Week 8  - New Media and Old In The Information Age

New Technology Replaces Old Habits

Since the 70’s the availability of technology to support our daily needs has increased dramatically, so much so, that one may argue that we have come so heavily reliant on technology to perform even the most simple tasks (Crowley & Heyer 2011, p. 274). For example, the use of the calculator versus memory based mathematics in the classroom, communication via text and email rather than face-to-face exchanges and goggle doctor for online diagnosis of our symptoms. Modern life seems to be more concerned with efficiency than it is with appropriateness and as hypothesized by Ong, this choice to supersede technology over more common traditions may lead to an erosion of metal capacities (Ong 2011, cited in Crowley & Heyer, 2011, p. 274). 

In an article published by the Sydney Morning Herald (‘Messaging each other to death’ 2011) the writer expresses concerns over our capacity to have thoughtful exchanges especially through the use of modern media where communication is often being manipulated to the point where it looses its integrity. The Sydney Morning Herald article (‘Messaging each other to death’ 2011) also discusses the central idea that we are the ones who have created this need for an, ‘ever-faster, ever-simpler approach to the exchange of messages’ and it is perhaps leading us down a path of destruction as far as social interaction and meaningful communication goes. With the vast availability of technology available, our response when we come across a barrier is generally to use another way to get our point across and simply bypass the issues rather than solve it, however, it is also important to note that many fields of research we have harnessed this mentality to assist in building better procedures (Schermerhorn, Davidson, Pool, Simon, Woods & Chau 2011, p. 89).

References

Crowley, D & Heyer, P 2011, ‘Communication in history technology, culture, society sixth edition’, Pearson Higher Education, Boston.

‘Messaging each other to death’ 2011, Sydney Morning Herald, 5 November, viewed May 25 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/messaging-each-other-to-death-20111104-1mzqw.

Schermerhorn, J, Davidson, P, Poole, D, Simon, A, Woods, P & Chau, SL 2011, Management fourth Asia-Pacific edition, John Wiles & Sons, Milton, Qld.