Information Panopticon

The information panopticon represents a form of centralized power that uses information and communication technology (ICT) as observational tools and control mechanisms. English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham developed the original architecture of the panopitcon as a prison. The idea was that "total" surveillance would eventually eliminate undesired behaviour. While Bentham's idea was literal, it has since become a metaphor for any type of system in which surveillance can or is total. The information panopticon represents a form of centralized power that uses information and communication technology (ICT) as observational tools and control mechanisms. The combination of information and communication technology used in call centres means it is possible for managers to monitor remotely worker performance and productivity, embodying the themes of panopticon control and surveillance. This monitoring ranges from keystroke counting, telephone service observation whereby statistics are gathered on the duration, time between, and number of calls, telephone call accounting, "peeking" on to workers computer screens and into electronic mail, to the use of "active" or "magic" badges that can keep track of an employee's movements and locations. Increasingly, computers are being used to set tasks and performances for all levels of worker.The responsibility of this technical authority does begin to question what ethical, social, and professional surveillance is acceptable in response to ICT technology in the workplace. Surveillance in the work place is not necessarily new; it has long been around in the form of corporate policy, collective behavior and social traditions. Zuboff describes how maintaining faith that under girds imperative control is hard work psychologically demanding, time-consuming, and inevitably prone to ambiguity (Zuboff 360). The capacity of these surveillance systems will accomplish some goals, and create entirely new unresolved problems: what to do with all of this personal data? Similar to the Panoptic prison, the information panopticon does focus on creating a vulnerable, defenseless user. However, the employees are not prisoners, they are not without some sense of control, and certainly should question the business practices. The fight remains within the users, the employees, to not passively participate in surveillance but rather to actively place responsibility on management and administration to effectively organize. As ICTs continue to act as control mechanisms within the workplace, management should tirelessly redevelop systems that respond not only to power but also the emotional, the personal, and complexity of human behaviors.Today, close to a billion workers are surveilled electronically in workplaces all over the world. Management often views surveillance as an attempt to achieve certain organizational goals better by more fully utilizing time and other resources. But from the employees’ perspective, surveillance can also be understood as an attempt to create new power relationships based on an electronic version of Bentham's panopticon. 

- N.HARDEV
CH09B066

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Information Panopticon

At the end of World War II, the electronic digital computer technology we take for granted today was still in its earliest infancy. It was expensive, failureprone,and ill-understood. Digital computers were seen as calculators, useful primarily for accounting and advanced scientific research.The information panopticon represents a form of centralized power that uses information and communication technology (ICT) as observational tools and control mechanisms. English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham developed the original architecture of the panopitcon as a prison. Be it a personal computer or a database system, both promote forms of interconnectivity that require a centralized control centre. The physical location of this centre is analogous to the central surveillance tower of the panopticon .  As these ICTs are introduced into the workplace, these information centers help managers to revamp their methods of communication, invite feedback, listen, coach, facilitate, manage many objectives, encourage autonomy, provide vision. In other words, technology can be used as a form of power that displays itself automatically and continuously.This places the employees in a position of passive and obedient, where they no longer know or understand exactly how panoptic power is being enforced. Consequently, the administrative actions within the workplace can appear paranoid and non-specified approaches to security.The information panopticon represents a form of centralized power that uses information and communication technology (ICT) as observational tools and control mechanisms. English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham developed the original architecture of the panopitcon as a prison. The responsibility of this technical authority does begin to question what ethical, social, and professional surveillance is acceptable in response to ICT technology in the workplace. Surveillance in the work place is not necessarily new; it has long been around in the form of corporate policy, collective behavior and social traditions. Zuboff describes how maintaining faith that under girds imperative control is hard work psychologically demanding, time-consuming, and inevitably prone to ambiguity (Zuboff 360). The capacity of these surveillance systems will accomplish some goals, and create entirely new unresolved problems: what to do with all of this personal data? Similar to the Panoptic prison, the information panopticon does focus on creating a vulnerable, defenseless user. However, the employees are not prisoners, they are not without some sense of control, and certainly should question the business practices. The fight remains within the users, the employees, to not passively participate in surveillance but rather to actively place responsibility on management and administration to effectively organize. As ICTs continue to act as control mechanisms within the workplace, management should tirelessly redevelop systems that respond not only to power but also the emotional, the personal, and complexity of human behaviors.

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R.SURENDER NAIK

CH09B071

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"What is the Information Panopticon? Explain with reference to the use of ICT in the organization of work since the 80's."

ABSTRACT:

This article Discuses about Information Panopticon and enhances the knowledge by taking the example of surveillance of speeding vehicles by using of cameras by the police.

INTRODUCTION:

The information panopticon represents a form of centralized power that uses information and communication technology (ICT) as observational tools and control mechanisms

HISTORY:

Prisons were the nucleus of the present surveillance system. Prisons were built to confine “criminals” which were defined by their judiciary. These prisoners should be under scan every time,so surveillance was inevitable. Also to remove the dishonesty, idleness of human agents, the surveillance has even entered industries. Slowly it had entered “Discipline” needed educational institutions. Surveillance now have even entered reality shows for fun (Big Brother/Big Boss are shows where live in a house with no connection to the outside and surveillance is done by CCTV) .But the Surveillance technique can be used for something very important like preventing crime.

INFORMATION PANOPTICON:

The information panopticon represents a form of centralized power that uses information and communication technology (ICT) as observational tools and control mechanisms. English philosopher and social theorist Jeremy Bentham developed the original architecture of the panopitcon as a prison. The structure consisted of a centralized tower surrounded by a circular building divided into prison cells. Benthams concept was to maximize the number of prisoners that can be observed by one individual within the tower. Within The Information Panopticon, Zuboff uses the architectural strategies of the panopticon as a metaphor to describe how information systems translate, record, and display human behaviorwith a degree of illumation that would have exceeded even Benthams most outlandish fantasies. The information panopticon critiques how technological systems use transparency to assert power, control, and authority over users.

Inherent within many new technological and informational devices is the ability to network. Whether it is a personal computer or database systems, these applications often promote forms of interconnectivity that require a centralized control center . In early telecommunication experiments by inventors like Alexander Bell and Samuel Morse, the idea of transmission was essentially linear. A message was sent from one location to another, traveling down a wire. As innovation progressed, communication began to operate through various access nodes within a network. The physical locations of the switching and control centers began to operate in very similar ways to the central surveillance tower of the panopticon.

As these ICTs are introduced into the workplace, managers and employees are discovering the hierarchical risks within information authority. Zuboff explains that these information centers help managers in a workplace to revamp their methods of communication, invite feedback, listen, coach, facilitate, manage many objectives, encourage autonomy, provide vision .The engagements a manager previously dealt with in a face-to-face setting can now be administered through a system that operates in a ubiquitous way. In other words, technology can be used as a form of power that displays itself automatically and continuously

In a work setting, this method of control is different to that of the original panopticon because many ICT systems function as transparent architectures. The technological knowledge needed to understand how one is being surveyed is not as apparent as in Benthams prison. The techniques of control within informational and networked systems often appear pragmatic, immediate, and technical .This places the employees in a position of passive and obedient, where they no longer know or understand exactly how panoptic power is being enforced. Consequently, the administrative actions within the workplace can appear paranoid and non-specified approaches to security.

The responsibility of this technical authority does begin to question what ethical, social, and professional surveillance is acceptable in response to ICT technology in the workplace. Surveillance in the work place is not necessarily new; it has long been around in the form of corporate policy, collective behavior and social traditions. Zuboff describes how maintaining faith that undergirds imperative control is hard work psychologically demanding, time-consuming, and inevitably prone to ambiguity. The capacity of these surveillance systems will accomplish some goals, and create entirely new unresolved problems: what to do with all of this personal data? Similar to the Panoptic prison, the information panopticon does focus on creating a vulnerable, defenseless user. However, the employees are not prisoners, they are not without some sense of control, and certainly should question the business practices. The fight remains within the users, the employees, to not passively participate in surveillance but rather to actively place responsibility on management and administration to effectively organize. As ICTs continue to act as control mechanisms within the workplace, management should tirelessly redevelop systems that respond not only to power but also the emotional, the personal, and complexity of human behaviors.

EXAMPLE OF CAMERAS FOR SPEED CONTROL

Computering is used in speed cameras detecting the speed of a vehicle
it is either done by sending a laser or radar beam at the passing vehicle. The beam is then returned back to the speed camera equipment, providing an exact speed or by using loops in the road, if the passing vehicle drives too fast over the loops, the speed camera is triggered.
All methods involve technology and help the police force give speeding tickets to the people who have broken the speeding limit law.By the use of these cameras it is helping drivers realise they must slow down or their driving licenses will be taken, they will recieve points on their licence or they will recieve a fine which all helps decrease the chances of the speeding limit laws being broken.

BOTTOM LINE

Speed cameras mainly have benefits (catching speeding vehicles therefore reducing the number of people speeding in the future). This system helps the police because “we can observe more number of people at the same time and can punish more no.of law breakers” which was the priniciple or Jeremy Bentham’s architecture of prison to view more no.of prisoners by one observer and help police to “DOMINATE ” by making public’s traffic transparent by using cameras

B.Vamshi
EE09B104

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison

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Risks and Responsibilities

   Whirlwind, under the direction of engineer Jay Forrester, actually began in 1944 as an analog computer for use in a flight simulator, funded by the Navy. News about the ENIAC and EDVAC digital computer projects led Forrester to abandon the analog approach in early 1946.But the original application goal of a flight simulator remained.In theory flight simulators were, and remain, what is known as a “dual-use” technology, equally useful for training military and civilian pilots.It is important to emphasize that at this historical juncture these were not obvious goals for a digital computer. Analog computers and control mechanisms(servomechanisms) were well-developed, with sophisticated theoretical underpinnings. (Indeed, Forrester began his work at MIT as a graduate student in Gordon Brown’s Servomechanisms Laboratory.) Analog controllers did not require the then-complex additional step of converting sensor readings into numerical form and control instructions into waveforms or other analog signals (Valley 1985).  Mechanical or electro-mechanical devices were inherently  slower than electronic ones, but there was no inherent reason why electronic computers or controllers should be digital, since many electronic components have analog properties. Numerous electronic analog computers were built duringand after the war. Most other projects saw electronic digital computers as essentially giant calculators, primarily useful for scientific computation. Their size, their expense, and this vision of their function led many to believe that once perfected only a few — perhaps only a couple — of digital computers would ever be needed.  Even Forrester at one time apparently thought that the entire country would eventually be served by a single gigantic computer.In the contemporary context  , the alarm warning systems for missile poses a lot of risks for the world . the greatest risk is when the system gives false alarm and thus may lead to more misunderstanding and war . In 1983 ,Lt. Colenel Stanislav Petrov was the officer incharge of the warning system monitoring station outside Moscow for Soviet Union . One fine warning he got signals indicating 5 ballistic missiles have been launched by US .The tensions between the states was already present and this false alarm could have resulted in a war .Petrov thought that had America launched a nuclear attack against Russia ,missiles would have been raining down not just 5 thus considered that it is a false signal ,thus saving the world of another devastating war .The Whirlwind computers developed during cold war is a classic example o risk involved in any systems The duplex computer enables us to keep the data safe even if one of the computers gets damaged or destroyed the other can take over . this kind of computer systems is used in banks all across the globe .

    Therefore we can say that technology is directly proportional to the risk.

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R.SURENDER NAIK

CH09B071

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Need of National Security during the Cold War period - Risks & Responsibilities with the Space Race

INTRODUCTION:

Computers were used for various operations in terms of extensive calculations (incybernics) during World-War 2, and US became the super power by this very idea of anti-aircraft weaponry and artillery after the World War 2

CLOSED WORLD DISCOURSES & CYBORG’S DISCOURSES:

After World War 2 there created a closed world which was like putting every thought, word and action into reaching a central goal, which was regarding the national security during the cold war period.

Cold War was referred to as the period after the World War 2 which was a silent conflict between the US and USSR regarding the military and the technology and science that determined their supremacy over the nations.

During this very period, digital computers were developed and were extensively used for the fast calculations of ballistics employed in anti-aircrafts weaponry and also for a wide and over-all surveillance of the nation which was considered very necessary during this time as a concern of national security.

SPACE RACE – RISKS &RESPONSIBILITIES:

              In one of the silent conflicts during Cold War the Space Race between US and USSR which referred to as the race or fight between these countries for the ultimate supremacy over the outer space exploration which was regarded as a great threat to the national security.

              The other reason for this very fight was the reputation one might get if one win the race over the other which dealt with the altitude of the US then.

So, the risks involved during this research were also of concern because in this very fight between the nations, they were fast enough to produce space vehicles but lacked efficiency and safety of the people concerned to travel in these vehicles.

This means they neglected the danger involved in such actions as getting the best technology was the only concern in this race. Because of this there were many accidents of space vehicles like Appolo 1

CONCLUSION:

              Even though this space race was a responsibility towards the national security and also an action to get supremacy to the nations they were not concerned about the responsibility towards the people life in this very race and the risks involved was not given preference.

              The reason for not considering the risk can be attributed to the giving much preference to national security, patriotism.

                                                                                                                                    Submitted by: Syed Ashruf,
                                                                                                                                                                              AE09B025.

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The development and further research on computer was associated with perceived need of national security during the cold war. Discussed with contemporary example of cyber war - hacking – wikileaks.

After world war II there was a period of tension, proxy wars between the new superpowers of the world.  During this period one has to keep eye on the other in order to be alert and secured and be prepared for whatever the comes.

With the development in aircraft and submarines, an attack was possible through any way.  The radars, tracking devices, warning system were installed all over these countries to keep an eye on possibility of an enemy attack. All these system generated lots of data which need it be viewed and analyzed.  The human computers were not capable of handling these huge amount of data. So some one came up with ideas handling these data with a mechanical/digital computer.

We clearly see that SAGE project which needed analysis of data and ballistic calculations which were done by a twin computer working in tandem, to do these calculations. This made calculations easy and hence gave a upper hand to America in defense system. After the was depended on the so called digital computers.

People began to make smarter and smarter computers to strengthen their defense.

In the modern digital world computer performs lots of other work but we have to remember that these were developed as a part of defense system.

In modern times all this data from part another part travels through wire – i.e. Internet.  This has made lives of many easier,  the banks and cooperate sectors have gone through a tremendous change these years .’ who would thought of a idea of wired cash I 1900?’

But we should not forget to the dark side or the risk involved in it.  All the data sent through this networks are they secure?  The answer is ‘no’ . there is risk at the data sent over a network can be interrupted by other person and taken advantages.

Here comes the role of a hacker. Hacker is a person with high knowledge and knows the backdoors of a network.

This type of hacker in to others system/network and getting benefited by their data is very common.

The recent popular wikileaks hacked the cables sent by US diplomats to Washington.  And release these cables created huge tension among nations.

There is another kind of hacking groups who call themselves cybersoilders. The hack in to other countries important websites and important data bases.

Such as the defense, nuclear reactor system.

These cyber war among counties have been there for few years with growing no of computers a cyber waR on a country can destabilize their economy , defense system etc.

Recently a group called Indian cyber army hacked in to Pakistan defense and ministry websites as a reaction for Mumbai attack. The Pakistan cyber army pakbugs attacked back CBI websites.

With these type of cyber  war the countries have improve not only their defense but also the computers and database security.


Gokul Krishna 
CH09B065

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Risks and Responsibilities in ATC

The development and further research on Computers was associated with the perceived need of national security during the Cold War period.
Discuss, with contemporary examples some of the risks and responsibilities involved with such justifications.

After the World War II, USA and Russia raised as the new Super Powers and in the name of National Security conducted further research
in the field of science, and created many weapons, thus raising the tensions between the two countries resulting in Cold War.

As a result, America invented the SAGE system,which detects any hostile aircrafts in the borders of the nation and immediately able
to send recruits to counter them.All this was done by the use of double-computers,the other one is used for backup in the case where
one computer fails.This system is the first one of its kind.Military Personnel will constantly observe the skies on their respective
screens and detects any unauthorised aircraft flowing in the air, by some sort of code.
Vannevar Bush says that -
"This war emphasizes three facts of supreme importance to national security: (1) Powerful new tactics of defense and offense are developed around new weapons created
by scientific and engineering research... (3) war is increasingly total war, in which the armed services must be supplemented by active participation of every
element of civilian population. To insure continued preparedness along farsighted technical lines, the research scientists of the country must be called upon to
continued in peacetime some substantial portion of those types of contribution to national security which they have made so effectively during the stress of the
present war (Bush 1945, p. 12)".

One contemporary example of such sort would be the Air Traffic Control System stationed at every country's airports(usually),some
countries even use the system for defense purposes like the SAGE system.
Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems
worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other support for pilots
whenever able.
Preventing collisions is referred to as separation, which is a term used to prevent aircraft from coming too close to each other by use of lateral, vertical and
longitudinal separation minima; many aircraft now have collision avoidance systems installed to act as a backup to ATC observation and instructions. In addition to
its primary function, the ATC can provide additional services such as providing information to pilots, weather and navigation information and NOTAMs (NOtices To
AirMen).
The primary method of controlling the immediate airport environment is visual observation from the airport traffic control tower (ATCT). The ATCT is a tall, windowed structure located on the airport grounds. Aerodrome or Tower controllers are responsible for the separation and efficient movement of aircraft and vehicles operating on the taxiways and runways of the airport itself, and aircraft in the air near the airport
The areas of responsibility for ATCT controllers fall into three general operational disciplines; Local Control or Air Control, Ground Control, and Flight Data/Clearance Delivery
is responsible for the airport "movement" areas, as well as areas not released to the airlines or other users. This generally includes all taxiways, inactive runways, holding areas, and some transitional aprons or intersections where aircraft arrive, having vacated the runway or departure gate. Exact areas and control responsibilities are clearly defined in local documents and agreements at each airport. Any aircraft, vehicle, or person walking or working in these areas is required to have clearance from Ground Control. This is normally done via VHF/UHF radio, but there may be special cases where other processes are used. Most aircraft and airside vehicles have radios. Aircraft or vehicles without radios must respond to ATC instructions via aviation light signals or else be led by vehicles with radios. People working on the airport surface normally have a communications link through which they can communicate with Ground Control, commonly either by handheld radio or even cell phone. Ground Control is vital to the smooth operation of the airport, because this position impacts the sequencing of departure aircraft, affecting the safety and efficiency of the airport's operation.
Some busier airports have Surface Movement Radar (SMR), such as, ASDE-3, AMASS or ASDE-X, designed to display aircraft and vehicles on the ground. These are used by Ground Control as an additional tool to control ground traffic, particularly at night or in poor visibility. There are a wide range of capabilities on these systems as they are being modernized. Older systems will display a map of the airport and the target. Newer systems include the capability to display higher quality mapping, radar target, data blocks, and safety alerts, and to interface with other systems such as digital flight strips
Risks involved:
1.Traffic:Several factors dictate the amount of traffic that can land at an airport in a given amount of time. Each landing aircraft must touch down, slow, and exit the runway before the next crosses the approach end of the runway. This process requires at least one and up to four minutes for each aircraft. Allowing for departures between arrivals, each runway can thus handle about 30 arrivals per hour.
Problems begin when airlines schedule more arrivals into an airport than can be physically handled, or when delays elsewhere cause groups of aircraft that would otherwise be separated in time to arrive simultaneously. Aircraft must then be delayed in the air by holding over specified locations until they may be safely sequenced to the runway. Up until the 1990s, holding, which has significant environmental and cost implications, was a routine occurrence at many airports.
2.Weather:Rain, ice or snow on the runway cause landing aircraft to take longer to slow and exit, thus reducing the safe arrival rate and requiring more space between landing aircraft. Fog also requires a decrease in the landing rate. These, in turn, increase airborne delay for holding aircraft. If more aircraft are scheduled than can be safely and efficiently held in the air, a ground delay program may be established, delaying aircraft on the ground before departure due to conditions at the arrival airport.
Inspite of all these, in the case where all of the options disappear,the sole burden of carrying the passengers safely to their destination rests on the pilot alone.Thus,the personnel,and the pilot,mostly should act with responsibility 

G.Abhilash Roy,
CS09B012.

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