For this entry, I will examine the first ninety-one pages of Neil Postman's Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology. Postman begins his book with the tale of Thamus. Long story short, Thamus presents the God with his inventions such as Writing and the God tells him that society will lose itself in writing and forget what life was like before the invention. I believe this was a fantastic way to begin his book. Postman's central thesis rests around the idea that while technology is so important and has made life so much easier, society as a whole is becoming a slave to it.
Similar to Thamus, the invention of the modern computer as well as the internet has sparked other inventions that have replaced old traditions. My favorite example of this is digital friends. I am a firm believer that in order to be successful in life good people skills are absolutely necessary. I feel fortunate that I grew up in a time before computers were as popular as they are now because I was very social when I was younger. If I wanted to talk to my friends, it was either on the phone or in person. I feel bad for kids now that grow up and their primary mode of communication is the computer. I feel that in the long run it is not beneficial. How does a kid who's only talked to girls on the computer act on a first date? How can a social networking addict nail a job interview? Obviously these are generalizations but these are my feelings and they coincide with Postman's ideas.
Postman provides a similar example with television. Obviously it has been a huge blessing to have TV, however, it has also hurt our society. Television has clearly reduced the amount of reading done by our society as a whole. Whether that is in newspapers, magazines, or novels there is less reading done on a consistent basis. If TV's (or the internet) across the globe disappeared, would our world go into chaos? The answer seems to be a resounding yes. I can't imagine a middle schooler saying, "no internet today? No problem I'll just go get the paper."
Postman uses new terms such as Technocracy in order to describe the development of our reliance on technology. Technocracy is the early stage where people realized "knowledge is power, humanity is capable of progressing, that poverty is a great evil, and that the life of the average person is as meaningful as any other." (p 38). All of this seems like obvious knowledge to us today, but thats because we were born into a time where this information already existed. Postman continues to describe the time period he calls Technopoly. He describes this as the "submission of all forms of cultural life to the sovereignty of technique and technology" (p 52). This is where I begin to disagree with Postman. While it is obvious technology has taken over our culture, it is an exaggeration to believe that one day the Pledge of Allegiance will read "One nation, Under technology".
Postman's main point is that all things run through technology, however this is untrue. We have not abandoned real sports for video games, and although online classes are available, the majority of learning is set in a classroom. I believe that Postman takes the worst possible scenario and assumes we will eventually become slaves to the computer. While it is true we are dependent on the computer, I doubt people would die if they could not access the internet for a few days.
"Technopoly... is a state of culture... which means that the state of culture seeks its authorization in technology, finds its satisfactions in technology, and takes its orders from technology." (p 71). I believe Postman's statements here sum up my feelings about his work. I do agree there is a heavy reliance on technology, but I know that I, and many others do not take our order from technology. I find satisfaction in area's outside of the technological world and I also do my best to limit my use of technology in order to avoid becoming a slave to it. Postman's ideas are all well thought out, however I believe he fears the absolute worst case scenario and I don't think we will ever get to that point.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Critical Analysis #2
For this entry, I will examine the second half of Swedin and Ferro's book, Computers: The Life Story of Technology. In this section of the book the authors move away from the history and development of computers in general and begin talking more about how computers made their way into the homes of our society. They begin by explaining the process that computers took in order to develop to the point where they could become personal computers.
A huge cornerstone of this progress was the development of the CPU Microprocessor by Intel. This was the first step to creating a smaller computer. This development sparked Gary Kildall to dream of being able to have a desktop computer. As I have said in my previous posts humans are constantly trying to make things better and this is another prime example. Roberts eventually created the Altair 8800 and computers changed forever. Once this development was made, society realized that a desktop computer could exist. The only problem was who to sell it to. However, the companies that began to develop these computers realized that if they worked well and efficiently, they could definitely become popular.
Paul Allen and Bill gates developed the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800. This was hugely important in the development of computer use among non-experts. Now people no longer had to use Intel microprocessor code and therefore the computer became more accessible to all people.
While all of this was happening, competing companies were doing their best to produce a better computer. Companies such as IBM and Apple did their best to produce a better personal computer than all the other companies. This is a very important fact because as far as I can see, the explosion of technology over the last few decades has also been largely influenced by competition. The authors of the book write that "One of the major reasons for the success of the Intel-based personal computer is that other companies also made Intel-like chips, forcing Intel to continually strive to improve their products." (p 102).
The fact that competition was such a huge factor means two things. First is that it forced prices to go down. Obviously if Intel had a monopoly on the market computers could still be extremely expensive. Competition also sparked innovation as new and old companies competed for customers. Without the competition there is a chance that all personal computers could still be updated models of the Altair 8800. Competition has clearly done great things for development during technology.
The next very important part of this section is about the World Wide Web. Networking computers began but was never very effective or on a scale as large as the World Wide Web. The internet became popular first through networks such as ARPAnet and later the internet developed. With dial-up providers now helping all people connect their computers via telephone lines, the internet became extremely accessible. Obviously it was not as extensive as it is today, but it still boomed. These Dial-up providers are extremely important in the development of the internet. I remember first getting AOL, it took about a year to get online, and I would get kicked off every time our phone rang. However my love for the internet started right then.
The internet in a way is like a drug. From those first moments on AOL I was overwhelmed with the barrage of information at my fingertips. IMing my friends, e-mail, and websites became huge landmarks in my life, and in the lives of our whole society. Without connecting to the internet for a few days I, and many others, feel symptoms of withdrawal. Who won last night's game? The president did what? DID ANYONE POST ON MY WALL?!?!
The authors of this book explain the development of the internet also using the historical context explaining how the Cold War became the first time networking computers was really thought about and tried. The internet, search engines, and hacking are all covered in the final chapter of the book, however I believe it is more important to realize what these things do to our lives in reality. I'm sure no one ever worried about having their identity stolen through ENIAC or the Altair 8800. However, the developments in technology that Ferro and Swedin describe have changed not only our technological lives, but our lives in general.
A huge cornerstone of this progress was the development of the CPU Microprocessor by Intel. This was the first step to creating a smaller computer. This development sparked Gary Kildall to dream of being able to have a desktop computer. As I have said in my previous posts humans are constantly trying to make things better and this is another prime example. Roberts eventually created the Altair 8800 and computers changed forever. Once this development was made, society realized that a desktop computer could exist. The only problem was who to sell it to. However, the companies that began to develop these computers realized that if they worked well and efficiently, they could definitely become popular.
Paul Allen and Bill gates developed the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800. This was hugely important in the development of computer use among non-experts. Now people no longer had to use Intel microprocessor code and therefore the computer became more accessible to all people.
While all of this was happening, competing companies were doing their best to produce a better computer. Companies such as IBM and Apple did their best to produce a better personal computer than all the other companies. This is a very important fact because as far as I can see, the explosion of technology over the last few decades has also been largely influenced by competition. The authors of the book write that "One of the major reasons for the success of the Intel-based personal computer is that other companies also made Intel-like chips, forcing Intel to continually strive to improve their products." (p 102).
The fact that competition was such a huge factor means two things. First is that it forced prices to go down. Obviously if Intel had a monopoly on the market computers could still be extremely expensive. Competition also sparked innovation as new and old companies competed for customers. Without the competition there is a chance that all personal computers could still be updated models of the Altair 8800. Competition has clearly done great things for development during technology.
The next very important part of this section is about the World Wide Web. Networking computers began but was never very effective or on a scale as large as the World Wide Web. The internet became popular first through networks such as ARPAnet and later the internet developed. With dial-up providers now helping all people connect their computers via telephone lines, the internet became extremely accessible. Obviously it was not as extensive as it is today, but it still boomed. These Dial-up providers are extremely important in the development of the internet. I remember first getting AOL, it took about a year to get online, and I would get kicked off every time our phone rang. However my love for the internet started right then.
The internet in a way is like a drug. From those first moments on AOL I was overwhelmed with the barrage of information at my fingertips. IMing my friends, e-mail, and websites became huge landmarks in my life, and in the lives of our whole society. Without connecting to the internet for a few days I, and many others, feel symptoms of withdrawal. Who won last night's game? The president did what? DID ANYONE POST ON MY WALL?!?!
The authors of this book explain the development of the internet also using the historical context explaining how the Cold War became the first time networking computers was really thought about and tried. The internet, search engines, and hacking are all covered in the final chapter of the book, however I believe it is more important to realize what these things do to our lives in reality. I'm sure no one ever worried about having their identity stolen through ENIAC or the Altair 8800. However, the developments in technology that Ferro and Swedin describe have changed not only our technological lives, but our lives in general.
Critical Analysis: Blog # 1
For my first critical analysis blog I will take a look at the first half of Swedin and Ferro's book, Computers: The Life Story of Technology. In this book, they provide the reader with a simple history of computers. While their book touches on all the main points it would be foolish to believe that the story of computers could be told in a 150 page book.
As I mentioned in my previous post I am fairly computer literate and knew a little bit about the history of computers prior to opening this book. However the second line of the introduction struck me where they write: "The computer has changed how we work, how we organize and store information, how we communicate with each other, and even the way that we think about the universe and the human mind." (Pg VII). What a enormous statement, however it rings with truth. The computer has truly changed everything about our society. And the changes it has spurred are so drastic I can't even begin to imagine what being a college student would be like without my MacBook.
One thing that the beginning section of the booked helped me realize was that even when computers weren't created using motherboards and CPU's, people still sought to make things more automatic and simpler. Examples of this include the Greeks using a device that dispensed a set amount of water for washing things. Other famous examples include the Roman abacuses and the Babylonian Astrolabe. What interested me about this is that for as far back as humans go, we have always sought to be more efficient. Every day computers become obsolete and new technology is developed and this pattern has existed for the history of mankind. Our species is constantly seeking improvement in our daily lives by making things faster, easier, and more efficient.
Another interesting point was that ENIAC, the first modern computer, had so much government support. I never realized that the US Army was affiliated with them. It makes sense to me now however this example shows how quickly and rapidly technology evolves. ENIAC represents a time in computer history where only the wealthiest and best could afford to use a super computer like this. Now the laptop that I am typing on surpasses that technology immensely. As I said before, computers becoming obsolete happens everyday, and it is simply because the computer revolution has taken our world by storm.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the details they provide about the people involved in the history of computers. A prime example can be the introduction of "jogging" by Atanasoff. (p.27) His invention of periodically passing electricity through the condensers as a way of retaining memory is still used today. While this invention of his was new to me, I was able to appreciate the story that the authors tell. In many other textbooks the fact that Atanasoff took a long drive and thought of his idea while drinking at a roadhouse would be left out. I enjoyed this read because simple details like that kept the read from becoming so boring. As a history major many of my readings are very dull and bland and so this was an easy read.
The book continues to discuss the evolution of computers. In addition it relates the history of computers to the world's history. I think it is important to know that "need" sparks innovation. The funding the military provided into the fields of science and technology was "at unprecedented levels during the Cold War" (p.48). The historical context that is provided was extremely important to me as a reader because it gave me a sense of where we were in history when these things were happening and more importantly, WHY these things needed to happen at this point in history.
I believe that the first section of this book does a great job explaining the history of computers. More so than anything else I think it really communicates how society is constantly trying to better itself. Clearly, complacency is not an issue within our society since every time we achieved a new innovation with computers, someone else was asking, "why can't it be faster, why can't it be smaller, why can't it be stronger". The history of computers is shocking to me because the first electronic computers were not developed very long ago at all. I knew computers advanced quickly, however I couldn't believe that it was moved along as rapidly as it did. While one person was developing a quicker computer, one person was working on programming languages. And all the while other people were trying to make it more accessible to everyone through things such as software. The development of computers comments on the nature of humanity trying to do everything better and faster.
As I mentioned in my previous post I am fairly computer literate and knew a little bit about the history of computers prior to opening this book. However the second line of the introduction struck me where they write: "The computer has changed how we work, how we organize and store information, how we communicate with each other, and even the way that we think about the universe and the human mind." (Pg VII). What a enormous statement, however it rings with truth. The computer has truly changed everything about our society. And the changes it has spurred are so drastic I can't even begin to imagine what being a college student would be like without my MacBook.
One thing that the beginning section of the booked helped me realize was that even when computers weren't created using motherboards and CPU's, people still sought to make things more automatic and simpler. Examples of this include the Greeks using a device that dispensed a set amount of water for washing things. Other famous examples include the Roman abacuses and the Babylonian Astrolabe. What interested me about this is that for as far back as humans go, we have always sought to be more efficient. Every day computers become obsolete and new technology is developed and this pattern has existed for the history of mankind. Our species is constantly seeking improvement in our daily lives by making things faster, easier, and more efficient.
Another interesting point was that ENIAC, the first modern computer, had so much government support. I never realized that the US Army was affiliated with them. It makes sense to me now however this example shows how quickly and rapidly technology evolves. ENIAC represents a time in computer history where only the wealthiest and best could afford to use a super computer like this. Now the laptop that I am typing on surpasses that technology immensely. As I said before, computers becoming obsolete happens everyday, and it is simply because the computer revolution has taken our world by storm.
One of my favorite parts of this book is the details they provide about the people involved in the history of computers. A prime example can be the introduction of "jogging" by Atanasoff. (p.27) His invention of periodically passing electricity through the condensers as a way of retaining memory is still used today. While this invention of his was new to me, I was able to appreciate the story that the authors tell. In many other textbooks the fact that Atanasoff took a long drive and thought of his idea while drinking at a roadhouse would be left out. I enjoyed this read because simple details like that kept the read from becoming so boring. As a history major many of my readings are very dull and bland and so this was an easy read.
The book continues to discuss the evolution of computers. In addition it relates the history of computers to the world's history. I think it is important to know that "need" sparks innovation. The funding the military provided into the fields of science and technology was "at unprecedented levels during the Cold War" (p.48). The historical context that is provided was extremely important to me as a reader because it gave me a sense of where we were in history when these things were happening and more importantly, WHY these things needed to happen at this point in history.
I believe that the first section of this book does a great job explaining the history of computers. More so than anything else I think it really communicates how society is constantly trying to better itself. Clearly, complacency is not an issue within our society since every time we achieved a new innovation with computers, someone else was asking, "why can't it be faster, why can't it be smaller, why can't it be stronger". The history of computers is shocking to me because the first electronic computers were not developed very long ago at all. I knew computers advanced quickly, however I couldn't believe that it was moved along as rapidly as it did. While one person was developing a quicker computer, one person was working on programming languages. And all the while other people were trying to make it more accessible to everyone through things such as software. The development of computers comments on the nature of humanity trying to do everything better and faster.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
First Entry!
Hey All! My Name is Brian Shemesh and this is my first Blog for Technology & Culture in America. To begin, here is a log of my computer activity over the last three days.
Tuesday- 8:00- 9:00 am- Wake up and Browse internet.
Tuesday- 8:00- 9:00 am- Wake up and Browse internet.
- MyRutgers
- Various Websites
3:00pm - 4:30 - Homework done using basic internet research sites such as
- Wikipedia
- Dictionary.com
9:00 - 10:00 pm - Facebook "Stalking"
Wed-
10:00 am - 11:00 am - Internet browsing, facebook MyRutgers, InsideLacrosse.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com
11:00 pm- 12:30 am- Internet browsing, Facebook, Addicting games.com, Twitter
Thurs
9:00 am - 12:00 pm- Internet browsing/Homework
- Sakai - Find syllabus and review/Find hw assignments
- Email sent.
- Blogger.com Blog started
When I first looked at these statistics of my computer/internet usage I was surprised to see how little it really was because I feel like I am connected to the internet all day. However, then I thought about it and I realized that my BlackBerry device keeps me connected all day. No matter where I am I am constantly checking my E-mails, facebook, and various websites that interest me. As a big sports fan, I have numerous applications to keep me updated with news and scores from sports teams as well as other applications to keep me in touch with my friends. I will be honest, I know I already spend WAY TOO much time using social networking devices including facebook and twitter. However, I also realize that I feel "disconnected" when I am not checking these sites.
I have always been fairly computer literate, and setting up the Blogger.com Blog was easy. As someone who has never blogged before I was not entirely sure how to approach my first entry so I figured I would just dive right in. I still have to play with all the settings and customize my page to my liking but for now it seems like blogger.com has created an extremely easy tool for anyone to use to express their feelings on anything to anyone in the world. I believe that is the best part of the internet: that anyone can say anything to anyone. People from distant corners of the globe can communicate in ways never before thought possible. Communication is instant now and it has certainly changed the world we live in.
As for me, like I said my name is Brian Shemesh. I am a senior here at Rutgers and I play lacrosse for the university. I am currently majoring in History and English and have hopes of attending law school after graduation.
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