Virtual Life Goes On. Some Not So Lucky

By SAM URETSKY

Isaac Asimov had the idea first. In his 1957 novel “The Naked Sun” (book 2 in the robot series), he created a society where people avoided personal contact, living alone or with a spouse, although people could associate with each other through holograms. We’re a bit behind that in technology, but, as Facebook notes while introducing its conference software, “With the shift to remote work, video has become a vital way for companies to strengthen their community and get work done.”

While Zoom seems to be the most widely used program, it’s still competing with Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Blue Jeans Meetings, GoTo Meeting, Slack and others. There are programs for simply having a conversation with a friend, and others to provide special functions for customer relations or a sales desk.

But, while there’s obviously a great deal of interest in virtual communications, and in the age of coronavirus we’ve tried to adapt our lives, our society, to the Internet. Those who can, work from home. That means meeting through Zoom and discussions through Skype. Children go to school, K through college without leaving their bedrooms. Of course, if masks are mandatory, it may be easier to hire a smart kid to take your SAT exams.

In medicine, the new system may be a boon to dermatologists, not so much for proctologists.

The trouble is, we’re not ready. As with so many things, there are problems of inequality. The admission to this version of Brave New World is a computer with a broadband connection and a webcam. Because of the increased use of two factor identification, which in many cases relies on sending a code to a telephone, the need for computers is matched by the need for a smartphone.

Here’s what the US Census bureau said about computer ownership “In 2016, the US Census Bureau measured smartphone ownership or use and tablets separately for the first time, in addition to more traditional desktop or laptop computers. Seventy-six percent of households had a smartphone, and 58% of households had a tablet, but desktop or laptop computers still led the way with use by 77% of households.” Do the math.

As for broadband, which is essential for effective communications, the Federal Communications Commission in its Eighth Broadband Progress Report (2018) said “approximately 19 million Americans — 6% of the population — still lack access to fixed broadband service at threshold speeds. In rural areas, nearly one-fourth of the population — 14.5 million people—lack access to this service. In tribal areas, nearly one-third of the population lacks access. Even in areas where broadband is available, approximately 100 million Americans still do not subscribe.” The report concludes that until the Commission’s Connect America reforms are fully implemented, these gaps are unlikely to close. Because millions still lack access to or have not adopted broadband,” the report concludes “… broadband is not yet being deployed in a reasonable and timely fashion.”

These statistics still don’t show the current situation since the Migration Policy Institute estimates that there are 11.3 million undocumented immigrants in the United States. While some have successfully opened businesses or found good paying jobs, others are reduced to agricultural employment, or working in meat packing or related areas. It’s unlikely that many of these people have the requisite broadband and computer resources. In June 1982, the Supreme Court issued Plyler v. Doe,457 US 202 — a landmark decision holding that states cannot constitutionally deny students a free public education on account of their immigration status, but this is meaningless if the schools are all on-line.

There are no statistics on this, but even among the haves, people with a computer and a broadband connection, many don’t have webcams, computer cameras, which are essential for effective two-way communication. The best evidence for this is that webcams have become the new toilet paper. The Washington Post headlined, “The hunt for a work-from-home webcam: A story of broken supply chains, (and) ‘sold-out’ messages.”

With more and more people working from home, demand for home office supplies has jumped. TomsHardware .com offered a list of “Best Webcams You Can Still Buy,” noting, “With coronavirus (COVID-19) forcing many workers to retreat from their offices in favor of video conferencing into meetings from home, webcams have become the hand sanitizer of the tech world. And even months later, with parents facing down a potential remote back-to-school season, the shortage persists.”

We are trying to force our society to use a technology we’re not ready for – and may not be for years, even if we find a way to control COVID-19. Fortunately Donald Trump has the answer – reduce capital gains taxes – another tax cuts for the rich. Would somebody tell Donald that Bill Gates already has a computer?

Sam Uretsky is a writer and pharmacist living in Louisville, Ky. Email sdu01@outlook.com.

From The Progressive Populist, August 15, 2020

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