The internet is overwhelming. What started out as an indestructible networking system for military use, turned into a multipurpose system for citizens. The internet can be used as a medium to express one’s opinions in a blog sense, a place to chat with other people, a way to keep in contact with relatives, a mailbox, and personal shopping centre. Can you escape the internet in this day and age?
I am a student at the local college in Kelowna, and in order to keep up with assignments and class readings I need to have access to the internet. This is a perfect example of technology being mandatory in our culture. I believe that we get so caught up in the excitement of new technologies that we forget about other priorities in our lives. But, as the internet has shown us, we can incorporate our obligations in life into the cyber realm. We can pay our bills on line, we can send letters to friends and family, and we can shop 24/7.
The internet has provided a system that doesn’t require the person to unplug for any reason. We can order in food from the computer and keep up in school and have a conversation over msn. I fear that our thirst for instantaneous gratifications will come back and haunt us soon. As I have already stated in many of my other articles, I am worried that the real world will become lost and cyberspace will fill the gap. The movie Walle explains this concept even further. Once we ruin our world because of our lack of consideration for the planet, we will go live on a space ship and plug ourselves into screens for the rest of our lives. I do realize that this is a kid’s movie, but it seems to catch onto the theme that we are heading for a new ultimate reality within cyberspace. I want to get out of my chair right now and stop writing this because I am being a hypocrite. I am preaching about how disgusted I am with people who spend most of their days online, and what am I doing right now?! I am typing away on the internet, while listening to music, and glancing at my cell phone wondering when my boyfriend is going to call. Everyone, myself included, relies too much on technology. We are plugged in, too much of the time. I urge readers to turn off the noise of technology because sooner or later we will regret it if we don’t.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
The Glow of New Technology
The Second World War created a need for many new inventions. Air defense demands lead to the information theory, which looked to find the best way to transmit info in noise, and the development of various forms of communication media. Cybernetics was first devised to assist fighter planes in order to improve accuracy. Using the information theory it was possible with statistics, radar, and physics to limit an enemy’s next move. These predictions helped to narrow down the possibility of missing the enemy target. Weiner was a very influential man in the realm of cybernetics. He developed ideas of feedback and studied how to control technological systems. With the help of Gabor and Shannon (who worked in Bell labs) they founded the communication theory which stated that there was lots of redundancy in communication methods. The text, “Spirit of the Web” provides the example of the telephone. It is easier to predict what the person is going to say if you know the person really well. It is more difficult if the person is a stranger. With these new completed ideas of communication, cybernetics was beginning to become complete. Weiner was sure that cybernetics would be used for military purposes and factories, and after the A-bomb hit Hiroshima, he knew he wouldn’t be able to accept this new world. He refused to keep working for the military or accept military funding. Wieners absence didn’t kill the glow of this new technology. It had so many possibilities in the eyes of the military. However, true communication involves a sense of meaning and understanding, which cybernetics could never attain. This wasn’t a concern, and soon the project was given to new enthusiasts in the Artificial intelligence department.
Reading this sort of history makes me think that we have created a monster. Cybernetics allows for many breakthroughs in technology and communication, however, it still scares me. The whole premise of artificial intelligence is disturbing. Perhaps I am being conflicted because I have been forced to see one too many sci-fi movies where robots kill all of man-kind. It sounds childish for me to take Hollywood movies that seriously, but I have studied the past which shows that the desires for new technology have made humans blind to the repercussions it may have. Most of our technological breakthroughs have come back to haunt us. Will this one help or hurt us in the long run?
Reading this sort of history makes me think that we have created a monster. Cybernetics allows for many breakthroughs in technology and communication, however, it still scares me. The whole premise of artificial intelligence is disturbing. Perhaps I am being conflicted because I have been forced to see one too many sci-fi movies where robots kill all of man-kind. It sounds childish for me to take Hollywood movies that seriously, but I have studied the past which shows that the desires for new technology have made humans blind to the repercussions it may have. Most of our technological breakthroughs have come back to haunt us. Will this one help or hurt us in the long run?
Thursday, January 22, 2009
illusion keeps the masses happy
Along with the invention of the radio came new problems regarding mass media.
Originally the radio was used for military purposes but with the foreseeable end to World War One, a growing interest began in civilians. As programming started on the radio and popularity arose, there was a demand for home receivers. Everyone wanted a radio to listen to in the comforts of their own homes. The receivers available so far were operated by two huge batteries which was unrealistic for home usage. Demand grew and new technology answered. Rogers came out with a radio receiver that required no batteries and soon the people who could afford one had one. As the popularity grew, the states tried to replicate Canadian success unfortunately they were unable to compete (the irony is amusing considering Canadian entertainment today does not come close to the States.) Time flew by and the radio was unable to devise a plan for financing. The big debate between government funding or private funding erupted causing a division between the public. On one hand the major corporations argued that the government would try and censor the programs and turn what was supposed to be a public medium for free speech, into a controlled environment. After this was said, the public seemed to be in favour for private funding. AT&T decided to fund the radio. They sold block time (much like cell phones today) to advertisers in order to make a whole lot of money. Advertisers had a way into every persons home. With advertising came the mentality to have the programming appeal to the lowest common denominator otherwise known as mass media or pop media. Intelligent lectures and operas became obsolete on the radio and soap operas and comedians filled their spots. This can be singled out as the time when pop culture emerged. The companies investing in the shows on the radio had the primary say in the type of programs. The networks were only concerned that the advertisers were happy in order to maintain funding.
Still to this day, the radio (and other forms of entertainment) still appeals to the lowest common denominator (to keep the masses happy). They have varied their programming somewhat, but still popular media prevails. Even with a satellite radio the majority of people listen to the same station. People like the illusion of free choice in what they listen too. If we were unable to choose there would be an outcry. However, with the illusion of choice we seem quite content. What most people don’t consider is that someone always chooses for us. On satellite radios the stations have been selected by someone and yet because there is sense of variety we don’t care. On satellite TV’s the content has been chosen for us but we feel like we have the ability to choose what want we watch. In politics we feel like we have the ability to choose who we want to empower, but in reality we only have a few choices to choose from! Illusion in our day to day lives keeps us happy.
Originally the radio was used for military purposes but with the foreseeable end to World War One, a growing interest began in civilians. As programming started on the radio and popularity arose, there was a demand for home receivers. Everyone wanted a radio to listen to in the comforts of their own homes. The receivers available so far were operated by two huge batteries which was unrealistic for home usage. Demand grew and new technology answered. Rogers came out with a radio receiver that required no batteries and soon the people who could afford one had one. As the popularity grew, the states tried to replicate Canadian success unfortunately they were unable to compete (the irony is amusing considering Canadian entertainment today does not come close to the States.) Time flew by and the radio was unable to devise a plan for financing. The big debate between government funding or private funding erupted causing a division between the public. On one hand the major corporations argued that the government would try and censor the programs and turn what was supposed to be a public medium for free speech, into a controlled environment. After this was said, the public seemed to be in favour for private funding. AT&T decided to fund the radio. They sold block time (much like cell phones today) to advertisers in order to make a whole lot of money. Advertisers had a way into every persons home. With advertising came the mentality to have the programming appeal to the lowest common denominator otherwise known as mass media or pop media. Intelligent lectures and operas became obsolete on the radio and soap operas and comedians filled their spots. This can be singled out as the time when pop culture emerged. The companies investing in the shows on the radio had the primary say in the type of programs. The networks were only concerned that the advertisers were happy in order to maintain funding.
Still to this day, the radio (and other forms of entertainment) still appeals to the lowest common denominator (to keep the masses happy). They have varied their programming somewhat, but still popular media prevails. Even with a satellite radio the majority of people listen to the same station. People like the illusion of free choice in what they listen too. If we were unable to choose there would be an outcry. However, with the illusion of choice we seem quite content. What most people don’t consider is that someone always chooses for us. On satellite radios the stations have been selected by someone and yet because there is sense of variety we don’t care. On satellite TV’s the content has been chosen for us but we feel like we have the ability to choose what want we watch. In politics we feel like we have the ability to choose who we want to empower, but in reality we only have a few choices to choose from! Illusion in our day to day lives keeps us happy.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Downside of Technology
The internet can be viewed as the mechanical clock of our time. The clock became a “new model of reality, more efficient, but in some ways impoverished (18)”. There were positive and negative aspects of the clock. They allowed everyone to be united on a global time schedule, yet in a way it isolated the “essential part of humanity (18)” which could be viewed as the emotional or non-rational side. This could be compared to the internet.
One of the many uses of the internet is to allow communication between other people at a faster rate. The mail can take almost a week to deliver a simple letter, but the email can take seconds. After the fad of email, instant messaging arose because email wasn’t fast enough. What is happening is that our society has become more and more dependent on instant gratifications. The only medium that can compete with our lust for instantaneous information is the internet because it is constantly evolving to satisfy us. Along with the need for instant information, comes the desire for efficiency. It isn’t enough that users can receive information fast, but they also need a p lace where they can find and access the information easier. Google and other search engines develop making every users life faster and more efficient.
The downside of the internet is that it mirrors the same side effects as the mechanical clock did. The people who had once devoted themselves to Roman Catholicism drifted away from their faiths because the clock proved that science was emerging and it could be tested where as their faith couldn’t be. The internet causes a drift as well. Relationships are starting to change as more and more people resort to cyber space. People of all ages seem to have become reliant on the internet. Facebook and other communication sites allow for chatting yet it is impersonal. There is no visible emotion on facebook. Things a person isn’t able to say to someone’s face can easily be said through cyber space. In a way the internet has turned out to be isolating when one of its primary functions was to be uniting.
The important part to realise is that technology isn’t perfect. Even revolutionary technology that is designed to help us can turn out to be a hindrance. There will always be side effects and a person has to decide what is more important to them. With regards to the internet, is the efficiency worth the damage that isolation can cause?
One of the many uses of the internet is to allow communication between other people at a faster rate. The mail can take almost a week to deliver a simple letter, but the email can take seconds. After the fad of email, instant messaging arose because email wasn’t fast enough. What is happening is that our society has become more and more dependent on instant gratifications. The only medium that can compete with our lust for instantaneous information is the internet because it is constantly evolving to satisfy us. Along with the need for instant information, comes the desire for efficiency. It isn’t enough that users can receive information fast, but they also need a p lace where they can find and access the information easier. Google and other search engines develop making every users life faster and more efficient.
The downside of the internet is that it mirrors the same side effects as the mechanical clock did. The people who had once devoted themselves to Roman Catholicism drifted away from their faiths because the clock proved that science was emerging and it could be tested where as their faith couldn’t be. The internet causes a drift as well. Relationships are starting to change as more and more people resort to cyber space. People of all ages seem to have become reliant on the internet. Facebook and other communication sites allow for chatting yet it is impersonal. There is no visible emotion on facebook. Things a person isn’t able to say to someone’s face can easily be said through cyber space. In a way the internet has turned out to be isolating when one of its primary functions was to be uniting.
The important part to realise is that technology isn’t perfect. Even revolutionary technology that is designed to help us can turn out to be a hindrance. There will always be side effects and a person has to decide what is more important to them. With regards to the internet, is the efficiency worth the damage that isolation can cause?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)