.::.Digi Comm.::.
The way we thought about technology and its evolution years ago is the same way we think about technology today. Not much thought has changed since these articles were written but rather the advancement in equipment. Everything discussed in these articles are still used in some way, shape or form today, but with more accuracy. Technology is constantly changing and so are we in are ability to adapt these new ways of living.
“In a few years men will be able to communicate more effectively through a machine that face to face (Licklider, 21)”. I think this statement is true now. You have AIM taking over the kid’s realm. Rather then one kid calling another asking if he can play, well that’s what I did. Now all you do is log onto AIM or any instant messaging program and have what your phone conversations used to be on the computer. Now email in the business world is taking over more so then phone calls. Take blackberry for example, its primary reason is for quick email retrieval and response. The blackberry is phone also, so why send an email? If the person has time to read and type an email out on such a small pad I think they will have time to talk. I still don’t view both of these technologies as being the primary ways of living for these two different ages, but more of an addition to help them with every day individual interaction. “When people communicate face to face, they externalize their models so they can be sure they are talking about the same thing (Licklider , 22).” The lack of face-to-face communication makes it realy hard to understand the point the other is trying to make. It’s very difficult to read someone’s tone through type. Even though my thoughts seem to be against these two ways of communication I still feel they are positive and will effect society in a positive way, I mean sometimes talking on a phone is just not an option and another way of communication is necessary and something’s would be easier to comprehend if viewed and needed to be saved for later reference.
Lickliders discussion about “face to face through a computer (25)” was very interesting. This very early concept of meetings are what many meetings today involve, the use of a computer, with a screen to display lecturers notes from his individual device. “A future version of this system will make it possible for each participant, on his own TV screen, to thumb through the speaker’s files as the speaker talks – and thus check out incidental questions without interrupting the presentation for substantiation” (Licklider , 25). This in fact is true today with almost everyone in the field that would attend such a meeting would have there own laptop. But why give everyone attending the presentation the ability to surf through the presenter’s material and create questions? This would cause people not to pay attention in the meeting and miss material that was spoken and not in the presentation material and could also cause someone to create questions that would have been answered if they were just paying attention to the presentation and taking notes.
“These systems are so complex and so poorly comprehended that their managers are unable to weed out obsolete components (Hughes, 79)”. I can speak from experience on this. My last job consisted of data network installations and repairs of old ones. Some of these jobs we had were almost nearly impossible to figure out, we had to start from scratch. When these systems we installed there seemed to be no set of instructions or a standard way to follow, and this made troubleshooting almost nearly impossible. The way of networking changes all the time and as we all know as soon as you buy some technology gadget it is obsolete the day you leave the store, or now, purchase it offline. Even with networking changing there are now industry standards which make life easier for everyone, whether the end user needs to know or not.
“The importance of improving decision making process – not only in government, but thought the business and the professions – is so great as to warrant every effort” (Licklider, 27). We cant just stop developing and taking technology to the next level now. Technology is what runs the world. Jobs that would take people hors or weeks to do 10 years ago can take a computer minutes to complete and could be 99% accurate. Who knows what’s next, I can’t wait.
Reference:
Licklidder, J.C.R. (1968). The computer as a communications device. Science and Technology.
Hughes, T.P. (2004). Technology as systems, controls, and information (pp. 77-109). Human-built world: How to think about technology and culture. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
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