Assessment details for ALL students
Assessment 3—Critical Essay
Due date Friday 25 May by 5.00PM AEST
Weighting 40%
Length 2,000–2,500 words
Task
Write an essay on this topic:
Technological determinism is a body of theory that argues that changes in technology are
responsible for cultural and social change. Discuss this theory, and argue either for or
against it, using one or more of the communication technologies covered in this course as
the example(s) for your argument.
Essay Submission
Submit this essay electronically using the course website.
Assessment criteria
In order to do well in this essay, you must engage with arguments presented in the readings
relating to the topic. You may go beyond those readings to support or argue against the
arguments presented in the readings. Electronic sources must be journals. Note that Wikipedia
must not be used as a reference, although it can be helpful as a starting point for further
investigation.
You must follow the referencing style guide as well as the writing style guide which can be
found on the course web site. Essays that do not meet the specifications in the essay style
guide will be returned for correction. Subsequent resubmission will result in a maximum
result of credit.
A matrix of criteria and standards is available at the course website, under the “resources”
menu. This will be used to assess the essay.
Notes
Follow the referencing style guide as well as the writing style guide which can be found on
the course web site. Essays that do not meet the specifications in the essay style guide will be
returned for correction. Subsequent resubmission will result in a maximum result of credit.
The transcript and essay can be prepared using one of the following word processing
packages: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx), Open Office (.odt), Pages (.pages). Others can be
used only after negotiation with the course coordinator.
ASSESSMENT
3
SOLUTION
Introduction
To start with, it’s almost certain that any noteworthy new technology would be expected to transform the community or at least to represent the ability to change society, for worse or better.[1] It is highly believed that particularly during the opening stages of the implementation of a specific technology some social change would take place on the basis of the implicit values, vices or virtues held by that technology. According to Merritt and Marx (1994), technological determinism is simply the view that new techniques set the circumstances for social and cultural change. Further, taking the above discussion into consideration this particular paper provides an insight into the fact that how changes in technology has brought about significant and constructive social and cultural changes
Technological Determinism
Technological determinism is basically a theory which deals with diminution and it presupposes that the technology within a society encourages the cultural as well as social values of a particular society.[2] Technological determinism states that media technology moulds the way how individuals within a particular society think, act, feel and also, how the society functions when there is a shift from one technological period to the other. Technological determinism proposes that technology advances and fades away from the community however eventually it has impacts on the society.[3] Moreover, technological determinism holds that technical advancement progresses through a single procedure but would ultimately bring about technological progress. Additionally, the majority of explanations of technological determinism encompass two general views.[4] Firstly, the development and advancement of technology itself tags along a foreseeable, observable course greatly beyond political or cultural influence. Secondly, technology in turn influences societies which are inherent, instead of socially produced or conditioned since that society arranges itself to assist and further progress a technology when it has been launched. Additionally, technological determinism is the foundation wherein the association amid the technology and society is developed.[5] It’s a vital matter as it is widespread and leaves people with the idea that technology isn’t anything unachievable. It also assumes that in case if individuals, companies and societies begin observing technology from a constructive outlook, then other parts of the companies and the society would follow suit.[6]
Moving ahead, the technological determinism arises in two distinct forms namely; soft and hard determinists. First of all, the hard determinists state that technology develops from social beliefs of a particular society. It implies that it’s up to the individuals to modify in order to make sure that they could satisfy the needs of technology and also, that they don’t have any control over the upshot of the company. According to this, technology is powerful and holds the capability to control the concerns and social lives of the people. Secondly, the soft determinism holds a more passive view on technology in contrast to the hard determinists. It holds a diverse outlook on the way the political and social and conditions interrelate with the technology. Soft determinists consider that the evolution is entirely directed through technology but there exists the opportunity for individuals to make a decision regarding what the result of the particular condition would be.[7]
Taking a step ahead, the theory of technological determinism states that the society as a whole has changed to great extent and the chief reason behind this is the change and introduction of technology.[8] The theory advocates that as the technology changes, the society also changes since it is affects how an individual thinks, feels and operates.[9] Moreover, this theory further proposes that the key reason this occurs is due to communication and also, that the technology advancements are what dictate the way people communicate with each other and how it has an impact on the messages that people send and receive. There is no doubt in the fact that technology has been progressing at a quicker pace recently. Individuals initiated with printed and writing materials which usually implied that communication took a good amount of time and due to this information usually became out-dated and useless by the time it reached its actual receiver. [10]It also implied that things such as death and war that the normal person holding no first-hand information, was left to individuals own visions and normally fell inadequate. Then the society advanced to television. This made possible for people to obtain information quicker so that the people remained updated about the information and altered communications from being primarily directed towards social circumstances to things such as new products and weather. [11]Further, this is why people witnessed such a huge social movement from everyone supporting war and safeguarding the nation, to individuals not supporting wars and holding incapability to comprehend why they would participate in something so horrific.
The subsequent chief societal transformation was mobile phones.[12] Technology such as cars as well as airplanes enabled families to begin spreading out in different regions with the thought of still being able to meet and visit each other across larger distance. However, the introduction of the telephone enabled individuals to talk with one another without waiting for long periods like with the letters.[13] This was additionally modified to meet the societal requirements by the launch of the cell phone that made possible for the people to communicate more easily by being able to receive and make calls where ever they are and to also contact others even in case if they are not at home.[14] This satisfies the societal need since in this present day and period where people are facilitated with intense consumer media through newspapers, television, the internet, etc. societies have turned out to be of instantaneous gratification types. In addition to this, the internet has also altered the societal framework chiefly because it made possible for the people to access huge amounts of information and not like the news on television, the individuals could specifically look at news areas which interest them.[15] Even though, email has made communication highly impersonal, it is advancing continuously to satisfy the everyday needs of the people and has also made available services like video conferencing. The application of video conferencing can be even seen in the mobile phones which allow individuals to interact with one another, eliminating the barrier to time and place.[16] Laptops also called portable computers too help in achieving this particularly when taking into consideration the ever growing wi-fi networks.
Going further, in order to view the shift that the new technology has really made within the society, one could have a look at the bookstores. At some point of time the major pride was written text, but at present several bookstores are shutting down since people can easily download any book through online sources.[17] Moreover, the world is being moving towards the media age wherein no matter where the person is it is at all times within the reach. However, few individuals are still not drawn in by the technology. They even now use landlines, read a printed book or write a letter and mail it. Such people do not wish to change however as time changes people must also change. In case if the people do not modify and become accustomed with technology they are likely to lose the opportunities.[18]
A well-known application of technological determinism is undoubtedly the communication technologies that have resulted in noteworthy modification in contrast to the previous communication techniques.[19] Moreover, this has also been presumed to bring about the social alterations which are turning out to be widespread in today’s world. For instance, the introduction of the telegraph was supposed to result in worldwide peace for the reason that it would connect individuals with one another. Another example of technological determinism is traced to the information superhighway. This brought about the internet which is now a major tool for job creation and competition in the economy.[20] The internet has also interlinked several communities bringing about the issue of global villages, where several communities all over the world freely communicate with one another.[21]
Telecommuting or Teleporting is also fraction of the changes which have taken place in the world. It’s chiefly the capability of the staff members to operate from other location different from their place of work however at the same time making sure that the goals of the organization are properly attained and met. Telecommuting has its own benefits for the reason that it makes possible for the staff members to mix job with their family life therefore strengthening the family ties. Also, it also has benefit on the side of managers as they don’t have to manage employee absenteeism and research has heighted that the telecommuters are more contented employees as compared to the ones those who functioned in the physical place of the offices. Moving ahead, technological determinism has established to be progressing constantly. An example of such progression is the technological darwinism. This puts forward the view that to exist within the technological atmosphere, one needs to be in competition. This further implies that if alterations within the political, social and economical sphere are essential, in that case the change must be assumed and affected otherwise extinction would be experienced.[22]
Technology could be regarded as a growth and advancement in the perspectives of human as stated in communications theory of technological determinism by Marshall McLuhan.[23] As per this particular theory, the existence of individuals is shaped through the way they interact with one another. The modifications within communication technology result in modifications within the culture and the manner in which they interact also shapes their human life. For instance, the book is an extension of eye and the wheel is an extension of foot. Likewise, hearing dominated during the previous times wherein individuals just believed in hearing however this has changed because of the introduction of the printing press that has resulted in the usage of sight.[24] People began to perceive things and surroundings visually. Audio too came into existence subsequent to the introduction of the electronic media like television and radio which improved link between societies thus bringing them together within a worldwide village.[25]
The launch of a networked computer technique too has helped a lot in shaping the future with things like eradication of pollution, networked societies as well as virtual offices. [26]Moreover, the oral language technique has been in use since the last several years in spite of the prevalence of the new and latest communications techniques.[27] This old communication form has persisted to be a chief fragment of the human communications even though it could not be recorded and also it occurs for a short period. Technology has resulted in the advancement of the progressive economies that also takes in worldwide economy.[28] Additionally, the leisure class is too rising as a result of this. The execution of technology has an impact on the societal beliefs and gives rise to fresh ethical values. The media is too a medium of entertainment by the usage of watching movies, video games, browsing the internet and many other. In addition to this, the internet also makes available a wide range of news and information. Further, technology frequently affects the spheres of engineering and science.[29] Science makes use of the available knowledge and tools in order to carry out the examination of electrons within electrical conductors. The obtained new information could then be used by engineers so as to develop new invents like computers or any other kinds of progressive technology.
Other example of the technological advancement is the syringe which is frequently used in hospitals.[30] In the earlier period the syringe was made from glass and subsequent to every treatment, the syringe was put under heat so as to sterilize it as well as make it hygienic and safe for the next patient. In the present day, the syringe is made from plastic; this implies that after using the syringe once on patient it’s disposed off. Moreover, the plastic syringes now come in sterilized type. Besides this, in the previous times factories weren’t power driven in contrast with the current factory technology system.[31] Technological determinism viewed the developments of factories as industry systems were enabled through the change in technology. This transformation has enabled methods of production which were hard during the past times to be performed and has also resulted in competition within the industry segment.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be clearly stated from the above discussion that the change in technology has brought about several positive changes in the way people communicate, live, think and work. The society has been continuously progressing towards a new technological era which is also altering the living style and standard of people.
References:
Brinkman, R. (1997) Toward a Culture-Conception of Technology, Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 31, No. 1027-1038.
Collins, H. M. (1985) Changing Order: Replication and Induction in Scientific Practice, Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage.
Griffin, E. (2003) Communication: A First Look at Communication Theory, Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education.
Lawson, T. (2004) Reorienting Economics, London: Routledge.
Langdon, W. (1977) Autonomous Technology: Technics-Out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought, Cambridge: MIT Press.
Merritt, S. R. and Marx, L. (1994) Does Technology Drive History? The Dilemma of Technological Determinism, Cambridge: MIT Press.
[1] R. Brinkman, (1997), ‘Toward a Culture-Conception of Technology’, Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 31, No. 1027-1038.
[2] S.R. Merritt and L. Marx, (1994), ‘Does Technology Drive History? The Dilemma of Technological Determinism, Cambridge: MIT Press.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Supra Note 1.
[5] T. Lawson, (2004), ‘Reorienting Economics’, London: Routledge.
[6] Supra note 2.
[7] R. Brinkman, (1997), ‘Toward a Culture-Conception of Technology’, Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 31, No. 1027-103
[8] Ibid.
[9] See 2.
[10] E. Griffin, (2003), ‘Communication: A First Look at Communication Theory’, Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education.
[11] Supra note 2.
[12] Supra note 5.
[13] E. Griffin, (2003), ‘Communication: A First Look at Communication Theory’, Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Id.
[16] Vide supra.
[17] T. Lawson, (2004), ‘Reorienting Economics’, London: Routledge.
[18] Supra Note 7.
[19] Supra note 13.
[20] Vide Supra.
[21] R. Brinkman, (1997), ‘Toward a Culture-Conception of Technology’, Journal of Economic Issues, Vol. 31, No. 1027-103
[22] Id.
[23] E. Griffin, (2003), ‘Communication: A First Look at Communication Theory’, Boston: McGraw Hill Higher Education.
[24] See. 21.
[25] S.R. Merritt and L. Marx, (1994), ‘Does Technology Drive History?’ The Dilemma of Technological Determinism, Cambridge: MIT Press
[26] Supra Note 17.
[27] M. H. Collins, (1985) ‘Changing Order: Replication and Induction in Scientific Practice’, Beverly Hills, Calif: Sage.
[28] Supra note 25.
[29] Supra note 27.
[30] T. Lawson, (2004), ‘Reorienting Economics’, London: Routledge.
[31] Supra.
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