The Consequences of Technology Part 1 I Technology and Progress Within the sociocultural environment there are often competing social groups whose interests are often tied to the adoption or death of a specific technology ex HD DVD vs Blue ray Technologies can persist even when counterproductive to those who use them ex Steroids Consequences of using a particular technology can be unknown ex Cell phones Consequences are not always readily visible and can take a long time to come and cancer about ex Asbestos A Does Improved Technology Mean Progress Leo Marx The Enlightenment on Technology and Progress Enlightenment thinkers strongly believed that the expansion of human knowledge would result in the inevitable perfectibility of humanity Early Enlightenment thinkers viewed personal pursuits of knowledge including technology as being a part of the collective movement toward utopia Pursuit of knowledge was liberating both in the spiritual and political sense Could go find answers on your own and no longer need clergy to tell them how things work The Technocrat and Progress Toward the end of the Enlightenment the concept of progress shifted from an ideal of a collective goal to an individual goal This shift coincided with the increased use of technologies to fulfill individual interests Eventually technological progress was no longer about perfecting society it was about the individual s self improvement 1 Today progress is simply associated with new technologies The technology is the progress not its contribution to the greater good The initial Enlightenment belief in progress perceived science and technology to be in the service of liberation from political oppression Over time the conception was transformed or partly supplanted by the now familiar view that the innovations in science based technologies are in themselves a sufficient and reliable basis for progress Technocratic Ideal of Progress A belief in the sufficiency of scientific and technological innovation as the basis for general progress If we ensure scientific and technological progress the rest will take care of itself ex Social cultural and political conditions 1 Greater good individual good take care of itself Romantic Pragmatic Self Reflexive Questioning Technology The distinction between two versions of the belief in progress helps sort our reactions to the many troubling issues raised by the diffusion of high technology When for example the introduction of some new labor saving technology is proposed it is useful to ask what the purpose of this new technology is Only by questioning the assumption that innovation represents progress can we begin to judge its worth The aim may well be to reduce labor costs yet in our society the personal costs to the displaced workers are likely to be ignored p 11 Marx then concludes with the following statement Does improved technology mean progress Yes it certainly could mean just that But only if we are willing and able to answer the next question Progress toward what Marx concludes that our current concept of progress and unquestioned acceptance of new technology as progress is empty and harmful to humanity The Consequences of Technology Part 2 II Consequences of Innovations Rogers 2 Technological Consequences The changes that occur to individuals or a social system as a result of the adoption or rejection of an innovation The producers and adopters of innovations have a tendency to ignore what the negative consequences of technological adoption will be 3 Barriers to Studying the Consequences of Technology 1 Overemphasis on the adoption of the innovations 2 Consequences take time to emerge 3 Consequences are difficult to measure due to cultural variations in social contexts Desirable vs Undesirable Consequences in terms of function and dysfunction often differ among social groups within the same society Often times it is impossible to acquire only the desirable consequences Direct vs Indirect Consequences Direct Consequences The changes to an individual or system that occur in immediate response to adoption of an innovation What occurs due to use of the innovation Using cell phone instant communication Indirect Consequences The changes to an individual or social system that occur as a result of the direct consequences These are the consequences of the consequences 3 Anticipated vs Unanticipated Consequences Anticipated Consequences The changes due to an innovation that are recognized and intended by the members of a social system Unanticipated Consequences The changes due to an innovation that are neither intended nor recognized by the members of a social system READ ROGERS EXAMPLE OF STEEL AXES CAUSING PROSTITUTION Unanticipated consequences are always unknown to the adopter Meaning It is easier to anticipate the consequences of the form and function of an innovation but much more difficult to anticipate the consequences of meaning in the diffusion process Impact of Technology on Social Stability 1 Stable equilibrium Adoption results in little or no change in the structure or functioning of a social system e g blenders 2 Dynamic equilibrium Adoption occurs at a rate and to a degree that is compatible with the social systems ability to adjust to the changes that take place eg cell phones 3 Disequilibrium rare Adoption occurs at a rate and to a degree that is too rapid to allow the social system to adjust e g snowmobiles among Skolt Lapps in Finland READ ROGERS ABOUT SNOWMOBILES 4 III Technology and African American Families MAY BE OPTIONAL Areas of Advancement and their Impact 1 2 3 Conclusion 5