Pornography

Description:

Pornography has been a singular driving force behind the adoption of many technologies. In fact, mass-distributed pornography is as old as the printing press. So, it should not come as a surprise to hear that photography was used to produce pornographic photographs almost as soon as it was invented.

The term now refers to sexually related material of all kinds, both written and graphical. However, the definition of pornography is highly subjective, as many famous works of art, such as Michelangelo's David, are considered pornographic by some people.

With the arrival of the Internet, the availability of pornography inceased exponentially. Because of the Internet's international flavor, it enables international consumers of pornography from one country (where it may be illegal) to effortlessly acquire such material from sources in another country where it is legal, or where offenders are not prosecuted.

Enablers:

- Development of Technology: Technological developments have made access to the full gamut of pornography free in many instances, or at least at an affordable cost.

Inhibitors:

- Strict regulation across the internet

- Heavy penalties for violating enacted laws

Paradigms:

Everything that exists, exists in space. All bodies are joined by space. For humans the internet offers a new space that can connect us like normal space connects all things. This is a new space in which we can live, socialize, do business, love, communicate, build communities towns and cities, learn, and even get married. But beyond all this lies a new potential, something unseen, unknown even to the most savvy internet users. Cyber space can be used as a powerful instrument for healing, for spiritual growth, for mental and emotional expansion. With the internet, when used properly, we can actually expand our awareness as it amplifies certain aspects of our consciousness.

From "Using the Internet as an Amplifier of Human Consciousness"

Experts:

Sources for additional information about this driving force. (if you have found people, put the links to them)

Timing:

Dates for key milestones in the development of the driving force. Year - Average cost, in South Africa, for a ISP connection in (R) 1993 - 80, 1994 - 80, 1995 - 80, 1996 - 80, 1997 - 80, 1998 - 80, 1999 - 88, 2000 - 89, 2001 - 90, 2002 - 94, 2003 - 100.

Web Resources:

http://www.slais.ubc.ca/courses/libr500/fall1999/www_presentations/c_hogg/default.htm

http://www.personal.psu.edu/users/p/l/pls146/projects/432Portal.html