Technology and Social Change

1. Technologyand Social Change

2. GROUP DYNAMICS How does technology impact your life? How does technology impact your behaviour? What impact does technology have on the way you and other individuals interact?

3. So, what is technology? Technology is the creation of tools or objects that both extend our natural abilities and alter our social environment.

4. Johanne Gutenberg He created the printing press in 1450. This invention took the process of reading out of wealthy circles and monasteries and into the hands of ‘ordinary’ people. Books became more affordable and became the method of choice when circulating new ideas.

5. Martin Luther used the printing press to his advantage in the 1500s when he challenged church doctrine … starting off what has come to be known as the Reformation.

6. Reading is good… right? While the printing press brought us many good things, it also changed how we tell stories. Memorization and oral recitation begin to lose favour after the printing press. The Church started to lose some of its control over the congregation as bibles become more accessible to the public.

7. Traditional Theory of Change Does change begin with the individual or technology? SOCIAL CHANGE THEORY Looks at factors contributing to change within the structure of society. Traditional theories take the position that change within society is brought about by a myriad of interactions within a society’s framework that begins with the individual person. INDIVIDUAL IDEA CHANGE e.g. an individual comes up with an idea about technology which is accepted and change occurs.

8. Technological Theory of Change Does change begin with the individual or technology? TECHNOLOGICAL DETERMINISM Social change is initiated by technology (contrary to what traditional theorists believe). So… society adapts to technological change. Technological determinists see the invention of a particular tool (e.g. the computer) as motivator for change and society simply reacting to the technology.

10. Coping with technological change – Not always for the postitive While we are, for the most part, eager to accept and use new technological advancements, we have to be aware of the negative consequences of these technological advancements. The internet has allowed many people to access useful information but has also allowed easy access to porn sites, hate sites, and other dangerous sites on the web that parents don’t want their children interacting with.

12. Trouble keeping up? Another stressor of technological change is the feeling that we “can’t keep up” with what is new. Alvin Toffler describes this idea as “future shock” or the “dizzying orientation brought on by the premature arrival of the future.” Many believe that technological change is happening so fast that the fundamental values of society are becoming blurred. We are beginning to see the ‘click of the mouse’ having an effect on society’s patience as we simply cannot wait for instant information.

13. Overdependence on technology? Society has grown so dependent on technology that when it doesn’t work, we can feel tremendous anxiety (Weil and Rosen). What did we do before these technologies?

14. Technological change – Negative side effects Over dependence on technology • We rely heavily on machines • When they break down, we experience stress • “technosis” is now a common term to describe how people feel out of touch if they do not check email, cell phone, etc.

15. Social Isolation Addictive use of the internet can lead to social isolation, increased depression, academic failure, financial debt, and job loss. Societies have relied on social interaction for centuries to survive. What happens if this element is removed from our lives?

16. Cyber Disorders Cyber Disorders – addiction has been extended to include problematic Internet use associated with social, psychological, and occupational impairment. Symptoms include pre-occupation with the Internet, increased anxiety when offline, and lying about internet use.

18. CULTURAL LAG THEORY