Show notes: low-pay, internet brain drain, toothing trouble
Items featured in this week's programme:
UK homeworkers below the minimum wage
Reporter Chris Vallance investigates low-paid homeworkers in the UK.
Is the internet changing the way we think?
Baroness Susan Greenfield asks if the internet is bombarding people with information, in the mistaken belief that it's knowledge. Debate continues on the blog.
The dark side of bluetooth
Why it's worth being savvy about the bluetooth device on your phone.
Your diary entries
We invited Dorothy Sheridan of the Mass Observation Archive to read your diary entries from last Saturday, pick out some of her favourites and make connections with the submissions she receives at the Archive.
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Comments
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Having listened to Prof. Greenfield I find myself dismayed that yet another "eminent" scientist confuses correlation with causality. Scientists in the media have a responsibility to think of the consequences of such statements (Andrew Wakefield is a case in point where we may never know how many people die because of falling MMR vaccination rates prompted by his scaremongering).
Aside from appearing to lack any awareness of what is involved in playing a computer game I find myself wondering why if the internet is such a bad thing Prof. greenfield has her own search engin - another 15 minutes of fame?
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James Baring emailed iPM with his comments on the programme:
'What Greenfield says about the effect of excessive use of computers when
teaching the young (and in their recreation) is true, at least for
people who are brought up on computers. Those who have formed their
mental habits before computers but use them now will argue against her,
because they get the best of both ways of thinking and working.
Greenfield is right and there will be trouble unless she is listened to
and a balanced diet of computer mediated and other formats are used at
the formative years. She is also right about TV.
With regard to piece-work at home, I have admiration for Mr Battle but
if he succeeds then the work will go abroad. We can either have trade
protection or not. Since we have decided not, it is insane to force
homeworkers to give up their income or even risk it unless they wish to.
If they lose it they may turn to crime and their children will lose
respect for the law as a result. This problem will get more acute.
Battle must face the facts and design protection against all sorts of
competitive lines of supply or shut up. I speak as one who backed a
legitimate business that paid fair wages and was beaten by UK retailers
who went abroad for their supplies because I took a legal, moral stance.
I would not get involved in any UK business now that was subject to any
UK legislation that is inconsistent with economic logic, and since
includes everything other than business based on techniques, skills or
patents that prevent undercutting from abroad, I am glad to be retired.
****
Sending a Bluetooth message cannot possibly be a crime! Nobody has to
have their Bluetooth switched on in public unless they are expecting a
message. If they are expecting a message they should know the Bluetooth
name of the sender. So there is no way anyone should be open to
harassment. If they can't work their phone, they should not use it.'
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