It is
unlikely to hear someone saying that they are not affected by technology.
Technology in all forms has affected people both from the past and in the
present. Without being affected by it, it is likely to assume that society
would not be where they are at the present. The positive and negative effect of
such technology, though, is another topic all together.
There are
currently two different interpretations to the term ‘technological
determinism’. Thorstein Veblen’s theory on it circulates around the proposition
that a society’s technology defines its own nature. This society is not
necessarily the just the society of the present or the society of the past;
rather, all technology, regardless of the society where it existed, defines
itself. Furthermore, his theory also views technology as something that drives
culture to grow and develop even more. Technology also assists in where history
goes next.
An example
used was the following: with the invention of the gun came the introduction to
a culture of violence. Compared to much older forms of weaponry (ex: bows and
arrows, swords), a gun was much easier to handle and therefore would be much
more ‘practical’ to use in real life situations. With the idea of a gun being
easy to wield and use came the eventual grow in the culture of violence that
society has partaken in.
Additionally,
there is emphasis on the human senses. Whatever peoples’ senses perceive often
translate into what is thought, felt, said, or done in the course of everyday
life.
An example of
Technical Determinism : cell phones.
Cell phones
made our world smaller, making it easier for us to connect with each other.
Through the connectivity brought by cell phones, the homogenizing effects of
economic globalization have been enhanced. Tracking our movements became easier
for governments and corporations.
Cell phones
have also turned us into texting addicts. This kind of human being can be
considered as a new type since there have been no previous records of such
before cell phones existed.
We have also
become more dependent with our cell phones. Using cell phones have become a
part of our everyday life. Now, we use our phones not only to message people,
but also for social media purposes. We check our various social media accounts
from time to time as our way of ‘killing time’ when we’re bored. People
nowadays will have a hard time not using their phones for a long period of
time, which is why some restaurants took the opportunity to invent the ‘no-phone’
challenge. This challenges people to have meals and interact with others
instead of having their eyes glued on the screens of their phones.
Forms of
messaging have also evolved as time passed. The traditional letter-writing has
been replaced by emails and instant messaging. Even the usage of telephones
have been, somehow, replaced by the usage of phones and simply messaging
people.
In alignment
with Mcluhan’s quote, “Medium is the message” :
Ø
Complex
Circular rather than simple linear designs:
Examples:
Traditional books vs. digital archives
Linear episodic stories vs. hyper narratives
Ø Holistic thinking rather than fragmented ideas
Examples:
Tri-media advertising vs. integrated communications marketing
Individual stores vs. malls
Ø Multidimensional perspective
Examples:
Specialization vs. multitasking
Surfing on two or more internet sites
Ø Acceptance of discontinuity in experience and ideas
Examples:
Computer games with memory stick
Virtual reality
Examples:
Traditional books vs. digital archives
Linear episodic stories vs. hyper narratives
Ø Holistic thinking rather than fragmented ideas
Examples:
Tri-media advertising vs. integrated communications marketing
Individual stores vs. malls
Ø Multidimensional perspective
Examples:
Specialization vs. multitasking
Surfing on two or more internet sites
Ø Acceptance of discontinuity in experience and ideas
Examples:
Computer games with memory stick
Virtual reality
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