My Opinion on the Computer Revolution

by Robbie Dawson

With the rise of the Internet, a great debate has begun to unfold as to how this new-found
technology is affecting our minds and our culture. In discussions of our technology, one controversial
issue has been whether or not being “plugged in” does harm to our minds and culture. On the one hand,
Nicholas Carr argues that the Internet is desensitizing our minds and giving us artificial intelligence. On
the other hand, Jamais Cascio contends that technology will have positive effects on our minds. Others
such as Clay Shirky maintain that technology may be so slow to start, but once the technology fully
develops it will provide positive effects. My own view is similar to that of Shirky’s. I feel that technology
has negative effects currently, but this is subject to change with society.

Even with the colossal rise of technology, our society and government are still behaving as if
they are still post-industrial. As individuals we have integrated technology intimately into our lives,
however business, government, and education remain only enhanced by technology. For example
movable type led to the creation of the precursors to office work and the way we run classrooms. Both
the classroom and the workplace have yet to be redefined by technology. Computers are only in their
baby steps for changing the world. Writers such as Clay Shirky have not yet embraced the idea that our
technological society is going to change dramatically. Shirky himself writes, “Print fueled the Protestant
Reformation, which did indeed destroy the Church’s pan-European hold on intellectual life. What the
16th century foes of print didn’t imagine--couldn’t imagine--was what followed: We built new norms
around newly abundant and contemporary literature,” (Shirky).

As our technology gets more advanced
and our culture catches up to the dramatic changes that have transpired, we will, as we have before,
make better use out of the Internet. Even Carr admits that technology has often been challenged.
“Maybe I’m just a worrywart. Just as there’s a tendency to glorify technological progress, there’s a
counter-tendency to expect the worst of every new tool or machine,” (Carr).
As we integrate the Internet with out culture, it could have extremely beneficial uses as Cascio
argues. “The power of all this knowledge will come from its ability to inform difficult decisions. Most
professionals will likely use simulation and modeling in their day-to-day work, from political decisions to hairstyle options,” (Cascio). Cascio argues that our new access to technology won’t impair our
knowledge, but will enhance it.

No one knows exactly what the future will bring. It is impossible to predict how the complex
changes in our society will transpire. But I feel technology, when used appropriately can have positive
effects.