Analysis

“How Do New Things Happen” Analysis

In her discussion on “How Do New Things Happen”, Susan J Douglas covers several ways in which humankind has gone about creating technology for themselves; including the cause and effect factors inherent in many advances in technology. However, Douglas only gives some insights about why technology happens, and what starts the spark in the first place. The focus of this analysis is to expound on what are, and have been, the motivating factors behind the development of technology throughout the past and today. Answering this question will give us insight into why technology plays such a large role in people’s lives, and the society as a whole.

One major part of her discussion is the idea of “closure” in technology. Certain technologies are developed, adopted, adapted, and improved to fit current needs, while others die out, become obsolete, and are overrun by other technologies. Douglas explained that certain social groups “might have different technical goals or see different technical problems and wrestle with them until ‘closure’ is achieved. Thus there is no predetermined, natural, or inevitable way for devices or machines to evolve; rather, through this process some technical variants survive and flourish while others disappear.”(Douglas 1)

We could use such primitive examples as the bow and arrow which, in some cultures, eventually evolved into the crossbow. Even the crossbow has many similar features to that of a ballista. In time, bows and ballista were replaced with guns and cannons. So ‘closure’ occurred with these primitive technologies as people incorporated new ideas and improvements into them. Thus the older models were proven to be less effective and useful than they had previously been. Communication technology is one example that Douglas gives of an avenue of technology that has not simply become obsolete over time, but continues to develop and evolve even today.

Considering her example of the bicycle we can see the same actions being taken for different inventions and technological advances. “Bijker and Pinch emphasized the role of struggle, negotiation, rejection, and subsequent new directions as inventors, companies, and everyday users interacted and competed over what final form the bicycle would take.”(Douglas2) Other examples include the radio, television, and the internet.

Douglas delves into the positive and negative effects of this technology on our culture and society, but I would like to further explore why people do what they do when it comes to technology.

To answer this, we can consider man’s early history. Why did Neanderthals begin to use clubs? We can assume that this very early invention was motivated by an instinct of survival. As with so many other inventions, survival was the motivating factor spurring people to action. Here we begin to more clearly answer why, not just how, things happened.

But this only answers the essentials of life; what about other technological inventions, things that we commonly refer to as luxury items, or even things which once were essential to survival, but have been taken to extravagant extremes, which ironically encompasses just about any product available. Comfort, wellbeing and quality of life are the secondary motivating factors behind human actions in the development of technology. On the other hand, a businessman could argue that a cell phone is essential to his survival, let alone prosperity, in the business world. So even today, our instincts of survival are still the motivation behind the mass implementation and constant refinement of many new inventions.

Still, I understand people’s skepticism concerning the sheer mass of “new and improved” items being manufactured every day, and their subsequent high turnover rate. But, aren’t these providers simply following their inborn motivations? So many people equate money with survival in today’s world that it makes sense to them that the more money you have, the more safe and comfortable you are. Otherwise, man would have stopped improving on his inventions when he saw that they worked at least adequately. The time span between improvements and advancements in technology would be much wider. Also, the exploration of the sheer number of different avenues that technology can take would likely have been fewer and far between.

Clearly we have seen the fastest and greatest advances when man has felt himself threatened, either by other humans, or by natural elements of the earth. Mere interest in the chance for improvement brings on only a slow and steady development of technology. Interesting to note that slow and steady in this case usually does not win the race, but rather gets chewed out by the competition.

A unique perspective often allows for new and interesting developments and uses of technology. Douglas again noted that “subcultures, some of them with minimal political, economic, or social power, used technologies in unanticipated, even insurgent ways” (Douglas3). Here we see that even smaller groups of people are eager to, and must be, quick on their feet to find effective ways to use whatever technology that is available to its fullest advantage. Even when this means using it in ways for which the technology was perhaps not originally intended, they will still do it, even if only to curb the risk of being completely left behind technologically.

Sadly, countries with the fewest advances in technology tend to suffer greatly both in social advances and especially politically. This is because technology is often considered to be synonymous with power in today’s world. Many poorer countries do all they can to adopt, copy, or even import if nothing else, the older models of other country’s used technology.

Still other countries intentionally refuse to adopt modern technology. In Douglas’s essay she touched on this. “What about people? Did they have no agency here? …people did resist what seemed like technological progress, sometimes vehemently.” Sometimes not just individual or small groups of people, but entire cultures fall into this category. While their reasons for denying themselves of many modern technologies may vary, their cultures have still survived. On the downside, several of these cultures are dwindling from existence as fewer of their descendants refuse to adopt the natural culture of their progenitors, and instead meld into the mainstream of modern technology.

So, where will our natural motivations lead us in the future? Ray Kurzweil, a scholar noted for his predictions of the future, said that there are six epochs in human development. Kurzweil said that mankind is now in Epoch 4, Technology, in which “Humans evolved into organisms with the ability to create technology. We are right now in the final stages of this epoch.” And that man is nearing Epoch 5, The Merger of Human Technology with Human Intelligence, and that “Biology and technology will begin to merge in order to create higher forms of life and intelligence.”(Kurzweil )

Whatever happens, our instincts have not changed. Through the motivation to improve on what he has and is, mankind will do whatever is necessary in order to continue indefinitely. On the whole, whether for his survival, or simply to improve his comfort and ease, mankind will not be satisfied without something new on the horizon.

Works Cited

Douglas, Susan J. “How Do New Things Happen” SHOT: e-Technology and Culture. © by the Society for the History of Technology, 2010. Web (2011).

Kurzweil, Ray “The Six Epochs of Technology Evolution” Big Think. Rey Kurzweil, 2011. Web (2011)

Friday Blog: About the major assignment

My thoughts have been somewhat scattered in the topic of technology. Even having narrowed my topic somewhat to focus on the history and evolution of technology as it relates to the motivating factors of why people create technology.

I want to delve into the social reasons for the development of technology then and now. The motivating factors of the development of technology; such as survival verses comfort and quality of life, truly "new" technology verses innovations of technology. Why do we make claims that some things are “essential”, that people had never before needed, simply living without. Is it survival that sends a businessman to buy a cell phone? Do the same instincts of survival, of using a bigger club than the other guy, apply in today’s world, especially in business? What are some examples of some of the latest new technologies? In what areas of life are these new technologies being developed? How well people adopt this new technology and what have people been doing to improve on what is developed for them? Are people losing interest in new technology? How “new” does it have to be to sell? Technology that is too new verses technology that is not new enough/examples? Why do so many people find steam punk to be so interesting? Is it just the natural being inside of us knocking on the door of our subconscious to be let out that brings people out and away from technology? What about “outdoorsy” people. How is technology invading into their realm? How has technology effected relationships?

Alright, I can't allow this topic to get away from me. I need to try to keep it focused. Either way, it will definitely be an interesting topic to study. We'll see :)

Technology and Culture: Just Trying to Make Life Easier

Technology and Culture: Just Trying to Make Life Easier

The power of humans to change and adapt themselves is incredible. We see throughout time that people in general have always searched for "a better way" to do things. Whether it’s in war, or in the medical field, in business, or in one’s own home; people are always on the lookout for what will make their lives easier. Many people associate an easier life directly with how much technology they have.

“A better way.” We hear that everywhere now. Just turn on the television, your car radio, look at a billboard, your newspapers, and obviously all over your magazines; what do you see? Things to make your life faster, healthier, more enjoyable, more social, more comfortable, EASIER!!! Even these advertisers are making changes and adapting advertising to fit current target audiences, making their jobs better.

Now, whether or not the things they advertise are commodities or necessities is not my point. Either way, behind every advertisement is an idea. Yes, very often in today’s world the idea is to make as much money as humanly possible, but there is a greater truth and origin behind our fetish for technology.

Let me take you back to a time when people fought with the sword and diseases easily treated today could slaughter thousands. What did these people want? The same thing you and want today, for things to be easier, healthier, just better! It is interesting to note how so many of the inventions and innovations of those days were geared toward simple survival. After we are surviving we have time to think of our quality of life. This is the difference between the “dark” or middle ages and the Renaissance Era. These two basic instincts are the major driving forces of invention.

Susan J. Douglas said of one world changing invention that affected the world’s entertainment, military, political, social and many other aspects of life:

“In the 1970s, a series of technological advances, most notably the expanded use of geosynchronous satellites to transmit television signals and the replacement of film with video, meant that news and events from around the world could be broadcast as they were happening, live, into people’s homes in real time. It was this 'liveness,' this 'you are there' immediacy, that fueled visions of the global village and the more attuned, empathetic subject position it was seen to cultivate.” (Douglas)

In conclusion, man is amazing. He works to improve life in general, even if the technologies he creates may only complicates things in the end.

Works Cited

Douglas. (Oct. 14 2011) http://etc.technologyandculture.net/2010/06/douglas/

My observations and response to the Whitehouse.gov website

It's for us, it was entirely created for people to view, it is an informative website. Many of the aspects of the website are very easy to use, which is good; however, as I was going through the site and exploring different parts of it, I noticed a few things that I think send subtle, but clear messages to viewers. In truth, many of the written and visual "texts" in the site actually make claims of fact, value and policy. For Example, on the first page that opens when I clicked on the link I saw a picture of Obama wearing an American flag pin on his lapel. This is one subtle message that seems to say to viewers, "I'm patriotic, just like you." This could be similar to a claim of Obama's own value. The president also looks very crisp, regal and dignified in each of the photo's shown, a simple fact which also places a similar claim of value; that Obama is prepared and professional. Even in the pictures where the president seems to be posing as a pensive deep thinking man looking off into space, the image seems to send the message to people that the president is very thoughtful, not impulsive, and that he is looking to the future, confident and determined. All positive values. All this could be guessed at while looking at the many pictures in the gallery of photos provided on the web site.
Again, in the opening of the website, the words “STAY INFORMED” is printed, enticing people to sign up for “periodic updates”. This may be alluding to the idea that perhaps the president doesn’t actually keep so many things from us average citizens, and that he actually wants us to know what's going on. It also sends the feeling that if you don’t sign up you will not be “INFORMED”. These ideas seem to be claims of fact and policy.
On the first page after the initial opening page that I was taken to I immediately saw the first big bold letter on the page "The American Jobs Act" and "Read the Bill". Now, after all that I have just discussed and observed, it's only natural that a person would want to "stay informed" on this topic, especially given today's economy and current major issues which relate closely to the subject of this bill. The website is very well organized. I was immediately interested in the sub menu titled "Issues". When I scrolled my mouse over it, a drop down menu appeared showing me a list of issues available for me to read. I was impressed at first by the simple, often one paragraph summaries of many of the issues listed; but I was soon disappointed to see that each of these issues were answered with only a bunch of claims of fact statements of what Obama has or is doing concerning each issue. There was no place for discussion by the reader on the topics listed. In this way, the website is merely informative, and not interactive. Perhaps the most interactive area of the website is actually the White House Blog which appeared to allow for many different writers to post. However these posts seemed to be done by professionals only and not by the average American, and again there is no comments section. The best you or I could do with it is to pass any of the articles along using the "share" "tweet" or "email" icons and from there on a separate web location discuss the topics that concern us.