I like Muffoletto's (1994) definition of technology ... "Technology is commonly thought of in terms of gadgets, instruments, machines, and devices ..." but that it "[I]s not a collection of machines and devices, but a way of acting." This is similar to the definition used by Ursula Franklin's book titled "The Real World of Technology." She suggests that technology as "ways of doing someting," (p6) and technology as "practice" (p2). "Technology is a system. It entails far more than its individual material components. Technology involves organization, procedures, symbols, new words, equations, and, most of all, a mindset." (p3)
As such the way a classroom is organized, the procedure to apply for a passport, the way we communicate whether via letters, emails, phone, MSN chat, etc. are all technologies. Of course, gadgets and machines are both material technologies as well as "practice" technologies, for each material technology comes with a way of doing things. The GPS constrains us to a certain way of living, or more specifically, finding our directions. Similarly, the toaster oven or vacuum cleaner also influence how we have a breakfast or keep our house. So I like to think of technologies as more than just gadgets, but also the systems of living and doing things.
Reference:
Franklin, U. (1999). The Real World of TEchnology. House of Anansi Press.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Hi Ben, I agree with your definition because "media is the message" and definetly the technology defines our way of thinking. Just like the computer is a hybrid between two previous technologies (typewriter and television) it limited for certain time our perception of how it should be used. That is currently changing because of our behavior while using it. The Net Generation's definition of technology is quite different from ours because they assume that the "new technology" is just a means to an ends rather than an obstacle to be dealt with by older generations.
Cheers,
DAmian
Post a Comment