Difference between revisions of "Soctech seminar, Spring 2006"
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| + | It is an oft-quoted cliché that in today’s “information society” there is no shortage of information, but rather an inability to actually process the available information in meaningful ways. The main contemporary response to this information inundation has been the search. As a consequence, although many do not recognize it as such, the search engine has become one of the most important transforming social institutions of our time. | ||
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| + | As the search is at heart a mechanized process of associating user queries with authorities on the subject, search algorithms are implicitly the new way of judging quality of content. What does this mean for power relations between social actors? Do the search algorithms themselves open up new avenues of political participation and expression? Do they work toward social exclusion? | ||
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| + | Google in particular has been in the news recently for a variety of essential topics which demonstrate that search engines are raising many questions about the organization of content and access to it and in the process, clashing with many different institutions and cultural values. In regards to privacy: should the US government have access to privately held information about user search habits of its citizens? In regards to political change and censorship: what role are search engines playing in China (this part needs elaboration, else it’s a really stupid question)? In regards to current copyright institutions, what content should be searchable? | ||
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| + | In this seminar, we will be discussing a wide range of topics related to the search engine, drawing on sources as varied as current news stories to social science research to algorithm design. | ||
Contact information: This course is being organized by Travis Kriplean (travis at cs), David Orange ... | Contact information: This course is being organized by Travis Kriplean (travis at cs), David Orange ... | ||
Revision as of 00:15, 26 February 2006
Society and technology seminar: SLN 2932 CSE 590 SO, Tue 12:30-1:20, CSE 403
Spring 2006: The Social Ramifications of Search Technologies
(note: this page is under construction...)
It is an oft-quoted cliché that in today’s “information society” there is no shortage of information, but rather an inability to actually process the available information in meaningful ways. The main contemporary response to this information inundation has been the search. As a consequence, although many do not recognize it as such, the search engine has become one of the most important transforming social institutions of our time.
As the search is at heart a mechanized process of associating user queries with authorities on the subject, search algorithms are implicitly the new way of judging quality of content. What does this mean for power relations between social actors? Do the search algorithms themselves open up new avenues of political participation and expression? Do they work toward social exclusion?
Google in particular has been in the news recently for a variety of essential topics which demonstrate that search engines are raising many questions about the organization of content and access to it and in the process, clashing with many different institutions and cultural values. In regards to privacy: should the US government have access to privately held information about user search habits of its citizens? In regards to political change and censorship: what role are search engines playing in China (this part needs elaboration, else it’s a really stupid question)? In regards to current copyright institutions, what content should be searchable?
In this seminar, we will be discussing a wide range of topics related to the search engine, drawing on sources as varied as current news stories to social science research to algorithm design.
Contact information: This course is being organized by Travis Kriplean (travis at cs), David Orange ...
If you would like to continue to receive news about ongoing soctech activities, then subscribe to the soctech@cs mailing list.
Schedule overview
- date topic (presenter: xxx)
- Reading:
- ...
- Reading:
Mailing list
Visit
to sign up for the course mailing list. You will need a UW NetID. Contact Keunwoo if you have any difficulty signing up.
Administrative info
Course grading and credit-load policies: Subject to change, but variable credits are available to meet differing levels of participation:
- Sign up for 1 credit if you plan to attend, do the readings, and participate in discussions.
- Sign up for 2 credits if you wish to lead a discussion/present, OR write a short paper.
- Sign up for 3 credits if you wish to either (a) lead a discussion/present, AND write a short paper, or (b) write one long paper. (Note: you must contact the course organizers in advance if you plan to take this course for 3 credits.)
