Made to Break Pt.1

In Made to Break: Technology and Obsolescence in America by Giles Slade the author discussed the fact that regardless of our new and various improvements in technology we need to do better as far as waste is concern. Overall, in regards to computers, televisons, cellular phones and other variations of technology that shape our everyday lives, we need to be more conscious of the disposal and re-using these products because we continuously improving in many ways, yet when we do we throw away the old for the new. This is becoming a problem that just keeps getting worse becasue the break down of these technical items is almost impossible. When reading I was able to really look at what we are doin and how we are backhandedly making improvements. I say this because alfthough scientist are thrilled to keep learning,keep creatiung but at the same time we don't make things that would be able to withstand generations. In my opinion I find that very interesting since we are living in age where we are continuously trying to search for ways to improvement the environment by "going green" and becoming more conscious of what we can do to help. In one instance what we can do is not be so quick to buy every new gadget and computerized device just to keep up with technology because in fact alot of the time there are mass mistakes being made throughout creation. I can't count how many time I've witnessed a receall on a new item that was all the craze. People standing in line overnight for hours only for the technical device to have servere glitches in it's system. I feel like American culture is very fixed on conservation yet not enough for it to trickle into their want but only to alter teir needs. What i mean by this statement is the fact that we will sometime make small changes for a cause just enough so it wont hurt us, perhaps bringing our own bags to the groceryt store to exemplify our position in society to seem like we're helping. However we are either not aware or not willing to examine our desires to stay as relevant as possible in society meaning how many gadgets we aquire as a family overall and still find the need to get something "NEW". We are all at fault  but i got a chance to really see how much waste we are causing as a generation. There was an analogy used in the book discussing how in generations past and in different cultures people like the egytians and romans took pride in creating things that would supercede their lifespan and the lifespan of their children. Today when I look around I really have to think about something that was created recently that would not be disqualified if time was the only factor of relevancy. Everything that is made no matter how incredible it is whenit comes out, i think of it as made to break. Questions arise whether we will be able to house all this wast if we keep this up. The first half of the book really showed the ideas behind the creations that were made, the disposal, cost, success, employment opportunities and development of the changes.

The World and Wikipedia Pt.2

In the second half of the World and Wikipedia ,Andrew Dalby's confessions of a contributer, he discusses some of the reasons why wikipedia is such a success. The takes his time to look at why we as Americans love to use it. In retrospect when you begin to think of his reasonings it all makes sense. He talked about how its a way that we all get a chance to become philosphers, editors, and scholars. The very idea that we are allowed to change history in some way gives us a sense of control whether or not its by way of a joke or seriously trying to give off aquired knowledge to other individuals. On pg 139, when the idea was faced that they needed credentials to contribute to the site and the chairman of the foundation disagreed and stated " I think what matters is the quality of the content, which we can improve by enforcing policies such  as 'cite your source', not he quality of the credentials showed by an editor'. In my opinion this shows that the overall credibiltiy of truth is not the concern but the advancement of information is the focus. The author also deals with the fact that our nature as human beings is to live under a system of chaos and confusion, whether we're the ones creating it or not we enjoy cruelty. And no I do not mean animal cruelty or implying we don't have a heart but looking at the reality of human behavior. Why is it that bad news travels so fast and why is it that when there is a retracting statement we have to look for positivity far more than we find negativity. The media overall is designed to have people question others and judge ethical behavior and the character of other and we all find comfort in that. Sometimes I wonder why I spend so much time on  the superficial.com or on a social network but then I realize it's all designed to make individuals feel a certain way and it is addicting. Wikipedia at it's best still is an amateur way of getting information with the same biases or probably more than even the news or the media because of it being individual opinions. Also you are unaware of the motives of the the people who choose to write about specific topics so the biases behind that are enough to disqualify the words as truth; I found it interesting that the author discussed the presidential election and the frequency of information changes of the canaidates during the process. People were able to use the site that some people use to obtain information to display their selfish rants, racist theolgy and biases. Overall due to the fact that wikipedia was built upon the ability to speak your mind and share information it becomes hard to deal with censorship.

The World and WIKIPEDIA pt 1

In Andrew Dalby's Confessions of a Contributor, The world and wikipedia: how are we editing reality, this book talks about everyday people and their quest to alter , revise and edit history in ways that they see fit. The entire creation of wikipedia has become such a widespread phenomenon in the last decade but there is a glitch in the system. Whether or not we are able to find what is needed on the site, the fact still remains that we go on it to look, what is the scariest part is that a lot of the ideas mentioned are not actually factual. I found it very interesting how so quickly and without any proof or evidence people are able to just get caught up and add or delete anything on the site and even turn the original article into something thats it's not just solely based on their own knowledge, critiscisms, opinions and anything but facts. The world however have found this craze so fulfilling that we have began to use it claiming truths. Just like an encyclopedia, it is admired as a cirlce of knowledge yet the basis for wikipedia has become a more like a quest for opinions and thorough ideas.

Technopoly pt. 2

In Neil Postman's second half of the novel Technopoly he discussed the remarkable age of machines. The making of them, some of the first most phenomenal inventions that would take the world by storm and finally the mind behind the inventions and their intensions. Some of the key things I found in these chapters were the fact that machinery takes a away complexity, eliminates a reasonable amount of time spent doing a task that can be done otherwise with this invention. I find that machines are indeed another source of technoploy because yes they make improvements but at the same time we sometimes abuse the resources we have. Postman discussed the doctors in the United States in comparison with the doctors who worked in the United Kingdom, he found that they use more drugs, x-rays and antibiotics than any other place. In my opinion, after reading and becoming aware of the phrase technopoly I realized that in some ways we cripple the simplistic things of life just to regularly use the complexities that simplify. Here's an example, Americans become crippled with the use of a thing so much that they become unaware of the real use for the thing like antibiotics, we use them so much we dont' let our bodies do the thing they were created to do. So much that we are among the countries with the most health problems because we look at only the intension of the invention and not the consequences that come along with it. The innovation that comes along with technology is so widespread because we have let it become that way. Humans put so much trust and pressure of an machine or computer that when they geta "virus" or "the computers down" we disassociate ourselves from the blame of the invention becoming ill. When Neil Postman descibed how humans take the focus off of what we created to rather blame it one the cretaion i found that perspective very interesting because what it really means is we have "relinquished  control"(114). By giving up control, we not only face problems but consequences -  i bet we all should think twice about have an entire computerized society.

Technopoly pt. 1

In the first part of Neil Postman's book Technopoly, he takes his time and discusses the key points in which he thinks technology has cause some potential probelms in todays society. he talks of the dangers of the technological era and how althought their are many benefits to our learning generation , there are also extensive consequences that one does not consider. Our culture has become a microwave generation, wanting to do everything the easy way and not having the will or even the foundation to get through the tougher elements of life but subconsciously dumbing down our morals to keep up with the likes of the our era. I find it particularly interesting the way Postman talks in a particular way using analogies and parables in order to descibe his thoughts on the technical era. He discusses Plato's story where one particular man Thetus was an inventor  and he believed he was the starter of a improving wisdom, yet another man believed he was creating false wisdom The very idea that technopolies are just loving the positive point of view without closely examining the consequences that inevitably come with choice, decision or action. Although an optimistic way of thinking is important it's also very necessary to be aware that with the new additions there is a completely different way of looking at things. That is shown in the information that we recieve daily, how we look at it and the perceptions we obtain from becoming susceptible to our new version of media; information. He described the vaious new inventions that were created over the years and how people so obvious to the way these simple minute changes would effect the way they see things forever. Inventions like the television, the computer, and the telephone all simple advances in technology however has made millions of people create a crazed society eager to do anything to be on top. In many ways morality has changed because there was a change of importance to the national public. If you really think about it, people today have a hard time spending quality time with each other without interruptions by way of technology. I can't count the number of times women talk to their husbands with them "paying attention" while watching tv, or teens texting while listening or even emailing, such simple inventions aid to take the focus off of real communication. I also thought it was incredibly interesting how the preconcieved notions you learn create biases. From technopolies to tools to technocracies  the politcal sphere really took a toll into  the building of technology and the ideas that were commmited to morality because of it.

Computers pgs 1-83

In Eric Swedin and David Ferro's book, Computers the Life Story of Technology gave the readers a chance to really take a look at the technical way things were set up in order to advance socially in the community. Although the phenomenon seemed like it happened over night even as we look at the various products that we see everyday, you are able to examine the time span of this technology boom. Some people see computers as a revolutional movement that took over an era just like a baby boom. Although many advancement were seemingly made in small time span, the ideas evolution took decades to produce.The book actually looked at the life span of computers and the journey of invention,  intention, reinvention and  ultimate revolution.Not only do we discuss the identity of the culture and the implemented products to advance the society but the authors take a closer look at the art of production looking at the good and the bad inventions and the intentions of the creators. I found that interesting because the making of computer technology was not alwasys seen in the light it is today. Sometimes inventors don't recieve the support unitl their invention is successful and along the way they fumble, however we get a chance to examine this process. Most importantly you even if your not a whiz in  the area of technology the book shows you that the over night boom of technology was not exactly that. Stemming from war times up until the progress in the 21st century. All of the inventions served a specific purpose to get us to the level we are at today.Not only are you able to look at the different generations and their perception of necessity but i was able to see the growth form the giantic to mini to micro computers. The birth of the software industry as a whole, also I did not know the importance of some of the inventions, IBM systems and usages of items that really make a difference like the transitor which is still used in the computers we have today.

Computers pgs 85-149

In Swedin and Farro's novel computers, they were able to get to a certain level of technology through the advancement of electronical devices like the fist desktop computer kit. The various advances with desktop technology spawn familiar names like microsoft, apple and finally the ibm pc. The pioneers of these particular microcomputers had a incredible vision. I find it particularly interesting the way the people involved in the inventiona nd progression of computers thought it was necessary to not only have specific uses for the device but knowing that this one device would alter people would think. On pg 98 they state,  :Englebart wanted to do more than automate previous tasks liek typing or clerical work; he wanted to use the computer to fundamentally alter the way people think. Even if i think of the way things were created and there names, the usage of the "mother board" having control over the rest of the computer is a concept in itself. In some ways the way the discussion of games and their big impact in the 1980's shows the extensive power the likings of technology can have over not only young people who are vunerable but also adults. As a child i distinctly remember recieving my first nintendo and nothing was like and nothing is like it til this day. I can still remeber the songs, the characters and that nothing was as important to me wheni got home from school except super mario. Technology and computers made it so not one person was above the influence. Even til this day I question why my grandma has a facebook or even why my little brother knows to look up things on google because he's sure to find it. I begin to ask myself, what ever happened to books, and whens the last time I even picked up an encyclopedia. The book discusses the most simple things that we use daily but don't reference as technology because it has become the norm. The telephone, the internet and the worls wide web are all things that are used ona daily basis but is not called a luxury becasue it has become the norm in so many ways.