Gender, technology and jobs

Men have traditionally gained more than women from access to technologies at work which bring prestige, job security, more satisfying work and higher pay. Typically female jobs have centred on technologies, if they have at all, which tend towards routine and possibly deskilled work. Typing is a prime example. It is possible that this is changing through computerization, which is extensive but also equally distributed by gender. Does the wage premium, which use of a computer has been found to confer on users, benefit women sufficiently to suggest some sort of equalization through technology, or possibly even a female advantage? This is tested using data from four European countries. There is no across‐the‐board benefit from the use of computers. For both men and women it depends on the nature of their occupation. Some, more routine usages of computers are associated with a negative outcome. However, this occupational balance itself varies by gender.     

Evaluation of Computer Games' Impact upon Cognitively Impaired Frail Elderly

Summary

The authors of-this article discuss the value of computer-use among older adults. It Is suggested that older adults can benefit significantly from ongoing education and that computers can be a valuable tool in this process. The cognitive capacities of older adults are discussed, with particular attention paid to long- and short-term memory functioning. The use of computers for memory skills training is highlighted. A study was undertaken using the computer game “Memory of Goblins” at the Seattle Day Center for Adults. This article describes both the game and how the project was conducted. Limitations of the study are presented. Although the authors acknowledge that conclusions are difficult to draw from this particular study, there is evidence to suggest that the impact of computer use among the elderly population can be profound. Implications for future research are presented.     

Selected Websites for High-to-Low End NPO Website Development

ABSTRACT

SubstanceAbusePrevention.org, a virtual Community, is a 3.5-year project initially funded by the US Department of Commerce, Technology Opportunity Program. Its purpose was “to determine what proven components of substance abuse prevention in ‘real’ communities can be effectively transferred into ‘virtual’ communities.” Teens in drug treatment helped university researchers translate resiliency-based prevention practices into a Web site that would appeal to their peers. The 24 strategies tested fall in the categories of prevention exercises, games, multimedia, and information. This article describes the development process along with the lessons learned and future directions. The information is useful for those wanting to design and develop interactive Websites that address human service problems.     

Promoting Computer-Mediated Communications in Community Coalitions

SUMMARY

Community coalition participants are adopting new communication tools. This article identifies issues involving adoption of one type of communication tool, computer-mediated communications (CMC), based on a review of relevant literature and a recent exploratory research study of CMC adoption by community coalitions. Suggestions for aiding adoption and anticipating problems are presented and some social justice and professional value issues are highlighted. Human service professionals whose work involves community coalitions may find the theoretical background and practical advice useful in anticipating and responding to CMC changes in coalitions.     

A survey of low-cost,user-friendly sqc software for microcomputers

Major factors to consider in selecting a microcomputer SQC package are discussed, and a selection of low-cost user-friendly software is described. Functions of each package are considered in the context of their purchase cost and arrangements for reproduction. Focus is on the classroom, but this software is also suitable for use in industry and commerce.     

Improvisational choreography in teleservice work

This naturalistic study of the ordinary work practice of sales representatives employed by the call centre of a large office-equipment company focuses on the actions of those sales reps during their calls with customers. We show how this work performance is organized through an improvisational choreography of action involving not only the turn-by-turn interchange with customers on the telephone but also the concurrent utilization of a variety of tools and artefacts. While 'improvise' and 'choreograph' may appear to be conceptually incongruent, our analysis demonstrates that even though these teleservice workers recurrently fabricate their actions out of materials and means that are conveniently on hand, the convenience is often carefully arranged to afford such extemporaneous composition. Finally, we conclude from this analysis that the traditional topics of 'work routines' and 'routinization' need to be respecified in order to take into account how any 'routine' is a contingently produced result (and in this centre, a craft-like performance).     

立方体总线型阵列机中的通信软件结构

以80286AT为结点机研究开发成功了一个三维立方体总线型阵列计算机系统,已经取得了很好的使用效果。鉴于本文采用的拓扑结构区别于国外流行的拓扑结构;更重要的是,该系统的操作系统、通信软件和应用软件均由我们独立开发而成。本文仅对通信软件中的传输层、网络层和数据链路层的内部结构作了介绍。     

编辑工作的现代化发展趋势

当电脑、光盘、网络纷纷登上历史舞台的时候, 编辑现代化的时机成熟了。设备要更新, 技术要更新, 程序要更新, 观念更要更新。出版业正面临着一个新世界。如果我们不未雨绸缪早作准备, 将失去一次腾飞的机遇