techno-fast
Lent is coming soon--and my thought is: It's about time I did some kind of technology fast. I fully own the fact that I have a major email and mindless internet checking addiction that is getting to be kind of a problem.
I haven't figured out the basic parameters yet. e.g. How can one effectively limit the amount of emailing and internet activity done at work, for work? What actually will and email/internet 'fast' outside of work look like? Maybe limit all time online to once a day, for less than 20 minutes or something?
Last Wednesday, at work, we had visitors fly in from out of town to give us a presentation on a new piece of technology we may or may not purchase. Out of the roughly 20 people present, almost half used their Blackberry/iPhones on and off. One colleague who did not use a Blackberry/iPhone pointed this out to me afterwards, not in condemnation, but with concern: How can we use technology appropriately without ending up being used by it? Could we not, out of respect for our visitors who were with us in the flesh, actually give them our full attention for that hour or so?
Then I read a talk by Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death. In it, he shares five things he had learned about technology after 30 years of studying its historical and cultural impact. If you're interested, three are summarized below.
1. All technological change is a trade-off.
e.g. Computers: "Ask anyone who knows something about computers to talk about them, and you will find that they will, unabashedly and relentlessly, extol the wonders of computers. You will also find that in most cases they will completely neglect to mention any of the liabilities of computers. This is a dangerous imbalance, since the greater the wonders of a technology, the greater will be its negative consequences."
2. Every new technology benefits some and harms others.
e.g. Television: "In America, where television has taken hold more deeply than anywhere else, there are many people who find it a blessing, not least those who have achieved high-paying, gratifying careers in television as executives, technicians, directors, newscasters and entertainers. On the other hand, and in the long run, television may bring an end to the careers of school teachers since school was an invention of the printing press and must stand or fall on the issue of how much importance the printed word will have in the future...Who specifically benefits from the development of a new technology? Which groups, what type of person, what kind of industry will be favored? And, of course, which groups of people will thereby be harmed?"
3. Media tend to become mythic.
There is "a common tendency to think of our technological creations as if they were God-given, as if they were a part of the natural order of things. e.g. Television: "If you should propose to the average American that television broadcasting should not begin until 5 PM and should cease at 11 PM, or propose that there should be no television commercials, he will think the idea ridiculous. But not because he disagrees with your cultural agenda. He will think it ridiculous because he assumes you are proposing that something in nature be changed; as if you are suggesting that the sun should rise at 10 AM instead of at 6."
To read the entire talk: Five Things
I haven't figured out the basic parameters yet. e.g. How can one effectively limit the amount of emailing and internet activity done at work, for work? What actually will and email/internet 'fast' outside of work look like? Maybe limit all time online to once a day, for less than 20 minutes or something?
Last Wednesday, at work, we had visitors fly in from out of town to give us a presentation on a new piece of technology we may or may not purchase. Out of the roughly 20 people present, almost half used their Blackberry/iPhones on and off. One colleague who did not use a Blackberry/iPhone pointed this out to me afterwards, not in condemnation, but with concern: How can we use technology appropriately without ending up being used by it? Could we not, out of respect for our visitors who were with us in the flesh, actually give them our full attention for that hour or so?
Then I read a talk by Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death. In it, he shares five things he had learned about technology after 30 years of studying its historical and cultural impact. If you're interested, three are summarized below.
1. All technological change is a trade-off.
e.g. Computers: "Ask anyone who knows something about computers to talk about them, and you will find that they will, unabashedly and relentlessly, extol the wonders of computers. You will also find that in most cases they will completely neglect to mention any of the liabilities of computers. This is a dangerous imbalance, since the greater the wonders of a technology, the greater will be its negative consequences."
2. Every new technology benefits some and harms others.
e.g. Television: "In America, where television has taken hold more deeply than anywhere else, there are many people who find it a blessing, not least those who have achieved high-paying, gratifying careers in television as executives, technicians, directors, newscasters and entertainers. On the other hand, and in the long run, television may bring an end to the careers of school teachers since school was an invention of the printing press and must stand or fall on the issue of how much importance the printed word will have in the future...Who specifically benefits from the development of a new technology? Which groups, what type of person, what kind of industry will be favored? And, of course, which groups of people will thereby be harmed?"
3. Media tend to become mythic.
There is "a common tendency to think of our technological creations as if they were God-given, as if they were a part of the natural order of things. e.g. Television: "If you should propose to the average American that television broadcasting should not begin until 5 PM and should cease at 11 PM, or propose that there should be no television commercials, he will think the idea ridiculous. But not because he disagrees with your cultural agenda. He will think it ridiculous because he assumes you are proposing that something in nature be changed; as if you are suggesting that the sun should rise at 10 AM instead of at 6."
To read the entire talk: Five Things
posted by Duncan and Jen | 5:12 PM
2 Comments:
Along these lines, I recommend Kevin Kelly's blog post entitled Amish Hackers. He says the Amish are not simply anti-technology, but they have a process for evaluating technologies before they allow them into their lives. They have good reasons for why they adopt some technologies and refuse to use others.
thanks for passing this along john...very interesting. In kind of the same vein, a new book called 'Flickering Pixels: How Technology Shapes Your Faith' by Shane Hipps was recently recommended to me. Will report back if it's any good.
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