Thursday, July 19, 2012
Week Seven Reading Reaction #3
In thinking about the articles and chapter we read for this week, I am thinking that there needs to be more of a reflection on the role of technology and how technology ultimately never really develops from something completely new, but is merely an improvement from something old. It seems that the most technological or "advanced" pieces of equipment are nothing but the result of common sense and simplicity, which seems to indicate that such achievements are nonetheless the result of natural, evolutionary developments that simply develop because of that which already exists within our own cognition. Consider that whenever a new form of technology develops, it is sometimes referred to as the staff of dreams. Well, if we consider technology to be the stuff of dreams, then that which we use today is nothing but a reflection or an improvement of what was developed in the past, as our dreams are only a reflection of what we know or think to be true.
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Hi James,
ReplyDeleteAs I was first reading your post, I was feeling a bit in disagreement that new technology never develops from something new. However, the more I thought about it the more I have to agree; transistors were first vacuum tubes which were then made smaller. Most computer chips are a series of transistors, resistors, capacitors, etc., that are now the thinnest of layers of silicon on microscopic chips. The telephone of the 1950's is now something that can be so small, bulk is actually added so that it may be used by the human form.
As for the development within our own cognition, I will disagree in that it is human cognition that imagines something new, leveraged from that which already exists. I agree with Al Einstein in this regard, "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
As I was reading your post, at first I did not know what topic you were going to choose to write about for the last project. I read it again and then it made perfect sense. A reflection on technology and how it never really develops from something completely new is a great topic. I agree with you on this subject. I think it will be something great to research on and share your findings with us. It also fits perfecting in with the field of communication. Your reasoning's and example like "stuff of dreams" is a great start to the project and I think that you are going to do an excellent job on it.
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