Back to the Present: A Cross Examination of Technology and Society
In the film Back to the Future II, the year 2015 is portrayed as making extreme
technological advancements since the “archaic” age of 1985. Michael J Fox and Christopher Lloyd are
placed in a world where the pace of life is much faster. There are motorized
hovering skateboards named “hover boards,” there is the advancement of flying
cars, as well as automated restaurant waiters, hologram advertising screens,
futuristic phone booths, even food dehydrators that could instantly turn a
“pizza” the size of a hockey puck and turn it into a delicious dinner with a
quick push of a button.
Although it is not
nearly the year 2015, and society laughs at the idea of using ultramodern phone
booths or flying cars, there are many things the motion picture predicted
right. It is undeniable that we
currently live in a digital age. The line between reality and digital illusion
seem to blur as people rely more on technology for everyday activities. Thirty years ago it was unimaginable that
each person would have a super-powerful computer, yet alone one that could fit
inside his or her pocket. However,
iphones and androids are commonplace.
Research that used to take hours, weeks or years is now done in less
than half the time. Smartboards or
interactive whiteboards are now used in Kindergarten classes and utilize a
touch screen to teach. Sites such as Facebook allow others to connect at almost
any time of the day at any sphere of the globe.
Grocery stores have self-checkout lines to speed up the shopping
experience and eliminate the cost of extra workers. The fusion of technology and society is not
limited to these few examples. It can be observed in almost every facet of our
lives. Although progress in the name of
science is nearly always initially regarded as “beneficial,” the known effects
of such enormous advancements such as the Internet cannot truly be assessed
until retrospect. Whether the technology
will advance civilization unlike ever before, or be the Trojan horse of our age
is undecided. Nevertheless, this does not keep intellectuals, scholars and
citizens from contemplating the effects of technology on humanity.
To many, the idea that technology is not always for betterment is a valid idea. Just as when technological advancements such as the wheel, paper, or the printing press were underway, society did not truly understand the ramifications it would have until much later. Because of the prevalence of technology in our society today, it is undeniable that it has an effect on our civilization.
According to Nicholas Carr, author of “Is Google is Making us Stupid” argues that the internet has permanently altered our mental habits, and is “remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory.” Although this sounds extreme, Carr explains that he feels it is no longer possible to sit down and truly immerse oneself in a book or article. Instead Carr notices that he is constantly multi-tasking, skimming, surfing, scanning and receiving snippets of information at such a faster rate that the traditional sense of reading and processing information. He believes that we have become information processors similar to a computer and can no longer think critically or deeply without intense effort. Carr points out that the Internet is extremely useful for research, but he also finds his thinking habits changing, even with everyday living.
“For me, as for others, the Net is becoming a universal medium, the conduit for most of the information that flows through my eyes and ears and into my mind.”
To many, the idea that technology is not always for betterment is a valid idea. Just as when technological advancements such as the wheel, paper, or the printing press were underway, society did not truly understand the ramifications it would have until much later. Because of the prevalence of technology in our society today, it is undeniable that it has an effect on our civilization.
According to Nicholas Carr, author of “Is Google is Making us Stupid” argues that the internet has permanently altered our mental habits, and is “remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory.” Although this sounds extreme, Carr explains that he feels it is no longer possible to sit down and truly immerse oneself in a book or article. Instead Carr notices that he is constantly multi-tasking, skimming, surfing, scanning and receiving snippets of information at such a faster rate that the traditional sense of reading and processing information. He believes that we have become information processors similar to a computer and can no longer think critically or deeply without intense effort. Carr points out that the Internet is extremely useful for research, but he also finds his thinking habits changing, even with everyday living.
“For me, as for others, the Net is becoming a universal medium, the conduit for most of the information that flows through my eyes and ears and into my mind.”
Although nay-sayers may disagree and believe
that Carr is a spokesperson against progress just as in the ages of the dawn of
books or the era of the printing press, there are some unsettling ideas
addressed. Carr mentions that the effect of the internet and this new way
of living is little understood or studied but uses a study as reference that
suggests are brain is easily malleable even after childhood. He also notices how television, and print
media such as magazines and newspapers have to re-think their marketing
strategies because people no longer have the attention span. Articles are
shorter, television is more dynamic, pages are designed to look more like
internet pop-up ads and side-bars. Our environment is not only changing
with the Internet, but so is the future. Founders of Google, commented in a
speech, “the ultimate search engine is something as smart as people—or smarter”
Does civilization need a machine that is so engrained in us to be more intellegent? Because
it is such a powerful tool that is ubiquitous in almost every part of living,
it is natural for humans to wonder the outcome of such force.
If the invention of our new technology is truly lethal perhaps we should take heed from writers such as Neil Huxley and Orson Wells. Conceivably instead of an invasion of annihilating extra-terrestrials such as in Orson Wells War of the Worlds there has been an invasion of technology.
In “Amusing Ourselves to Death” an address given by Neil Postman, he does not necessarily condemn technology but poses questions about the effects of our dependence on technology. Instead of discussiong the implications of technological advancment, he addresses the concern of infiltration of technology as a from of widespread entertainment. Just as as Aldous Huxley believed in A Brave New World; “people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.” Instead of humanity being controlled by the infliction of pain, social injustice and terror, Huxley believed that society would be controlled by pleasure similar to the era of Roman Gladiators.
After Ceasar was assasinated, Augustus took rule and made gladiator games a government sponsored event instead of a private enterprise. Because of the popularity of gladiator games, respect and approval for the Emporer skyrocketed despite social injustice. Between 108 and 109 AD, Trajan the Roman empire celebrated war victories using an estimated 10,000 gladiators and 11,000 animals over the course of 123 days (Richlin 1992). The theory is that as long as the masses are fed and entertained, there will not be riots agaisnt other social injustices.
In our modern day, watching humans massacre animals and eachother in the name of entertainment is so revolitng it can barely be comprehended. Yet the chilling connection between Romans controlling civilization through entertainment and our own society is not without escape. Modern-day gladiators can be seen through television, online programming, internet games, iphone apps, ipads, and Facebook. These forms of entertainment can desensitize us to what is truly important in our world.
If the invention of our new technology is truly lethal perhaps we should take heed from writers such as Neil Huxley and Orson Wells. Conceivably instead of an invasion of annihilating extra-terrestrials such as in Orson Wells War of the Worlds there has been an invasion of technology.
In “Amusing Ourselves to Death” an address given by Neil Postman, he does not necessarily condemn technology but poses questions about the effects of our dependence on technology. Instead of discussiong the implications of technological advancment, he addresses the concern of infiltration of technology as a from of widespread entertainment. Just as as Aldous Huxley believed in A Brave New World; “people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.” Instead of humanity being controlled by the infliction of pain, social injustice and terror, Huxley believed that society would be controlled by pleasure similar to the era of Roman Gladiators.
After Ceasar was assasinated, Augustus took rule and made gladiator games a government sponsored event instead of a private enterprise. Because of the popularity of gladiator games, respect and approval for the Emporer skyrocketed despite social injustice. Between 108 and 109 AD, Trajan the Roman empire celebrated war victories using an estimated 10,000 gladiators and 11,000 animals over the course of 123 days (Richlin 1992). The theory is that as long as the masses are fed and entertained, there will not be riots agaisnt other social injustices.
In our modern day, watching humans massacre animals and eachother in the name of entertainment is so revolitng it can barely be comprehended. Yet the chilling connection between Romans controlling civilization through entertainment and our own society is not without escape. Modern-day gladiators can be seen through television, online programming, internet games, iphone apps, ipads, and Facebook. These forms of entertainment can desensitize us to what is truly important in our world.
According to Postman, “what is dangerous about
television is not its junk. Every culture can absorb a fair amount of junk,
and, in any case, we do not judge a culture by its junk but by how it conducts
its serious public business. What is happening in America is that television is
transforming all serious public business into junk.”
It is difficult for a person to oppose a
prison of amusement because the change is so subtle it enters the subconscious
mind without even real acknowledgement.
It is easy to oppose political and social injustice when is placed
blatantly in plain view. The civil rights movement and World War II all
demonstrate the power of opposition to evil and corruptness. However, when amusement seeps into the fabric
of one’s mind and represses critical thinking and genuine thought, it is much
more difficult to oppose wrong when the wrong is not even realized.
The most powerful piece in Postman’s writing is the contrast between the authors Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. It is eerie how true some of their fears are the reality of today.
“ What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared that the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.”
Nowadays, most shows are watched online at sites such as Hulu. The public views more Youtube videos than ever. Many people have videos downloaded from online directly to their TV sets. Perhaps civilization is “swimming in a sea of irrelevance” without even realizing it. It is possible society is being numbed and slipping down the slope of ignorance without even acknowledging the damage. The internet can be viewed as “not merely an entertainment medium, but a philosophy of discourse, every bit as capable of altering a culture as was the printing press” (Postman 1984).
Although the effects of the internet and digital age can seem like an invisible apocalypse, many people believe that those afraid of technology do no understand the benefits and advancements it brings. Stephen Pinker, author of “Mind over Mass Media” suggests that those who are worried about the age of Internet and digital technology are not well researched and use false facts to back up negative claims.
“If electronic media were hazardous to intelligence, the quality of science would be plummeting. Yet discoveries are multiplying like fruit flies, and progress is dizzying.”
Instead of harming the human race, the Internet is making great leaps into all areas, arts, science, humanities, math, music, news, in a way that has never been achieved before. The playing field is leveled and now global integration is more possible than ever.
The most powerful piece in Postman’s writing is the contrast between the authors Aldous Huxley and George Orwell. It is eerie how true some of their fears are the reality of today.
“ What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared that the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.”
Nowadays, most shows are watched online at sites such as Hulu. The public views more Youtube videos than ever. Many people have videos downloaded from online directly to their TV sets. Perhaps civilization is “swimming in a sea of irrelevance” without even realizing it. It is possible society is being numbed and slipping down the slope of ignorance without even acknowledging the damage. The internet can be viewed as “not merely an entertainment medium, but a philosophy of discourse, every bit as capable of altering a culture as was the printing press” (Postman 1984).
Although the effects of the internet and digital age can seem like an invisible apocalypse, many people believe that those afraid of technology do no understand the benefits and advancements it brings. Stephen Pinker, author of “Mind over Mass Media” suggests that those who are worried about the age of Internet and digital technology are not well researched and use false facts to back up negative claims.
“If electronic media were hazardous to intelligence, the quality of science would be plummeting. Yet discoveries are multiplying like fruit flies, and progress is dizzying.”
Instead of harming the human race, the Internet is making great leaps into all areas, arts, science, humanities, math, music, news, in a way that has never been achieved before. The playing field is leveled and now global integration is more possible than ever.
Interestingly, Pinker also comments on studies that say the Internet is
permanently harming our brain. In similar studies that Carr used, Pinker
opposes them saying that although there is the existence of neural plasticity,
it “does not mean the brain is a blob of clay pounded into shape by
experience.” Instead of believing that the outpouring of constant information
and relationship with technology as harmful, he believes it is the only thing
that is making us smart.
It is rather extreme to believe that
technology is unequivocally and single-handedly destroying the patterns in our
brain and making us desensitized to the world around us. However it would be
naïve to suppose that despite the major advancements that technology provides
there are no negative side-affects to society.
Perhaps there is a safe middle ground that can be recognized. Technology is the elusive dichotomy between
making our lives simpler and simultaneously more complicated. The balance between using this power to make
humanity more intelligent or less intellectual is a fine line that must be
tiptoed across. The co-dependence
between technology such as the Internet and our existence is most likely not
going to disappear but only get stronger.
The path into the future may be uncharted but it doesn’t have to be
bleak. Just as Dr. Emmet says in Back to the Future, “Where we’re going we
don’t need roads.”
Works Cited
Carr, Nicholar (2008) Is google making us stupid?. In W. Brugger, D. Hammond, M. K.
Hartvigsen, A. Papworth & R. Seamons (Eds.), The way of wisdom (pp.). Rexburg, ID: BYU-Idaho. Retrieved date May
10, 2011, from http://ilearn.byui.edu May 8, 2011
Pinker, S. (2010, June 10).
Mind over mass media. New York Times.
Retrieved from http://ilearn.byui.edu May 8, 2011
Richlin,
Amy (1992). "Death
As Decoration: Scenes of the Arena on Roman Domestic
Mosaics (Shelby Brown, pp. 180-211)". Pornography and Representation in Greece and Rome. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195067231. http://books.google.com/books?id=3nRm7DfaJvwC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator#CITEREFRichlin1992. Retreived on May 11, 2011
Mosaics (Shelby Brown, pp. 180-211)". Pornography and Representation in Greece and Rome. New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0195067231. http://books.google.com/books?id=3nRm7DfaJvwC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladiator#CITEREFRichlin1992. Retreived on May 11, 2011
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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