Technology

An Agent of Social Change

The Printing Press:

The Good: Education/ Literacy The Bad: Education (harder - News can be mass produced to control population)

- More opportunities for work and learning - Resources used

- Propaganda

- Oral traditions/ recitation loses meaning/value

Technology: An invention of new tools which makes the process of living easier.

The creation of tools or objects that both extend our natural abilities and alter our social environment.

- anything embraced by people for practical day use

Consequences are BOTH POSITIVE AN NEGATIVE!

Marshall McLuhan (1911-1980)

“Any technology or medium is an extension of some human quality”

- “The Medium is the message” -

Ex.The extension of a finger - a knife, pen, pointer…etc.

extension of the hand - hammer, instruments, drinking glass…etc.

extensions of the foot - bicycle, roller-blades, flippers, crutches…etc

Coping with Technological Change -

William Ogburn (1886 - 1959)

Invention: Combining elements and materials to form new ones (Material or social invention)

- i.e. invention of smart phones

- “WOW!!!”

Discovery: Discovering a new way of reality (discovery/ timing initiate social change)

- “Did you see how…”

Diffusion: Spread of discovery

- store/place offering this item (i.e. Mexican restaurant)

Futureshock: dizzying disorientation brought on by the premature arrival of the future.
Hyerculture: deterioration of the family.

Virtues of sacrifice, long term commitment, essential to effective parenthood become rare.
fundamental values are being blurred

Technosis: a sense of loss of self, a disconnection from culture in the absence of technology.

New Technology = New STRESS

How the Internet Enables Intimacy:

Cultural norms can be shifted to adapt the the fact that being intimate doesn't mean having “them” close to you.
Everyone has communication (not just the top dogs)

Groups who resist technological change are sometimes referred to as “luddites”

“There is a difference between technology as utility and technology as a lens"

Hyperreality: “pictures of life” that represent, but also mask true reality.

fake view of life constructed through photos (i.e. judging someone based on their Instagram)

Resist technology’s powerful pull and intelligently evaluate it’s impact.

	Created by ShayMahoney almost 9 years ago

A social scientists look at technology ad a changing force