Name Patrick Bratton Class time: Online
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KEEP YOUR ANSWERS SUSCINCT
INCLUDE OUTSIDE REFERNES
Author: Neil Postman
Date of Publication:
Book:
Sections read: Five Things We Need to Know About Technological Change
- (Questioning) After reading this chapter/article what questions do I have?
Will technology destroy us all as a race?
- (Knowledge)Tell three interesting elements of this chapter:
- The computer person values information, not knowledge, certainly not wisdom.
- For every advantage a new technology offers, there is always a correspond disadvantage.
- The advantage and disadvantages of new technologies are never distributed evenly among the population.
- (Comprehension) Summarize what is being discussed within this chapter?
This chapter is about Neil Postman's five ideas about Technological change. First, that we always pay a price for technology; the greater the technology, the greater the price. Second, that there are always winners and losers, and that the winners always try to persuade the losers that they are really winners. Third, that there is embedded in every great technology an epistemological, political or social prejudice. Fourth, technological change is not additive; it is ecological, which means, it changes everything and is, therefore, too important to be left entirely in the hands of Bill Gates. And fifth, technology tends to become mythic; that is, perceived as part of the natural order of things, and therefore tends to control more of our lives than is good for us.
- (Application)Name a specific example or NEW solution for this type of problem/similar situation in society or that you have experienced – be specific and explain?
A specific example is online gaming. Online gaming is very popular in today's day and age, with age ranging from 13 and up. The problem today is that online gaming can, in certain cases control one's future. A majority of online players are in high school and college, when a big game title such as Call of Duty is released around exam time, players are eager to play their video games, leading to a lack in their studies. People may still pass their exams and school work but with online gaming they may not be unlocking their full potential to get good grades.
- (Analysis) Address ANY that apply. How can you compare one of the situations in this chapter to something that does not relate to computers, technology, or the Internet? Be sure to reference the chapter and your solution. What ideas NEW can you add to the issue that is being presented within the reading?
An idea I would address is advances in medicine. People can take medicine as intended or they can abuse it. And example would be lower tabs. Lower tabs are usually issued to patients after some type of medical procedure or otherwise, an excruciating amount of body pain. With the effects of lower tabs often being positive, relieving people of pain people sometimes get hooked and start taking them for minor aches and pains to the point to where their addicted. There are some that are benefited, some are harmed and some not affected at all.
- (Synthesis) Address all that apply. Do you agree with what is being said within the article (Why/Why not? Back up with FACTS, reference)?
Yes I do agree what is in this article. Because I do believe technology tends to control more of our lives than is good for us.
- (Evaluation) Address all that apply. Judge whether or not this topic is relevant in today’s society? Are there any ethical considerations (see Chap1-1.4 for exp of Ethics) ? What new ideas will you make after reading this chapter/article?
Since there are advances in technology that can be seen everyday, I feel that this chapter and topic is actually relevant in society. With advances in the technology their will be disadvantages. An example are factories completely controlled by generated machines, leaving millions of people out of work due to machines not needing a weekly pay check but doing the equal work of manual labor. Millions would be affected, while a slight few such as the short staff of people engineering the machines would be affected.
- (Conclusion) After completing this assignment, based on new thoughts and evidence
- What new conclusions have you come to about this topic ?
- Below restate your questions from #1 and include the answer based on your new conclusions.
a. My conclusion about this topic is that I never really thought about how with advances in technology also brings disadvantages. I keep going on with this because it has truly intrigued me because it is so true and now I feel as if I will pay more attention to what new technology brings and who it affects positively but also negatively.
b. Will technology destroy us all as a race? I wasn't sure about this within the chapter until I went back and re-examined the fifth idea Neil Postman stated. “The best way to view technology is as a strange intruder, to remember that technology is not part of God's plan but a product of human creativity and hubris, and that its capacity for good or evil rests entirely on human awareness of what it does for us and to us.” That is a powerful statement and one I feel is true because if we were to ever be destroyed by technology it would not be the technology itself that would destroy us, but the man behind it.
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