Transcript Coping With Technological Change

Coping With Technological
Change
New Technology = New Stresses for
the Individual
• 1. Negative Side Effects
– Canadians embrace new technologies without
really thinking about the consequences of the
technology itself. E.g. pornography & hate
propaganda on the internet, or a way for
pedophiles to find children
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bV7pM_HS7
0
Continued…
• 2. Keeping up with the speed of change
– Alvin Toffler – “future shock” – the dizzying
disorientation brought on by the premature arrival
of the future and the eventual massive adaptation
breakdown
– Stephen Bertman – hyperculture – the staggering
rate of change in modern technological society
which leads to values of society becoming blurred
– E.g. people become impatient, deterioration of
the family
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYMlPqMnPXs
Continued…
• 3. Overdependence on Technology
– Weil & Rossen – Technostress – We rely so heavily on
machines that when they do not do what we want
them to do, we experience great stress/anxiety
• Technostress – an overblown dependency or attachment to
technology
• Can cause phobias & addiction
• Kimberly Young – “Cyber Disorders” – Centre of Online &
Internet Addiction Website
• Addictive internet use leads to social isolation, increased
depression, familial discord, divorce, academic failure, debt
& job loss
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngg9MKyGO2Y
Learning to Cope With Technological
Change
• William Ogburn – theory of cultural lag
– Acceptance of technology follows a 3-phase process:
invention, discovery, diffusion
– If all three phases can be verified then technology has been
successfully integrated into society, but while some members
of society adapt to technological innovations, others lag
behind or resist change
– New technology temporarily destabilizes society & until it
adapts, a period of transition occurs
– 2 Methods of Coping:
• 1. Accept technology & become active in its implementation
• 2. Oppose new technology & do everything they can to halt its
progress
Recognizing the Process
• Not all new technology is accepted – depends on
timing – society must be willing to embrace whatever
it has to offer
• Knowledge & analysis – to understand impact of
technology on our daily lives
• Introduction of a new medium follows 4 laws:
–
–
–
–
1. Enhances/accelerates a certain process/thing
2. Renders another process/thing obsolete
3. Retrieves something that was previously obsolete
4. Flips into something entirely new when pushed to its extreme
Evaluating the Impacts of Technology
on our Lives
• Possible solutions/coping mechanisms
– Resist the powerful pull of technology by
intelligently evaluating its impact on our lives
– Step back and take a week off to recharge
– Preserve family traditions, national/world history
– Avoid becoming slaves to machines – set
boundaries and create downtime
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Shows/ID/2445027097/