Mass Media And Technology
A writers technique : figures of speech core
reading -1
Computer and the pursuit of happiness
David Gelernter
· This essay
refuses the fact that 21st century is the age of information technology. The
writer puts three questions:
a) Are
computer and the internet really responsible for the revolution of information
technology?
b) Whether
the computer and the internet has really helped the human being over 50 years.
c) Will
the computer and the internet play significant change in the next fifty years?
In this essay the writer is writing the public opinion that
the writers have brought revolution in information technology. According
to the writer it is not only the computer and the internet that has played a
significant role is making the age as information is but the other means like
radio and television are equally responsible.
The writer clearly says that neither we are in information nor the
computers and internet have brought revolutionary development in human
history. The people claim that what counts in 21st century is
the information but they have been mistaken. In fact the materials which were
important in the 20th century are equally important even in the
present time. The writer says,” virtual food make you feel full but it does not
prevent from starving.” It clarifies that the artificial world or the abstract
ideas can never help the human beings to live a natural life.
It is generally claimed that we have got sophisticated machines to
create stone and deliver the information. However this claim is not able
to process that the present generation is much happier than precious ones. No
doubt the children of the present time enjoy their self in play with computers.
But it does not necessarily mean that the past generations were not happy.
The writer believes that the computers and the internet have brought a radical
change in science and engineering however it is just an evolution of the
industrial age in other sector. Therefore 21th century is not a revolution but
it is an evolution of the 20th century.
Have computers been good or bad for making seems they were invented 50 years
ago. Obviously information has enriched the life a moral human beings but
it doesn't necessarily mean that wealthy people are happy. The writer
compares the information technology with plumbing. In the industrial age
the common place was the well where face to face communication was possible.
But in 21st century the water has been brought to home with the help of
plumbing. Undoubted, it is easy but not healthy. Truly speaking
the computer and the internet have ignored help benefit. Moreover
human desires are the same although the ways to fulfill them might be
different. Therefore the life of the mankind hasn’t been changed by the computers
and the internet.
# Will the computers and internet bring
significant changes in the next 50 years?
The writer doesn't clearly state that the computers and the internet
have brought changes in the present time. This main argument is that the
development of the information technology is continuous and there is no
revolution yet all. He compares the development of information technology which
breathing. Just as breathing supports the life, so does information technology.
Besides there is no significant change in the structure of human desires but
here might be in the days to come. Although the writer criticizes the role of
the computers and the internet in his first 2 points he argues that the
whole points should not be given only to the computes and the internet.
But we have to see the contribution of the industrial age for the progress
of the 21st century.
Themes
- Possibilities
and limitations of technology.
- The
nature of technological change.
- The
pros (adv) and cons (disadv) of the internet
- Online
shopping and education.
- The
difference between information and knowledge
- The
distinction between reality and virtual reality.
Three Questions
I. Whether
thanks to the computers and the internet.
II. Whether
computes have been beneficial or detrimental (harmful)
III. Whether
computers are likely to have positive or negative influence.
David Gelernter in this argumentative essay
raises three questions about the use of computers and internet and address them
in his own way. First question he raises is whether thanks to computer and
internet we are now giving in a new information age? He answers this question
negatively and says that we aren’t in an information age and computer and the
internet aren’t a revolutionary development in human history except in science
and engineering. He opines that we need food, clothing, sheltered and
possession and this thing are need now. There is not any change in these
matters. Brought by information age he says information age is the
revolutionary development of industrial age.
The second question is
whether computer have been beneficial, detrimental (harmful) to humanity over
the last 50 years? Even this question, he, answers negatively. Though computers
have generated lots of information and much wealth, human happiness has
increased on the whole. New technologies have come into existence but social
structure. They have engendered and haven’t necessarily improved the
human element associated with old structure has decreased.
The third question is whether computers are likely to have positive or negative
influences over next half centuries (50 years). This question is answered
rather positively. He says that technology will have little to do with human
happiness in the future. Respite the new possibilities that new technologies
introduce human uniqueness and happiness lie between
technological strength, speed and intellect.
Response
of Winn. F. Martin
· Information
technology has brought substantial changes in the western civilization.
· Printing press
has helped to throw off the monarchical systems.
· Internet has
challenged the policy of china.
· The views of
Gelernter are luddite
· Internet has
made possible for the direct voting systems.
· Even a camel
driver in the desert is not excluded from the world as he listens to the radio.
In this essay the
writer Winn. F. Martin challenges the views of Gelernter and he
strongly points but that information technology has brought revolutionary
changes in the present time. The writer doesn't disagree the fact
that the basic human beings are the same but the strongly argues that the
way we get them is different. Especially in the western civilization
information technology has played a significant role.
It is the printing press that has helped to overflow the monarchical systems.
Similarly the internet has challenged the secret policy of china due to which
it is becoming democratic. Likewise the writer calls the ideas of Gelenter as
being without because he seems to be against the idea of
industrialization. The writer gives an example of a camel driver in order to
prove how information technology binds human being irrespective of the
Geography.
The most significant rule of the internet is in education system. In the
present time a person can have foreign degree by staying on his over home. The
education system has been globalized due to the internet. In fact the internet
has become a public space for every month to meet and shake their opinion.
Therefore computers and internet have become inhabitable part of modern human
beings it is absolutely conservative feelings to under estimate the value of
the computer and the internet improperly used it can be a boon but if it is
misused, it can be a curse.
Compulsory English 202 TU 3 years Bachelor of Arts (Humanities) 2nd year New Direction