Tech determinism
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Transcript of Tech determinism
T E C H N OLO G I C A L D E T E R M I N I S M
T E L E V I S I ON WA S I N V E N T E D A S T H E R E S U LT O F S C I E N T I F I C A N D T E C H N I C A L R E S E A RC H. I T S P OW E R A S A M E D I U M N E W S AN D E N T E RTA I N M E N T WA S T H E N S O G R E AT T H AT I T A LT E R E D A LL P R E C E D I N G M E D I A O F N E W S AN D E N T E RTA I N M E N T .
(Williams, 1991 [1975]: 11-12)
T E L E V I S I ON WA S I N V E N T E D A S T H E R E S U LT O F S C I E N T I F I C A N D T E C H N I C A L R E S E A RC H. I T S P OW E R A S A M E D I U M OF S O C I A L C O M M U N I C AT I O N WA S T H E N S O G R E AT T H AT I T A LT E R E D M A N Y OF OU R I N S T I T U T I O NS AN D F O R M S O F S O C I A L R E L AT I ON S H I P S .
(Williams, 1991 [1975]: 11-12)
T E L E V I S I ON WA S I N V E N T E D A S T H E R E S U LT O F S C I E N T I F I C A N D T E C H N I C A L R E S E A RC H. I T S I NH E R E N T P R OP E RT I E S A S A N E L E C T R O N I C M E D I U M A LTE R E D O U R B A S I C P E RC E P T I O NS OF R E A L I T Y , A ND T H E N C E OU R R E L AT I ON S W I T H E AC H O T H E R AN D W I TH T H E W O R L D .
(Williams, 1991 [1975]: 11-12)
TE L E V I S I O N WAS I N V E N T E D A S TH E R E S ULT O F S C I E N T I F I C AN D TE C HN I C AL R E S E A RC H. AS A P O W E R F UL M E D I UM O F C O M M UN I C AT I O N AN D E N T E RTA I N M E N T I T T OO K I TS P L AC E W I TH OT HE R FAC TO R S - S UC H A S G R E AT LY I N C R E A S E D P HY S I C AL M O B IL I TY , I TS E L F TH E R E S ULT O F O T HE R N E W LY I N V E N T E D TE C HN O LO G I E S - I N ALTE R I N G THE S C A L E AN D F O RM O F O U R S O C I E T I E S .
(Williams, 1991 [1975]: 11-12)
– P L AT O
“writing is the debasement of memory, the degradation of thought.”
“our writing instruments contribute to
our thoughts”
–N I E T SZ C HE
T E C H NOLO GY W I LL G ENE RAT E S OC I A L C H A NG E B A S E D ON T H E
I M PL I C I T VA LU E S , V I RT U E S , O R
V I C E S P OS S E S S ED BY T H AT
T E C H NOLO GY
T E C HN O LO G I C AL D E T E RM I N I S M
Miller, 2011: 3
The medium IS the message
All technology is an extension of ourselves that allows us to
reach further through time and space
Technologies mirror the human body
All technologies are “hot” or “cold”
One cannot fully understand a technology until it is seen through the lens of a new
technology
“Whether the light is being used for brain surgery or night baseball is a matter of
indifference. It could be argued that these activities are in some way the ‘content’ of the electric light, since they could not exist without the electric light. This fact merely
underlines the point that ‘the medium is the message” because it is the medium that
shapes and controls the scale and forms of human association and action. The content
or uses of such media are as diverse as they are ineffectual in shaping the form of human association. Indeed, it is only too typical that the ‘content’ of any medium blinds us to the character of the medium (McLuhan, 1995, p.
152).”
“Whether the light is being used for brain surgery or night baseball is a matter of
indifference. It could be argued that these activities are in some way the ‘content’ of the electric light, since they could not exist without the electric light. This fact merely
underlines the point that ‘the medium is the message” because it is the medium that
shapes and controls the scale and forms of human association and action. The content
or uses of such media are as diverse as they are ineffectual in shaping the form of human association. Indeed, it is only too typical that the ‘content’ of any medium blinds us to the character of the medium (McLuhan, 1995, p.
152).”
T E C H N O LO G IC A L
D E T E R M IN IS M
D E T E R M IN IS M
T E C H N O LO G IC A L
D E T E R M IN IS M
Intention
Fulfill a need or solve a problem
Bring about a certain condition in
the future
Create a profit or personal gain
Unintended uses of technology
W E B 2 .0 . . . T H E M AC H I N E I S U S / I N G US
– M AR SHA L L M C LUH AN
“I don't necessarily agree with everything I say.”