Technopoly: The Surrender of Culture to Technology

For starters, all I can say is "Wow!" I may not agree with author Neil Postman, but this is a book I am going to have a hard time putting down for several reasons. I can picture him standing at a pulpit, preaching, seriously. I can also picture him walking around carrying a sign that reads, "The end of the world is coming!" or "It's the end of the world as we know it!" Yes, it is a mistake to assume that technology has a one-sided effect. Every technology comes as both a blessing and a burden; not either-or, but this-and-that (pages 4-5). Mr. Postman claims to be open minded, however, he seems to be more of a technophobe than middle-of-the-road. He's very leary of technology and all technological advances, and he ever-so-subtly gets his "digs" in toward anyone who feels otherwise--mainly, the technophiles.

Mr. Postman feels that technology has invaded our culture, and goes on to write that computers have increased the power of "large scale organizations", but wonders to what extent computer technology has been an advantage to the masses. He doesn't feel that technology has been beneficial to people such as steelworkers, vegetable store owners, teachers, mechanics, musicians, bricklayers, dentists, etc, and most of the rest into "whose lives the computer now intrudes." I don't even know what to say to this! I'm guessing that he has a growing stockpile of water bottles and other non-perishables somewhere in his cellar. He believes that technology re-defines absolutely everything from religion, family, politics, truth, privacy and intelligence--but not for the better. He feels it is dangerous, and basically that we, as a society, are now less educated because of technology changing the way things were done years ago, back when people had to...think.

In my opinion, Mr. Postman has made a few valid points, but quite a few more ignorant statements so far. Yet, I still find him fascinating. (I wonder what's up with that??!!)

Second Half of The Life Story of a Technology

Well, I am happy to say that the second half of this book met (may have even exceeded) my expectations. It was filled with so much information that we could all understand and relate to, and there were very interesting stories. For example, Edward Roberts' microcomputer, the Altair, was introduced to the general public via Popular Electronics in 1975. I just love the way this machine got its name. It was given the name "Altair" by Roberts' daughter, because "Altair" was the name of the planet visited on Star Trek that night. I think that's hilarious, and I'm not even a Trekkie. The Altair was sold as a completely unassembled kit for $397, or assembled for $497. This didn't include any peripherals, either--no keyboard, monitor, disk drive, printer, software, operating system, or any input/output devices other than the toggle switches and lights that were on the front panel!

At that time, there were two men who ran a company called Micro-Soft who took a very keen interest in the Altair. Their names were Paul Allen and Bill Gates, and they wanted in on this product. They believed that they already had the programming language that was needed for the Altair. Within six weeks, Roberts licensed the interpreter from Allen and Gates' company, and hired Allen as the sole programmer and director of software. By the late 1970's, there was fierce competition for Roberts and his Altair microcomputer, and now its peripherals, as well. In 1977, Roberts sold his company and the production of the Altair stopped the next year. Roberts went back to school to pursue his other interest, medicine, now that he could afford to do so. He later went on to combine both electronics and medicine, creating a suite of medical laboratory programs.

I really enjoyed reading about the creation and development of companies and products that I'm familiar with, such as Apple, IBM, and AOL. One other topic I found very interesting was that of the digital divide. For the most part, we take computers and internet access for granted. However, there is still still a gap between people with effective access to digital and information technology, and those with very limited or no access at all. This gap exists globally, but seems to be exacerbated along racial, income, and educational divides. (page 133)

Computers accelerate the pace of technological change at a phenomenal rate. I personally have a hard time keeping up with it all. Just when I learn and get used to something, there is a bigger/better/new and improved product available on the market. It seems that if something can be imagined by someone, somewhere, then someone, somewhere can create that which was imagined. In my opinion, this is both intriguing and frightening. My husband works in IT, so he is alway on top of all of the latest and greatest of whatever is out there. He soaks it all in, and is ready to embrace it all. Me, not so much. I am still using my first generation iPhone, and am very content in doing so.

Analytical Blog Entry #1--Early Computing and Personalized Computing Experience

Until now, I had never read any books pertaining to technology before, so I will admit I was somewhat apprehensive about the required reading for this course. I found the history of technology to be more complex than I realized, and it really is interesting. I had never really given much thought to how things were done thousands of years ago, or even hundreds of years ago. Swedin and Ferro take us back in time, starting with the discovery of the first mechanical computer that was used to calculate lunar, solar, and stellar calendars. I think the fact that it was found on a ship that sank somewhere between 100 and 40 B.C.E. is AMAZING--that this is how it all began, that long ago. Swedin and Ferro continued to hold my interest as they wrote about technology and how it developed and evolved throughout history, from the way calculations were made before computers, to the very first IBMs.

Something that truly amazed me was the fact that many of the people who played such an important role in the earliest technological devices were so YOUNG. One person in particular that stands out to me is Blaise Pascal. According to Swedin and Ferro (page 11), Pascal worked out Euclid’s geometric theorems ON HIS OWN at age twelve, described complex conical geometry in writing when was just sixteen, and invented a mechanical device called the Pascaline for adding and subtracting when he was only nineteen. He originally invented this device to assist his father in his job as tax collector. In order to create this machine, Pascal had to train himself as a mechanic, because there were no local mechanics that had the ability to work with the fine precision needed. I think back to what I was like at 12, 16, and 19, and I certainly wasn’t a great thinker, nor did I know any others my age who were. The fact that someone so young played such a pivotal role in the history of technology is truly impressive.

With Computers: The Life Story of a Technology, I was expecting a boring read, with a whole lot of terminology thrown at me that I wasn’t going to understand.  Instead, Eric G. Swedin and David L. Ferro created a book that is actually an interesting and easy read. Thank you, gentlemen! I’m looking forward to the second half of the book.

Assignment Number One: Keep track of all internet/interface activity for one week

9/2/10

• Check my email—this is the first thing I do online each and every day. This goes hand in hand with my morning cup of coffee.

• Log into Facebook—update my status, check out what my friends are doing, check out new photos posted by friends, post photos myself, send birthday/anniversary wishes if appropriate.Comment on friends’ posts and photos if appropriate.

• Log into Yahoo Groups—I belong to 8 different groups on Yahoo

• Log into eCollege—This is where my Nursing Research class is found online

• Log into Sakai—This is where my Technology and Culture in America class is found online

• Log into Elluminate—This is where my Nursing Research class lectures are given live each week, on Thursdays at 10:15 A.M.

• Visit eBay

• Visit foxnews.com

9/3/10

• Check my email

• Visit weather.com

• Log into Facebook

• Log into Yahoo Groups

• Log into eCollege

• Log into Sakai

• Visit Girl Scouts of The Jersey Shore website

• Log into Youtube account

9/4/10

• Check my email

• Log into Facebook

• Visit weather.com

• Visit Foxnews.com

• Visit website of St. Thomas the Apostle School

• Visit website of Marlboro Middle School

• Visit website of Asher Holmes Elementary School

• Log into Yahoo Groups

• Log into eCollege

• Log into Sakai

9/5/10

• Check my email

• Visit Foxnews.com

• Log into Facebook

• Log into Yahoo Groups

• Log into Sakai

• Perform about 20 google searches for Nursing Research class

• Log into eCollege

9/6/10

• Check my email

• Log into Facebook

• Log into Yahoo Groups

• Log into Sakai

• Perform about 10 google searches for Nursing Research class

• Log into eCollege

9/7/10

• Check my email

• Log into Facebook

• Visit weather.com

• Visit Foxnews.com

• Log into Yahoo Groups

• Log into Sakai

• Log into eCollege

9/8/10

• Check my email

• Log into Facebook

• Log into Yahoo Groups

• Log into Sakai

• Perform about 10 more google searches for Nursing Research class

• Log into eCollege
  

After seeing everything written down, I realize that I visit several websites on a daily basis. It’s almost out of habit at this point. I also came to realize that I look forward to checking my email first thing in the morning, rather than checking the news or weather first. Most of the communication I receive is via email, whether it is personal, business, or school-related, so it definitely takes priority status.

Every once in awhile, I think back to what life was like growing up without the internet. How did we ever survive? Now, if my internet service goes down for a couple of hours, I’m lost. I feel out of touch and out of reach (even though I know that isn't the case). I’m glad my children don’t have to know a life without the internet. Kids today will never know what it’s like to schlep to the library with as many dimes as they can find, and spend hours photocopying dozens of pages from dozens of different reference books. I’m very grateful, but at the same time, it kind of annoys me. Since kids have no concept of a world without the web, they tend take many things in their life for granted.

And so it begins...

Let me start by saying this--I have never been a blogger. I have a Facebook account, but that's all. I don't Twitter, and I honestly cannot stand MySpace. I created accounts on both of these a long time ago, didn't like using them, and abandoned them both. This blog is being created as an assignment for my Technology and Culture in America class.

I thought that choosing a name for my blog would be the easy part. I was wrong. Each time I thought of something I liked, or that sounded good, I searched and found that it was already being used. I don't think that really matters with a blog, but I didn't want to be a copycat. I also wanted to select a name that I wouldn't feel the need to change, should I choose to continue with my blog after this class is over.