Computers were viewed as threats to jobs and harbingers of more alienation in the workplace. Nevertheless, some people involved in community and voluntary action realised that the clock wouldn't be turned back and that, like any tool, computers were neither good nor bad in themselves - it was the use they were put to that was important. Now many groups have their own computers and are more comfortable with them, although they are often used as little more than word processors and calculators. There will always be areas of mystique and scepticism in computing and the main ones at the moment are virtual reality, artificial intelligence and the Internet. VR and AI won't generate too much interest at community group level until they become much cheaper and more accessible.
Ideas can spread quickly with information accessed from all over the world.
Forums can be set up for discussion and action. There is potential for decentralisation of power away from the traditional centres. The downside is the suspicion that the Internet is viewed with and, as usual, this is partly based in reality and partly in fantasy. Most of the big media stories concerning the Internet have been to do with pornography and security. There are justifiable concerns about the ease with which images and text can travel across national boundaries and into every home and office.