The Dystopians:
Approaching Technology From a Critical Perspective
Home
Introduction
Confronting the Machine
Visions of the Future
The Neo-Luddites
What's Wrong With Technology?
Cyberspace
The Digital Divide
Technology and Community
Technology and Happiness
Conclusion
References
Introduction
Confronting the Machine
Visions of the Future
The Neo-Luddites
What's Wrong With Technology?
Cyberspace
The Digital Divide
Technology and Community
Technology and Happiness
Conclusion
References
Visions of the Future
The Utopians
We have entered the dawn of the age of a new technology. This technology promises great things: the ability to connect instantly with anybody anywhere; a new equality, where anybody of any age or background can publish their work on a global scale; and a new democracy, where information is passed freely and equitably around the world, beyond the power of dictators and other authorities. Not only communication, equality, and democracy, but also leisure--instant entertainment--and freedom from the mundane details of life, such as doing taxes and going to the store for bread: the internet offers many rewards. But the internet is only one aspect of the global technological revolution. In nanotechnology, biotechnology, and many other fields, researchers are breaking new ground at a rapid pace. This is a basic human drive: to make things easier, faster, better. Technology can't solve all of humankind's problems, but it can improve the lives we live in countless ways.
The Dystopians
Humans and machines have coexisted for a relatively short time together. For most of our species' existence, we have lived off the land--farming, hunting, foraging--and within tight-knit communities. Today, we are disconnected from our roots. We chat with strangers across the globe, but don't know our neighbors name. We talk about nanotechnology, but don't know where our bread comes from. How has technology benefitted us? Many of the issues Dickens wrote about still apply today: unemployment, poverty, pollution and environmental destruction. While we have made strides in the medical field, we've made equal strides in developing military weapons and technology. While we've created virtual communities, we've also created divisions between the technological 'haves' and 'have-nots'. Our technology has over-reached our humanity, and should be viewed with a critical eye.
Utopians and Dystopians In Context
The Utopians and the Dystopians represent two opposing views of technology. Most of us would probably fit place ourselves somewhere in between the two. While multi-billion dollar corporations such as Microsoft and Apple are able to promote their vision of the future through marketing and advertising, the Dystopians lack the organization and funding to promote their vision to the same extent. Yet, dystopian/Neo-Luddite ideals persist within popular culture and society at large. Who are these Neo-Luddites, and how do their arguments and objections continue to inform and challenge society's view of technology?
