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
Photo of atomic explosion in Nagasaki (1945)
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
Photo of atomic explosion in Nagasaki (1945)
Introduction
Few people question that modern technology, and the internet in particular, is revolutionizing the way we think, live, work, and play. While people are embracing this new technology in ever-increasing numbers--almost a billion people worldwide were "online" as of 2004--others view it with suspicion, while a much greater number lack the financial ability or knowledge to take advantage of it. While those who consciously reject modern technology may be in a minority, distrust of machines is a theme which pervades our culture. It is the ideas and concerns of those who reject technology--the dystopians, the neo-luddites, the technophobes--that I wish to explore.
This site advocates taking a critical view towards technology and challenges views that many take for granted: that technology has affected human life in a positive way and it promises a more prosperous and rewarding future. While the arguments put forth by the dystopians, technophobes, and neo-luddites should not be accepted uncritically, the issues they address deserve discussion and consideration. This site addresses the following issues:
Confronting the Machine: an historical overview of how machines have become a part of our culture and daily life.
Visions of the Future: the future from Utopian and Dystopian viewpoints.
The Neo-Luddites: a short history of the Luddites, and how Luddite ideals are expressed explicitly and implicitly in modern society and popular culture.
What's Wrong With Technology: arguments against technology framed within two broad categories.
The Digital Divide: inequalities in access to technology.
Cyberspace: issues to consider in the age of the internet.
Technology and Communities: how cyberspace affects communities.
Technology and Happiness: how technological advances and overall wealth affect happiness.
Conclusion: a final assessment of the risks and rewards technology offers.
