Abstract
This paper examines the role of computers in daily human activity from the perspective of the full integration hypothesis. The full integration hypothesis assumes that as information technology evolves it will influence and support virtually every aspect of daily life and work life. The analysis scrutinizes the full integration hypothesis during three eras of information technology: 1) the recent past, 2) the present, and 3) the near future. Empirical research results and present technological capabilities are examined to assess current and future trends and the probable impact on daily activities. In general the analysis indicates that it is only recently, with the advent of the personal computer, that the phrase “computers in daily life” makes sense. Secondly, as computerization becomes more ubiquitous and intensive in daily human activities the nature of the impacts change. Third, the prognosis for the full integration of computers into daily life depends more on social adaptation and acceptance than technological developments. The paper concludes with a set of issues relevant to policy making and future systems design.
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© 1990 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Vitalari, N.P. (1990). Information Technology in Daily Life. In: Berleur, J., Clement, A., Sizer, R., Whitehouse, D. (eds) The Information Society: Evolving Landscapes. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4328-9_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-4328-9_6
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