How to Think about Technology and
Culture
Chapter 3 of
Human-Built World; How to Think about Technology and Culture by Thomas P.
Hughes talks about the rise of both machines and technology from the time of
industrial Revolution during the nineteenth
century to the present day. Machine at the time of the nineteenth was seen as a
technology that would transform modern society in many ways. He also discuss a
lot about the creation of inventions. These inventions allow society to explore
new concept of creating new ideas of physical things. Invention of the past such as electric
elevators which were made of high-rise architectural beneficial and extensive
subways were introduced after the introduction of electric power. This allow society
to utilise technology to create a physical environment suitable for everyone at
present that had led to current culture. Critics on the rise of machines such
as Mumford, mention that by industrializing society too much, we are risking of
eliminating the organic, and we should all follow the organic process of
developing the site or materials as organic forms. This correspond well with
the essay of “Hacking” by McKenzie Wark where he discuss about the notion of
hacking, he mention that everyone is not a hacker but still everyone hacks. Hacking
may appear as a negative action, the information that are given out may led to a
knowledge advancement through collaborating of ideas and judgement. Wark mention
that information wants to be free
but is everywhere in chains, illustrate the point of barriers in information due
to owners copyright of private information.
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