Dialectic of Technology

Last week, we were introduced to how the 2oth century develpoed our mass society and brought about broadcast media forms. This eventually brought about academic disciplines such as Communication, Media and Cultural studies which aided in the study of communications in the past and future.This all first began in France about 100yrs ago. Specific countries related to the study of Communication, Media and Culture included the USA, Uk and Europe respectively. We were also presented with the Le Jetee video, which told us the story of how a survivor of world war III was used in time-travel experiments. What I want to talk about though is the "Dialectic of technology" from the readings in chapter 4 of the textbook that we are supposed to read. Here is what I learnt...

In order for us to understand how convergence plays an important role in digital revolution today, it is essential for us to bring together the dialectic and definitions of technolgy. Technology can best be understood as a means of production, whereby technologies and natural resources combine with human labour, including its knowledge and congealed labour to form what the Political Economy refers to as the mode of production.

Creation of new technology is bascically based upon complex human social conditions. The development of these technologies in turn, causes our society to become wealthier. Thus, we are able to manufacture more advanced technologies with part of this wealth that we have obtained, presenting us with the dialectic of technology in motion.

Dialectic of technology not only determines how convergence is put into effect in a mode of production but represents fragmentation as well. This leads to the Objectification of Technology which sways our attention away from how social relations developed a commodity to our perception of it in terms of personality or social position.

Digital revolution has evolved so much that it has taken a big part of our lives, to the extent of becoming more important than our religious beliefs (Mosco 1996, p.143). This has resulted in us indulging in "commodity fetishism", which will eventually lead us to the dialectic of the digital future.

Let me now end with several questions for all of you to ponder upon. How important is digital revolution to you? Will you go to the extent of making it more desirable than religion or even the social relationships you have? As for me, it is basically convenient to have all the new gadgets around to help out in our daily activities such as researching a topic on the internet or contacting someone thousands of kilometres away via the mobile phone. However, I will NOT indulge in it to such an extent that it consumes my life, be it my beliefs or values. This is because new technologies can be created anytime and anywhere but having a religion or a dependable social relationship comes only once in a blue moon. Lose these and you will lose meaning and direction in life. However, if you lose technologies, you will still manage to survive somehow or other.