Civilizing Cyberspace: Policy, Power, and the Information Superhighway

In Civilizing Cyberspace Steven Miller presents a sweeping view of the many important issues facing society as a result of cybertechnology. But while he writes about technological and philosophical concerns, his writing is free of jargon, making his presentation easily comprehensible to those new to cyberspace. He starts by looking at how past technologies--from the railroads to cable TV--have transformed daily life and then examines computer technology in that light. As he showcases how technology might effect everything from personal privacy to the way we conduct daily business--and even run democratic governance processes--he gives a polite ear both to those who hail technology as a savior and those who rail against it as an enslaver. He then shows how a more moderate path has always prevailed in the past and is likely to again. Although the issues are complex, Miller steps deftly through the interrelated matters of government involvement, business and economic concerns, rights of individuals, and the social aspects of online communities. People who know the territory, such as Vinton Cerf of MCI, Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center and Jonathan Weber of the Los Angeles Times, help introduce key chapters with their own take on key issues.