreover, Air Force people are also and we all have to deal with how we you to spend time on line. It encourages spend our time. you to seek out information from the finding the Internet's promise of seem"We set priorities in our lives in how Web rather than asking people in your ingly limitless possibilities has its costs. community. It takes us away from our For instance, an Air Force captain who we put our time in. You either spend it locale and puts us in cyberspace. Is this attended last year's Defense Depart- with a spouse, family, friends, a colhe said. the best way to spend your day ... spend- ment Technology Software Conference in league or you spend it ing many hours in front of a tube?" Stoll Salt Lake City told Air Force News Serv- "For some of us, talking to a computer ice that computers are "alienating" and spending your time behind a keysaid. board has become more important than A higher question, however, is why are many people who work in offices. cohow his The about spending time with a buddy next to explained captain religion, people skeptical politics, rather than you." the environment, and not about the workers now send Also, what is the quality of informaamazing projections made about com- talking to people sitting around them. puting? Very seldom does anyone He said conversation and the need for tion coming on line? "When you hear interaction is suffering cliches repeated over and over again, it challenge computing and technology. raises a little yellow flag in your mind. that we are because of computers. "How does this tool "It strikes me that we're promoting The cliche I hear over and over again in truly in love with affect what we do and how we do it? Maybe it's always for computers as the only way to do a good computing is we're really doing good the good. But sometimes we lose out on job in the future. The only way to carry things because the computer is just a things," explained Stoll during a recent out a correspondence with someone. The tool," Stoll said. best way to communicate. The best way . "The computer is a tool but I'm skepseries of public radio discussions broadto get information. But I scratch my tical because it's a tool that affects what cast from Washington. 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