Difference between revisions of "325--Week 1 Questions/Comments"

I first want to say, is it me or is the text a little wordy? Seems to me this could be explained a little more easily. Anyway to answer what Jessica said in my opinion progress seems to always be measured by technological advances. In History as I have been thinking about it, our achievement has been linked to some sort of tech advance. I think the transition of mechanical arts to technology came from greed. Like the tomato picking in California, replace the worker with a machine you don't have to pay. Anyway to make money the better, and with the industrial revolution we became a capitalist nation. Now in the 21st century I think we rely on computers, cell phones, calculators, etc way to much. Don't get me wrong I love my computer and phone just as much as the next guy, but I also feel that we have come a long way really fast and that is not always the best. Also maybe why the transition happen is because it's more marketable, everyone can have a piece of technology it's not just for the rich as in early days. I may have made no sence but I am just thinking out loud...Aislyn Cathers

I first want to say, is it me or is the text a little wordy? Seems to me this could be explained a little more easily. Anyway to answer what Jessica said in my opinion progress seems to always be measured by technological advances. In History as I have been thinking about it, our achievement has been linked to some sort of tech advance. I think the transition of mechanical arts to technology came from greed. Like the tomato picking in California, replace the worker with a machine you don't have to pay. Anyway to make money the better, and with the industrial revolution we became a capitalist nation. Now in the 21st century I think we rely on computers, cell phones, calculators, etc way to much. Don't get me wrong I love my computer and phone just as much as the next guy, but I also feel that we have come a long way really fast and that is not always the best. Also maybe why the transition happen is because it's more marketable, everyone can have a piece of technology it's not just for the rich as in early days. I may have made no sence but I am just thinking out loud...Aislyn Cathers

I agree with Aislyn's point that greed and power have a great deal to do with how technology is formed and the purpose behind it. Langdon Winner's article implies that technology embodies "specific forms of power and authority." In addition, he goes onto state that there is a common assumption that "technologies are introduced to increase efficiency, the history of technology shows that we will sometimes be disappointed." I think this quote concisely describes the majority of Langdon's point - sometimes technology is not used to better mankind - it is used to further prejudices or gain power or money. I think this is a fair warning that we are all shaped the the technologies around us, and we need to hope that the people in charge of major decisions like highways or bridges (as Jessica brought up) are in everyone's best interest. – Elle

I agree with Aislyn's point that greed and power have a great deal to do with how technology is formed and the purpose behind it. Langdon Winner's article implies that technology embodies "specific forms of power and authority." In addition, he goes onto state that there is a common assumption that "technologies are introduced to increase efficiency, the history of technology shows that we will sometimes be disappointed." I think this quote concisely describes the majority of Langdon's point - sometimes technology is not used to better mankind - it is used to further prejudices or gain power or money. I think this is a fair warning that we are all shaped the the technologies around us, and we need to hope that the people in charge of major decisions like highways or bridges (as Jessica brought up) are in everyone's best interest. – Elle