Technopoly

Technopoly: the Surrender of our Culture to Technology by Neil Postman discuses a major problem seen in today’s world; technology taking not only our culture, but also our minds hostage. Postman identifies three cultures “tool-using cultures, technocracies and technopolies” (page 22) Tool-using culture as indicated by the name was at time before technology. When society looks back on the scientific minds of this time, such as Galileo and Copernicus, we view them as men of knowledge, challenging the accepted beliefs of the time in an effort to bring logic and science into society. Knowing what we know today, history lands in favor of these learned men. However, the tool-using society fought against these men and their ideas, jailing Galileo. Even though the men were right, maybe their society had the right idea in fighting. Postman describes an experiment on pages fifty-six and fifty-seven where he makes up ridiculous scientific news stories and records people’s reactions, sadly most believe him. Similarly, on an episode of 30 Rock the writing staff inserts fictions and outrageous lies on Janice Joplin’s Wikipedia page and laugh as Jenna Maroney acts out what has been written. While really funny, these two experiments demonstrate people’s blind belief in new information. Living in a time of constant change, we also assume facts and information change as rapidly. These thoughts fostered by the convenient and constant access to information guaranteed to us by technologies.
Instead of accepting new information society should ask the necessary question: How much should or has society surrendered over to technology? Information controls what people do, and technology now controls information. Any book used as a resource comes with an index, a place for the author to demonstrate the validity of their ideas. The Internet does not have to come with an index, or any distinct way to prove what is written derives from fact. I have no idea which source is more accurate, just wondering if in gaining an abundance of information at our fingertips, we have let down our guards and are simply willing to believe.

In the beginning, science was feared and mistrusted. When society entered into Postman’s second stage of civilization, the Technocracy age people still had doubts about technology. This age brought about the first real technological inventions and mass changes both good and bad. The skilled workers were replaced by machine. At the same time the fusion between technology and information began with the masses having access to the written word. Postman says of this time that “the technological and the traditional- coexisted in uneasy tension” (page 48). While living in Postman’s last stage, this uneasy tension may need to exist to balance out the good and bad of technology. While society has gained a great deal because of easy access to information through mediums such as school, media and the Internet, it is important to think about what is being lost; our willingness to question the flood of information given to us by technology.

Computers the Life Story of a Technology blog 2

A common theme within the last few chapters of Eric Swedin and David Ferro’s book is the interdependency of ideas in creating the modern computer. No computer or software was created by a single person or idea. In fact, early programmers and creates relied heavily on one another, this collaboration helped establish the newly emerging technology driven culture; for example, Apple creators Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs. Jobs was introduced to Wozniak through a mutual friend, Bill Fernandez. Both Fernandez and Wozniak attended high school in an area heavily populated by engineers and programmers. This cultural acceptance of technology reached beyond Wozniak and Fernandez’s home town and eventually grew into a community of programmers and creators. Inventors are constantly looking at others work and bouncing their ideas off one another. Thus the culture and society of programmers was slowly being formed, without much concern for popular acceptance or demand. Jobs makes mentions of this when stating “what we did was follow our own instincts and construct a computer that was what we wanted” (page 99), thus the computer was created to fit the needs and intentions of original programmers and less for the general populace. These inventions eventually made their way into modern society, and erupted. These eruptions created cultures, and counter cultures, connected in some way through the wonders of modern technology. For example, it is impossible to ignore the importance of computer within modern films. Star Wars could have never been made and as widely accepted sans technology, and there in no doubting the cultural significance of said film. Today the impact of computers is felt everywhere, from media to the stock market. From a small group of innovators to a worldwide phenomenon the computer has created and influenced a number of cultures.

Computers, bringing the world together

Today’s technology, especially the Internet is seen as something which brings the world closer together by creating a social space which defies the normal laws of both time and space. The idea of technology bring the world together is in no way a new idea. Early explorers created numerous inventions such as maps to chart the stars and moon, which brought people to new worlds. The mixing of nations and peoples eventually brought war, which in turn promoted advances in technology, including the computer. The opening Pages of Computers the Life Story of a Technology provides readers with an expansive timeline dating advances in technology. Scanning the time line it becomes apparent many of these new ideas deal with the Military or war in general. When sitting down at ones computer it is hard to believe the machine we now use to watch TV or talk with our friends has origins in code breaking. However, during WWII Poland breaking a German code could be the difference between life and death. Code breaking also provides an example of technology facilitating the transmission of information between countries. Information, which originated in Germany, could be intercepted in Poland, and sent to intelligence in England, saving lives of soldiers from all over the world. The presence of technology allowed for information to be passed from country to country, uniting people from around the world under a single idea. The Cold War and space race encouraged advancements in science programs, allowing man to reach the moon. Behind all of this was the clash of two nations, Russia and America, striving for world power. Not to down play the importance of computers and the advances themselves, for both countries recognized the importance of technology in the advancement of their nation. It is important to note the rise of spending and cultural importance placed on computer has origins in a major cultural and political crash. From moon charts to the Internet, technology has made the communication between cultures more and more convenient.

My first blog...ever

As the title says this is my first blog ever, and excited to give this a try! I should say I have been to blog places before but never written or had an account or anything.
I like the idea of a blog for this class. In a lecture class you rarely hear all the student’s thoughts and ideas on the topic. However, technology is something we grew up with use in our everyday lives each of us has our own experience and thoughts. This class is how technology and culture work together, using a blog to talk about ideas, is an example of merging the two ideas. The blogs provide a place for people to give and take ideas and collectively investigate our culture, online.
Loosely keeping track of my technology use was a very interesting experience. One topic which drew my interest was technology and school; the Internet is critical to attend Rutgers. While keeping track of my technology use, I discovered a great deal of my internet time was spent on school. I went to Sakai at least three times a day, every time I went to obtain vital information pertaining to a class. The Sakai site can be seen as a virtual classroom. Both students and professors must go to a single location where students are responsible for the information the professor provides. Professors post readings, announcements, the syllabus on this site and students check them.It would be very difficult to pass Rutgers without going to the class; it would be almost equally as difficult to pass without going to Sakai. This entire time I kept thinking what happens when you don’t have easy access to technology? Do you need technology to pass Rutgers and if so is that ok? I don't mean this so much in a social-economical way, although that could make an interesting argument, but what does it say about our lives that we need to be on a computer and on the internet to succeed?

Ok that was a bit of a tangent, (oh I’m going to like this if all I have to do is write my thoughts) I did use the internet for fun. I love to cook and I can spend hours looking up different baking ideas or just reading how other people put together flavors and spices. Then I need my computer to play music while I cook, there is nothing better than playing the blues while making food. Then I like to watch a movie once again on my computer while I eat, really my entire food process is around my computer. It is a wonderful way to pass time and be satisfied the entire time. Instant gratification is the best part of the Internet.