Technology and culture have both influenced each other equally. Technology has been directed as an improvement in our lives, but on the other hand, culture has been present in every invention, noticeable or not, and advancement in our evolving society. Technology is becoming focused upon more and more everyday, but culture is the determining factor that decides if there is a necessity for an improvement. There are endless views and perspectives that this situation can be viewed from, but without a doubt, technology and culture shape one another. Culture has been a part of our society, and way of life, forever. It is almost impossible to come up with an idea that isn’t influenced by culture. Picture our lives without cars, television, and computers. This would be an example of everyday life without technology. People could function happily in that type of atmosphere, but technology has changed our lives forever. Technology has definitely become the authoritative factor in our lives, but culture has shaped technology. Technology is made and used in such a variety of ways because many people who use the technology of today come from all walks of life and have different necessities, so to compensate for that technology must adapt to all different cultures.
In ‘Breaking Down Boarders’, Robert Samuels analyzes the intense use of today’s technology that are changing the culture and the society that we live in today. The public place are turning into private place where people get so used to the new technology that they start to discuss their own personal agenda openly. This also shows the behavior of people in public and how they socialize among one another. The cyber world is getting so advance and addicting that people are creating their own culture that is called “personal culture”. As Samuel states that “Personal culture derives much of its power from the fact that many of the new media devices are highly immersive: people on cell phones and laptops can become so involved in their own mediated worlds that they forget where they actually are and what they are supposed to be doing” (CC p361). This technology also allows us to function at a very high level where people constantly switch form on function to another and become more superficial. The science of technology has created an environment that it has influenced our culture in a way that we are stuck in the new technology era that it is very difficult to live a life without it and as new technology and devises are invented, the culture around us is also changing.
In today’s society people are so addicted to the cyberspace that they start to lose focus on their family and friends. This addicting has not only affected the health of the people but has also affected the family values and relationship as stated in Culture Jam “the family matriarch dies in front of the television, rigor mortis set in and her thumb is fixed on the remote” (CJ p46-47). Also in a recent survey (technology-timesonline), it showed how many teens in China have addiction problems to technology where they would sit the whole day long on their computers and add number of health problems. These health problems range from obesity to psychological issues and investigations are being done to resolve this and hope that the cyber world can be utilized in a more efficient way then producing addicts and psychological disorders. Technology has shaped and brought changes to many conservative cultures and this change may be a good thing and a bad thing as well. The use of technology between the Western and the Eastern culture is a great tool because many foreigners see and talk to each via computer, television and phones. A great tool is the introduction of skype via computers, which is free and everyone can communicate to each across many miles, yet enjoy and learn the culture of other countries. It may also bring people of many countries closer to civilization, which allows for a change due to the convenience of having such technology.
According to Neil Postman (CC), new technology brings about the winners and losers. Technology’s intrusion into a culture may bring a gain or lose, which at times doesn’t leave much for the preservation of the old culture. However, the new technology and the new culture associated with the technology bring new directions. An example would be going green, which will benefit the environment and its people as a whole. However, new technologies such as iPhone will bring about great profits to the corporate America but at the same time changes the lifestyle of many people. They get addicted to technology so much that it doesn’t leave any room for communication in person because everything is done via technology.
It can be further stated that at times people lose touch with reality and lose their social skills and also the etiquettes communication when socializing in real life, as Postman states, “technological change is neither additive nor subtractive (CC p373).” New technology does allow for change and in a huge way, which threatens many institutions. An example would whether taking an online class would be productive for a student or not. There is two of looking at it. Firstly it allows for the working students to earn a living and gain an education at the same time thus it may not allow much time to do interactive learning in classroom where teacher and student could learn and focus on things not understood at the same time. Secondly, the technology allows for one person to learn on their own pace but at the same time it does not allow the pleasure of instant feedback therefore, one has to wait for a reply from their professor. It can be gathered “new technologies compete with old ones—for time, for attention, for money, for prestige, but mostly for dominance of their world-view” (CC p372).
The perseverance of culture and the changing technology not only acts as a catalyst, but also allows by being neither additive nor subtractive. In the process there are loses and gains, which at times maybe good or bad. These changes can add to more psychosocial problems as discussed, or bring people closer to civilization by learning and understanding their culture and how globally we are interconnected through technology such as television, phone, camera, and computer. Technology allows easy access to things, which brings a bigger profit margin for corporate America. Technology also allows for addiction and more is demanded as many institution thrive and compete against once another to come with a better product which can allow one to dominate in the world such as iPhone and use of Skype across the globe.
Reflection
By doing this essay, I have learned how technology is associated to culture and how today’s technology is changing culture. Technology has definitely become the authoritative factor in our lives, but culture has shaped technology. The technology has addicted people in its own culture that they are so stuck in it and it is very hard to get out. This technological world has taken the peoples mind by storm and the more they get the more they want.
Since technology has made our lives easier, there are many disadvantages of technology. This technological world is there to stay and is getting more and more diverse as we go along and as new technology and devises are invented, the culture around us is also changing.
In ‘Breaking Down Boarders’, Robert Samuels analyzes the intense use of today’s technology that are changing the culture and the society that we live in today. The public place are turning into private place where people get so used to the new technology that they start to discuss their own personal agenda openly. This also shows the behavior of people in public and how they socialize among one another. The cyber world is getting so advance and addicting that people are creating their own culture that is called “personal culture”. As Samuel states that “Personal culture derives much of its power from the fact that many of the new media devices are highly immersive: people on cell phones and laptops can become so involved in their own mediated worlds that they forget where they actually are and what they are supposed to be doing” (CC p361). This technology also allows us to function at a very high level where people constantly switch form on function to another and become more superficial. The science of technology has created an environment that it has influenced our culture in a way that we are stuck in the new technology era that it is very difficult to live a life without it and as new technology and devises are invented, the culture around us is also changing.
In today’s society people are so addicted to the cyberspace that they start to lose focus on their family and friends. This addicting has not only affected the health of the people but has also affected the family values and relationship as stated in Culture Jam “the family matriarch dies in front of the television, rigor mortis set in and her thumb is fixed on the remote” (CJ p46-47). Also in a recent survey (technology-timesonline), it showed how many teens in China have addiction problems to technology where they would sit the whole day long on their computers and add number of health problems. These health problems range from obesity to psychological issues and investigations are being done to resolve this and hope that the cyber world can be utilized in a more efficient way then producing addicts and psychological disorders. Technology has shaped and brought changes to many conservative cultures and this change may be a good thing and a bad thing as well. The use of technology between the Western and the Eastern culture is a great tool because many foreigners see and talk to each via computer, television and phones. A great tool is the introduction of skype via computers, which is free and everyone can communicate to each across many miles, yet enjoy and learn the culture of other countries. It may also bring people of many countries closer to civilization, which allows for a change due to the convenience of having such technology.
According to Neil Postman (CC), new technology brings about the winners and losers. Technology’s intrusion into a culture may bring a gain or lose, which at times doesn’t leave much for the preservation of the old culture. However, the new technology and the new culture associated with the technology bring new directions. An example would be going green, which will benefit the environment and its people as a whole. However, new technologies such as iPhone will bring about great profits to the corporate America but at the same time changes the lifestyle of many people. They get addicted to technology so much that it doesn’t leave any room for communication in person because everything is done via technology.
It can be further stated that at times people lose touch with reality and lose their social skills and also the etiquettes communication when socializing in real life, as Postman states, “technological change is neither additive nor subtractive (CC p373).” New technology does allow for change and in a huge way, which threatens many institutions. An example would whether taking an online class would be productive for a student or not. There is two of looking at it. Firstly it allows for the working students to earn a living and gain an education at the same time thus it may not allow much time to do interactive learning in classroom where teacher and student could learn and focus on things not understood at the same time. Secondly, the technology allows for one person to learn on their own pace but at the same time it does not allow the pleasure of instant feedback therefore, one has to wait for a reply from their professor. It can be gathered “new technologies compete with old ones—for time, for attention, for money, for prestige, but mostly for dominance of their world-view” (CC p372).
The perseverance of culture and the changing technology not only acts as a catalyst, but also allows by being neither additive nor subtractive. In the process there are loses and gains, which at times maybe good or bad. These changes can add to more psychosocial problems as discussed, or bring people closer to civilization by learning and understanding their culture and how globally we are interconnected through technology such as television, phone, camera, and computer. Technology allows easy access to things, which brings a bigger profit margin for corporate America. Technology also allows for addiction and more is demanded as many institution thrive and compete against once another to come with a better product which can allow one to dominate in the world such as iPhone and use of Skype across the globe.
Reflection
By doing this essay, I have learned how technology is associated to culture and how today’s technology is changing culture. Technology has definitely become the authoritative factor in our lives, but culture has shaped technology. The technology has addicted people in its own culture that they are so stuck in it and it is very hard to get out. This technological world has taken the peoples mind by storm and the more they get the more they want.
Since technology has made our lives easier, there are many disadvantages of technology. This technological world is there to stay and is getting more and more diverse as we go along and as new technology and devises are invented, the culture around us is also changing.
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