This week we read several texts in which the power of machines was taken into consideration. More specifically, I was asked to read articles that typically focused on the power that is taken away and gained by machines and technology. It is important to note at this point that 'machines' range from the smallest of technological advances to the greatest of achievements.
The articles focused on humans gaining and losing power due to technology. In the book Do Artifacts have Politics? Winner states, "the ways human ends are powerfully transformed as they are adapted to technical means." (Winner, 1988) They went on to discuss how technology has been touched by people and politics. For example, Winner references bridges in Long island that are low specifically to limit bus traffic. Structures that we do not think twice about limit our lives and social interactions. This is very much like the creation of suburbs that required cars to live comfortably. This eliminated many families that were unable to purchase a car and instead needed to rely on public transportation or walking. While reading the articles I noted a very strong theme of social actions and reactions related to technology. How can technology make our lives easier and how did technology drive us apart? Eliminating the "undesirable" humans continued as a theme in the articles. Winner stated that Cyrus McCormick said technology would "weed out the bad element among the men" (Winner, 1988) . What was this bad element? Simply workers attempting to gain rights by striking and causing the company to lose money or time. This was also referenced in The Machine Versus the Worker. Marx stated, "It is the most powerful weapon for repressing strikes, those periodical revolts of the working-class against the autocracy of capital" in response to technology and machines. (Marx, 1999) In fact, this theme continues through many of our readings allowing for analysis of the underlying social issues that relate to technology. These texts seem to agree that technology works for the employer or owner but that the common man is left out of the deal and is dispensable. What is it about technology that separates the haves from the have nots? In the previous articles the separation was between the workers and the owners of technology. Though this is often true, the complete picture is not so simple. We are divided by technology and drawn together by it. Just as overpasses limit busses, technology limits people. Humans are left out and not appreciated when technology is concerned. According to the article “Technology won’t fix America’s neediest schools. It makes bad education worse.” technology is also dividing high achieving students from students in need. In addition to this article, I read through another which discussed bias in computer systems. I have found that typically when I discuss technology people tend to assume that it is unbiased. The article “Bias in Computer Systems” would have a very different opinion. In short, this article discussed how the programming of the airline reservation system allows for preference to certain airlines. In fact, that language is not strong enough since the text states that bias involves discriminating against specific groups or individuals. What a bleak picture! Technology is to blame. This is where I have an extreme divergence from the readings. I do believe that technology has the power to divide. If technology is left to its own devices and guidance is not provided then it does not help anyone but the owner of technology. I have seen technology thrust upon those who did not desire it and cause more trouble than it was ever worth. However, as a teacher who has been trained in technology I have seen the benefits with my own eyes. “In education, technologies amplify whatever pedagogical capacity is already there.” (Toyama, 2015). It is not the fault of technology that there are social divides. Technology itself is not the issue. It is the job of the creator and owners to make sure that the social impacts are examined before singing the praises of technology, especially when it comes to the education of our children. I have seen students light up and understand concepts because technology was used effectively. How can we expect technology to close gaps that we are not ready to bridge as people? Though these articles had a bleak outlook of technology and its ability to divide us socially, I look to technology with hope. To quote from one of the articles “freedom from bias should be held out as an ideal.” (Friedman & Nissenbaum, 1996) Humans make technology political and it is our responsibility to make sure that the divides that occur do not truly separate us and instead allow us to come together as one group moving towards a common goal. Educators and users of technology are responsible to not only use technology effectively but also to make sure that as much bias as possible is removed from the human aspect of technology. Works CitedFriedman, B., & Nissenbaum, H. (1996, July 3). Bias in Computer Systems. ACM Transactions on Information Systems, pp. 330-347. Marx, K. (1999). The Machine Versus the Worker. In D. MacKenzie, & J. Wajcman, The Social Shaping of Technology (pp. 156-157). Buckingham: Open University Press. Toyama, K. (2015, June 4). Technology won't fix america's neediest schools. It makes bad education worse. The washington post. Winner, L. (1988). The Whale and the Reactor. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
2 Comments
9/5/2017 03:40:53 am
I was particularly drawn to your last paragraph. So often people view technology as a magic bullet for complex issues that require much more attention to the details of the social setting into which the technology will be inserted. I think part of the problem is a lack of understanding by those in positions of authority and pressure from other forces to implement technologies. There are a lot of companies looking to make money in the education field. Their profit motive can get in the way.
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Susan Reynolds
9/7/2017 04:47:08 pm
Elizabeth, your statement "Structures that we do not think twice about limit our lives and social interactions." really resonated with me. The immediate example that came to mind was the cell phone (how often have we seen people
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AuthorEllie E. Archives
November 2017
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