Why Technology?

Agnes Harris
Due Date October 14, 2008
Professor Yerks
Comp 106

Why Technology?

Since the beginning of time we have looked at ourselves as a society that has evolved. Down to our biped ancestor like Lucy, all the way up to the generation that is here now (the Digital Generation), we consider ourselves as progressive each day. Society wants to see themselves as going to the next level in technology. In Generational Myth by Siva Vaidhyanathan, she argues “Once we assume that all young people love certain forms of interaction and hate others, we forge policies and design systems and devices that match presumptions”. Vaidhyanathan is stating examples like the curriculum just recently pointed at elementary, middle, high schools, and even University to fit this digital age we are in. I believe there is nothing wrong with change because change is the only thing that stays constant. If someone from a different planet were to come here on earth to look at our history books, they would see how far civilization has advanced. I do believe there is nothing wrong with keeping up with technology; however that could be a down fall sometimes because the interaction with people, books, and using our own imagination is deficient. The computer has made many very accessible.
Yes, technology has progressed, in what terms does the interaction with people become more prevalent? It seems as time goes on, as a generation we decide or are even forced to use the computer to interact with individuals. Here at University of Michigan-Dearborn from the time a student is enrolled on campus they are told everything is done by via email. The professor will use the banner web to contact an individual, c-tool, and even the virtual learning center. I believe using these forms of contact, makes things very interpersonal. The reason for this is instead of my interaction with my professor and talking to them, I have to do everything through email. I believe students would receive more of a professor/student relationship if the majority of the assignments were given in class. I believe contacting a student through email makes things less personal.
I believe books have been the greatest tool known to mankind because it allows us to know where we came from and possibly where the future generations are headed. In most of the classes I had in high school were more technology driven. Now I believe there is nothing wrong with people leaning away from books, however to me it would seem if students did not depend on reading books it would not give all students from different races a fair chance. Hargittai responded that women, students of Hispanic origin, African American students, and students whose parents have lower levels of education tend to have less mastery of the inner working of digital technology than other groups. It would be nice to allow technology to lead the way, but we have think logically. If society decided to use computers instead of books than everyone would have to have a computer and unlimited access to the internet. Then every book would need to be on the internet. Society would really have to evaluate, if having books on the internet even possible. In reality we would have to say everyone could not have a computer, and reference books would not be on the internet, and the possibility of internet unpaid is very slim.
I believe the internet and even the computer have closed some of our imagination. By not interacting with people and books, it seems like individuals have a more sheltered existing. It has been shown in many studies that a group of people can accomplish a project, instead of just one person by themselves. I believe tradition is good dealing with books.