Response to Readings

Through reading the chapters of Determinism, Control, and Agency, I was thinking about the balance between people and technology. Technology has a certain impact on us that can change the whole system of society and can rewrite the history of human beings (Technological Determinism). On the other hand, culture can be seen as the one that affects the use, concept, and change of technology (Cultural Determinism). We control nature by seeing it as an object. Surveillance and bureaucracy are the examples which make the efficient work system. But these technologies are not perfect to eliminate all obstacles we have. They are inhuman. There is no clear answer for these controversial discussions. And the discussions make me feel technology and humans are not in the same sphere.

Although Slack and Wise point out that technology can be an actor that is "beyond, and apart from its intended 'use.' (p.117)," technology is the one that is made by humans after all. If people did not make a video game, no one complains about its violent effect. The violent effect is an example that most of us did not expect when the game was made as Slack and Wise explain "technologies always surprise an unprepared populace with effects that were not purported to be intended (p.46)." So who did make the effect? The answer must be people who made the violent game, I believe.

Technology is made by people's intention or desire and supplied to people who want to use. People are the ones who create, manage and use technology. Therefore, technology must take a backseat to humans. While I was on the side of non-neutral one -- thinking technology has an influence on us -- at the last debate, I'm now changing my mind. I first believed the improvement of technology made us to desire more technology, more efficient one. And I was thinking that a new limit would be established by technology and the desire would be endless as Slack and Wise talked in Chapter 2. However, now I do not think technology changes our society or culture. While it can be the trigger to make a change, WE make a final decision for everything after all.