Hi Peter, This is a main feature of my latest book (Computing Our Way to Paradise: The Role of Internet and Telecommunications Technologies in Sustainable Consumption and Globalization - the publishers website is linked from the book image on that page [note the url Peter]) in which I explore the sustainability of ICTs across four different levels of increasing complexity to trace their roles in society. The book includes a lengthy bibliography that may be of help. A main argument of the book is that the advance, development, progress, adoptions and adaptations of ICTs is predominantly affected by the social environment out of which they develop, and that those who wield the greatest power in that environment continue to dominate the discourse and development of ICTs (ie. the 1% in todays jargon), despite the enormous potential for ICTs to both transgress and transform that environment. In terms of sustainability, I link both 'social' (from a social determinants of health perspective) and the 'environmental' (from the sustainable consumption perspective). In Chapter Seven - Pathological Tendencies: The Health Link - I explore the role of IC Technologies in health explicitly from a SDoH framework. The sub-sections of that chapter are: - Population health and the social determinants of health - An expanded vision of sustainable consumption - Social determinants of health and social factors determining health: critical issues defining behaviour and the health gradient - Smoke and mirrors (an example from tobacco) - Shaping social behaviour - Globalization, ICTs and the social environment of population health - Health and sustainable consumption I conclude the chapter with: "It should be apparent that we have not discussed in this chapter the direct health effects of ICTs. Although there is a growing body of evidence indicating health impacts from ICTs as a result of ergonomic, chemical, electromagnetic and other possible causes (including the risks derived from the inattentiveness to surrounding environments during their use), this approach diverts attention toward the individual. The assumption is that if you limit or avoid use of or exposure to a specific product, your chances of contracting certain diseased states is reduced. These studies ... neglect the deeply profound societal embedding of the nature of using ICTs, which is where we will now turn our attention." I further develop these arguments in a variety of publications that may be of help to you, including: Rattle, Robert (2011), Computing Our Way to Paradise, in Globalisation and Ecological Integrity in Science and International Law, Westra, L. Soskolne, C., and Bosselmann, K. (eds.), Cambridge Scholars Publishing. Rattle, R. (2012), Internet and Communication Technologies' Roles in an Environmental Society, in Cudlinova, E. and Lapka, M. (eds.) Towards an Environmental Society, Karolinum Press, Charles University. Hope this helps. Best, Robert --- On Sun, 12/11/11, Peter Timusk <ptimusk@sympatico.ca> wrote: From: Peter Timusk <ptimusk@sympatico.ca> Subject: [Air-L] OECD report Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising To: "aoir list" <air-l@aoir.org> Received: Sunday, December 11, 2011, 10:11 AM Quoting from this report: ( my questions are below after the link to the report) Divided We Stand: Why Inequality Keeps Rising In the three decades prior to the recent economic downturn, wage gaps widened and household income inequality increased in a large majority of OECD countries. This occurred even when countries were going through a period of sustained economic and employment growth. This report analyses the major underlying forces behind these developments: - An Overview of Growing Income Inequalities in OECD Countries (free .pdf) <http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/40/12/49170449.pdf> - Special Focus: Inequality in Emerging Economies (free .pdf) <http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/40/13/49170475.pdf> - Part I. How Globalisation, Technological Change and Policies Affect Wage and Earnings Inequalities - Part II. How Inequalities in Labour Earnings Lead to Inequalities in Household Disposable Income - Part III. How the Roles of Tax and Transfer Systems Have Changed http://www.oecd.org/document/51/0,3746,en_2649_33933_49147827_1_1_1_1,00.htm l This report by about OECD countries has a bit of technological content. Apparently technology increases income inequality. I think historically these trends are parallel may be you don't agree. I think the OECD moved fast to produce this report based on the Occupy movement if that chicken came first or this egg was first. We know the rich use the net more and has anyone looked really deeply at income inequality and technology? Can you point me to some deeper current studies on this? How are empowerment studies going? Peter Timusk at571@ncf.ca ptimusk@sympatico.ca web: www.crystalcomputing.net blogs www.cyborgcitizen.org _______________________________________________ The Air-L@listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/