The question I chose to blog about was in chapter 5 when Nye discussed the tendencies technology plays in uniforming or diversifying society. One stakeholder Nye introduces was the example of Levittown, New York. A building company comes into Levittown and built over 17,000 homes identical to each other. Nye starts to argue that this attempt to uniform an entire community would play an intriguing role in technology. "Wouldn't such uniformity produce standardized, soulless people?" Nye states that three generations later the residences of Levittown have remodeled their homes to bring uniqueness and personality to their living quarters.
Nye also argued the fact of uniformity and diversity in technology when using the Ford company as an example. The model T Ford was the car of the 20's, but as the times progressed the model T forgot to progress as well. Henry Ford was a supporter of the assembly line and he believed the less tampering with the assembly line, the better the chance of a higher income there will be. He later found out that his belief in the assembly line would be partially incorrect and General Motors, who came out with different style cars each year, found themselves on top.
The two examples Nye used in describing the uniformity or diversity of technology were both prime factors of how the United States society progressed during the 20th century. When purchasing their homes in Levittown, the residences knew they were purchasing a home that looked identical to their neighbors. The houses were cheap, but they were uniform to what was all around them. Over time though, the people of Levittown progressed and technology could not hold them to the uniform ways of the past. In my opinion, Nye used the Ford Motor company very well in his book. The different styles of Ford and GM during the 20's and 30's shows how rival companies compete in trying to find out what the society is looking for. In this example, GM wins out because they figure out that diversity conquers uniformity in vehicles.
In my own opinion, I would choose diversity in technology because having something that is unique is more special. Nye explains how today their are over 78 different configurations of the Ford F-150. Having the choice to choose the specifications towards technology has the affect of showing Americans that they the right to choose what they want. Technology is alway progressing towards new horizons, its the fact of whether it will blend societies together, like the model T, or be distinctive, like GM models of the past.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Blog Assignment 3
My style to produce my essay were to find as many details Vonnegut and Vicente used to explain their opinion on technology. When I found what I believed to be their opinion on technology, it allowed me to compare their values of technology to mine. In my opinion, I believe having a well put paper has good facts linked directly to my own thoughts on the subject.
I found it easier to produce this essay when having plenty of hard evidence of the two authors. I took notes while reading both texts, and I found having specific passages very helpful. When I use these specific passages inside the texts, I had an easier time putting details and giving my essay some life. The two authors seemed to explain in detail the negativity technology had in two different aspects. Whether the Chernobyl incident or ice-nine, in my opinion, it seemed Vonnegut and Vicente were both pointing out negative sides of technology.
When I constructed my essay, I first laid out the context of both Vonnegut's and Vicente's points of view. I explained the background of both the texts to give the reader a chance to catch up to the subject. Following the context, I began to evaluate how my own opinions on technology compared to Vonnegut and Vicente. When I began this part of my essay, I had an easier time writing in my own voice because it reflected differently than what the two authors were trying to explain. Perhaps one thing I wish I had made earlier in this essay would have been to branch off even further in my own opinions on the topic. The better I explain my essay to the reader, the better the chance my reader will have understanding my essay and not being confused.
I found peer editing on-line easier because I was allowed as much time as I needed to find key points in the paper that I found intriguing. When having as much time as I have, I can read and re-read the paper to find the analysis I want. Also, the comments I received were very helpful in editing my paper because the comments I got were very detailed.
I found it easier to produce this essay when having plenty of hard evidence of the two authors. I took notes while reading both texts, and I found having specific passages very helpful. When I use these specific passages inside the texts, I had an easier time putting details and giving my essay some life. The two authors seemed to explain in detail the negativity technology had in two different aspects. Whether the Chernobyl incident or ice-nine, in my opinion, it seemed Vonnegut and Vicente were both pointing out negative sides of technology.
When I constructed my essay, I first laid out the context of both Vonnegut's and Vicente's points of view. I explained the background of both the texts to give the reader a chance to catch up to the subject. Following the context, I began to evaluate how my own opinions on technology compared to Vonnegut and Vicente. When I began this part of my essay, I had an easier time writing in my own voice because it reflected differently than what the two authors were trying to explain. Perhaps one thing I wish I had made earlier in this essay would have been to branch off even further in my own opinions on the topic. The better I explain my essay to the reader, the better the chance my reader will have understanding my essay and not being confused.
I found peer editing on-line easier because I was allowed as much time as I needed to find key points in the paper that I found intriguing. When having as much time as I have, I can read and re-read the paper to find the analysis I want. Also, the comments I received were very helpful in editing my paper because the comments I got were very detailed.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Kim Vicente, writer of “The Human Factor” wrote “we who inhabit the modern times of the twenty-first century have to adapt to digital technology moving at light speed” (13). Kim Vicente’s text and Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle both explore the limits and possibilities with technology. In today’s society, people can’t get enough of the fastest or smallest new form of technology.
Kim Vicente’s “The Human Factor” is an explanation of how humans affect the technology they use. Technology is built to assist the user, and it is the user who decides how the technology can by used. Vicente’s first example of the human factor playing a role in technology is how doctors and airplane pilots have set work schedules. In order to work at their peak performance, doctors and airplane pilots have set and regulated work schedules. A set work schedule is a type of technology because it is helping assist the doctors and airplane pilots to working at their very best which helps many people live a safe life.
The human factor can also play a bad role in technology. When technology is taken to and even past its limits, a price is usually to pay. Vicente explained the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown could have occurred due to the human factor. Vicente wrote “technology-with all its promise and potential-has gotten so far beyond human control that it’s threatening the future of humankind” (28). Vicente believes that technology is going to be pushed to far beyond control, leaving the entire Earth to suffer. The Chernobyl incident occurred in Russia, but the radiation spread throughout contaminating many of the surrounding people and wildlife. Vicente explained the benefits and the downfalls to the human factor along side technology.
Kurt Vonnegut took a different approach towards technology. He brought technology a new face in Cat’s Cradle. One example is how Vonnegut wrote that people look at technology differently. Either thinking deeply, trying to pursue the highest form of technology, or showing less enthusiasm but still living everyday with the technology we have. In Cat’s Cradle, Vonnegut brought a pair of people who both think differently of the world around them. “’You scientists think too much,’ blurted Miss Pefko. Dr. Breed’s friendliness had blown every fuse in her nervous system. ‘You all think too much’” (33). Vonnegut shows that different people take different interest to technology. Some look for all the answers, while some ignore the problem.
Kurt Vonnegut also explained the trouble technology can have while it’s in the wrong hands. Vonnegut had many references to the atom bomb. The atom bomb was built to kill, and that is what it did. Some say the atom bomb technology should not be built because of the devastation it brings. If atom bombs fall into the wrong hands, many people could be killed. Another example Vonnegut used to show technology in the wrong hands is the ice-nine. Ice-nine freezes water instantly. When put into a major water source, all the water of the world could freeze up. During Cat’s Cradle, the ice-nine falls into the river, causing the entire Earth to go into chaos.
Kim Vicente raised a few questions during “The Human Factor.” One question was how do people know the limits of the human factor? Just like everything else, technology must have a breaking point. When pushing the limits to how much is too much, I believe humans are going to find out the hard way what is too much in technology. One example to humans pushing the limits is how global warming is affecting the Earth. In “The Human Factor,” Vicente stated “ecological degradation is posing a dreadful threat to our quality of life. Statistics from studies of pollution, climate change and species extinction overwhelmingly show the severity and breadth of the global problems we’re facing” (26). Vicente sees how technology is causing problems with not only society, but also Earth.
Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle ended with an apocalyptic ending, which is entitled to bring up a few questions. My initial question to the novel was what is the line for today’s technology that could send us into an apocalyptic state? Technology is still rising at a fast pace rate, which means some technology could still be in the process to being figured out correctly. Another question that Kurt Vonnegut raises in his novel is at what point do human beings need to step away from technology, before a devastating act happens. The ice-nine froze everything in its area, wiping out a majority of the wildlife around the area. Could our technologies today cause the same chaos as the ice-nine. Computers and weapons are more complex than ever, which could indicate that some of these technologies have the potential to lose control and cause major harm. In Cat’s Cradle, Newt’s letter to Jonah explained how powerful the moment of the atomic bomb was and how two different personalities looked at it. “After the thing went off, after it was a sure thing that America could wipe out a city with just one bomb, a scientist turned to Father and said, ‘Science has now known sin.’ And do u know what Father said? He said, ‘What is sin?’’ (17). When a person like Felix doesn’t understand the magnitude the atom bomb was, it is hard to see people today cutting down on technology. Technology can be looked at differently, in a good way to realize what we have done is wrong, or in a poor way, not seeing the destruction done and thinking it can be done better.
I believe technology is at a rapid progression, seeing how small or how fast we can make today’s accessories is very impressive. Preventing the fates of “The Human Factor” and Cat’s Cradle are two examples of technology having a good potential, but then having being turned out poorly. Technology will always be involved with people’s everyday lives, but it will be the human factor that will be the key aspect to how technology evolves in the future.
Kim Vicente’s “The Human Factor” is an explanation of how humans affect the technology they use. Technology is built to assist the user, and it is the user who decides how the technology can by used. Vicente’s first example of the human factor playing a role in technology is how doctors and airplane pilots have set work schedules. In order to work at their peak performance, doctors and airplane pilots have set and regulated work schedules. A set work schedule is a type of technology because it is helping assist the doctors and airplane pilots to working at their very best which helps many people live a safe life.
The human factor can also play a bad role in technology. When technology is taken to and even past its limits, a price is usually to pay. Vicente explained the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown could have occurred due to the human factor. Vicente wrote “technology-with all its promise and potential-has gotten so far beyond human control that it’s threatening the future of humankind” (28). Vicente believes that technology is going to be pushed to far beyond control, leaving the entire Earth to suffer. The Chernobyl incident occurred in Russia, but the radiation spread throughout contaminating many of the surrounding people and wildlife. Vicente explained the benefits and the downfalls to the human factor along side technology.
Kurt Vonnegut took a different approach towards technology. He brought technology a new face in Cat’s Cradle. One example is how Vonnegut wrote that people look at technology differently. Either thinking deeply, trying to pursue the highest form of technology, or showing less enthusiasm but still living everyday with the technology we have. In Cat’s Cradle, Vonnegut brought a pair of people who both think differently of the world around them. “’You scientists think too much,’ blurted Miss Pefko. Dr. Breed’s friendliness had blown every fuse in her nervous system. ‘You all think too much’” (33). Vonnegut shows that different people take different interest to technology. Some look for all the answers, while some ignore the problem.
Kurt Vonnegut also explained the trouble technology can have while it’s in the wrong hands. Vonnegut had many references to the atom bomb. The atom bomb was built to kill, and that is what it did. Some say the atom bomb technology should not be built because of the devastation it brings. If atom bombs fall into the wrong hands, many people could be killed. Another example Vonnegut used to show technology in the wrong hands is the ice-nine. Ice-nine freezes water instantly. When put into a major water source, all the water of the world could freeze up. During Cat’s Cradle, the ice-nine falls into the river, causing the entire Earth to go into chaos.
Kim Vicente raised a few questions during “The Human Factor.” One question was how do people know the limits of the human factor? Just like everything else, technology must have a breaking point. When pushing the limits to how much is too much, I believe humans are going to find out the hard way what is too much in technology. One example to humans pushing the limits is how global warming is affecting the Earth. In “The Human Factor,” Vicente stated “ecological degradation is posing a dreadful threat to our quality of life. Statistics from studies of pollution, climate change and species extinction overwhelmingly show the severity and breadth of the global problems we’re facing” (26). Vicente sees how technology is causing problems with not only society, but also Earth.
Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle ended with an apocalyptic ending, which is entitled to bring up a few questions. My initial question to the novel was what is the line for today’s technology that could send us into an apocalyptic state? Technology is still rising at a fast pace rate, which means some technology could still be in the process to being figured out correctly. Another question that Kurt Vonnegut raises in his novel is at what point do human beings need to step away from technology, before a devastating act happens. The ice-nine froze everything in its area, wiping out a majority of the wildlife around the area. Could our technologies today cause the same chaos as the ice-nine. Computers and weapons are more complex than ever, which could indicate that some of these technologies have the potential to lose control and cause major harm. In Cat’s Cradle, Newt’s letter to Jonah explained how powerful the moment of the atomic bomb was and how two different personalities looked at it. “After the thing went off, after it was a sure thing that America could wipe out a city with just one bomb, a scientist turned to Father and said, ‘Science has now known sin.’ And do u know what Father said? He said, ‘What is sin?’’ (17). When a person like Felix doesn’t understand the magnitude the atom bomb was, it is hard to see people today cutting down on technology. Technology can be looked at differently, in a good way to realize what we have done is wrong, or in a poor way, not seeing the destruction done and thinking it can be done better.
I believe technology is at a rapid progression, seeing how small or how fast we can make today’s accessories is very impressive. Preventing the fates of “The Human Factor” and Cat’s Cradle are two examples of technology having a good potential, but then having being turned out poorly. Technology will always be involved with people’s everyday lives, but it will be the human factor that will be the key aspect to how technology evolves in the future.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Blog Assignment 2
"He gave so much, and they gave him so little." -Angela pg. 177
In this passage Angela starts to drink heavily and then begins to describe to Jonah, Newt, and Julian Castle about the lack of income her father, Dr. Hoenikker, earned. He received a forty-five-dollar bonus for every patient and a twenty-eight thousand dollar salary. For Dr. Hoenikker's generation, that amount of money is a very large income, but Angela thought her father deserved a lot more. She also explained how it was fair that Dr. Breed made ten thousand dollars more.
Earlier in the book, Vonnegut described how Angela Hoenikker devoted her entire life around the well being of her father. Because her father didn't take care of himself, she was there making sure his jacket was on and he was always fed. Now that he had died, Angela is still upset that Dr. Hoenikker didn't get paid well enough for the work he did. In my opinion, Dr. Hoenikker committed so much of his life to science that he wouldn't worry about anything else except pursuing pure research.
The Hoenikker family was described to never being a closely knit family, but Angela was the one who tried to bring them all together. She may have believed her father deserved more money because she put in so much time taking care of her father. Knowing that he is a very busy scientist, she committed to being there for him so he could put all his time into his work. She was looking out for her whole family and wanted the best for them, and she would put their worries always ahead of hers.
Kurt Vonnegut's description of Angela during the entire Cat's Cradle leads me to believe that she took the role of mother after her mother died. The family was left helpless and she stepped in and did what she believed was the right thing to do. One example in the book that I saw Angela playing the motherly role was when Newt had black paint on his hand. She told Newt "You've got paint all over your face, honey. Go wash it off." pg 170. This quote doesn't sound like a sister to brother relationship, it sounds more mother to son to me.
I responded to this part of the story because it shows Angela's true character on what type of role for the family she has taken. Vonnegut described her as taking the motherly roles, and I believe she is the glue that kept the Hoenikker family together.
My first question is why does Angela believe her father deserved more money, after he created the atom bomb? Another question is what does Vonnegut want his readers to know about the atom bomb and its relationship to Dr. Hoenikker? Lastly, why did Vonnegut describe Angela as a motherly type person, then put her into a terrible marriage with a bad husband?
In this passage Angela starts to drink heavily and then begins to describe to Jonah, Newt, and Julian Castle about the lack of income her father, Dr. Hoenikker, earned. He received a forty-five-dollar bonus for every patient and a twenty-eight thousand dollar salary. For Dr. Hoenikker's generation, that amount of money is a very large income, but Angela thought her father deserved a lot more. She also explained how it was fair that Dr. Breed made ten thousand dollars more.
Earlier in the book, Vonnegut described how Angela Hoenikker devoted her entire life around the well being of her father. Because her father didn't take care of himself, she was there making sure his jacket was on and he was always fed. Now that he had died, Angela is still upset that Dr. Hoenikker didn't get paid well enough for the work he did. In my opinion, Dr. Hoenikker committed so much of his life to science that he wouldn't worry about anything else except pursuing pure research.
The Hoenikker family was described to never being a closely knit family, but Angela was the one who tried to bring them all together. She may have believed her father deserved more money because she put in so much time taking care of her father. Knowing that he is a very busy scientist, she committed to being there for him so he could put all his time into his work. She was looking out for her whole family and wanted the best for them, and she would put their worries always ahead of hers.
Kurt Vonnegut's description of Angela during the entire Cat's Cradle leads me to believe that she took the role of mother after her mother died. The family was left helpless and she stepped in and did what she believed was the right thing to do. One example in the book that I saw Angela playing the motherly role was when Newt had black paint on his hand. She told Newt "You've got paint all over your face, honey. Go wash it off." pg 170. This quote doesn't sound like a sister to brother relationship, it sounds more mother to son to me.
I responded to this part of the story because it shows Angela's true character on what type of role for the family she has taken. Vonnegut described her as taking the motherly roles, and I believe she is the glue that kept the Hoenikker family together.
My first question is why does Angela believe her father deserved more money, after he created the atom bomb? Another question is what does Vonnegut want his readers to know about the atom bomb and its relationship to Dr. Hoenikker? Lastly, why did Vonnegut describe Angela as a motherly type person, then put her into a terrible marriage with a bad husband?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Blog Assignment 1
When comparing Kim Vicente's chapter of "The Human Facor" and half of Kurt Vonnegut's "Cat's Cradle," I found that both authors see technology as having major downsides. The explanation of the Chernobyl incident showed me that it truly was human flaws that led to the deaths of many. The same goes for Mr. Hoenikker and his involvement with the dropping of the atomic bomb. When being described in the story, Mr. Hoenikker was a quiet man who kept to his own business during his life. When working on a weapon with the potential to kill thousands, perhaps Mr. Hoenikker didn't think of the devestation his work would do.
The criticims made towards technology in the two readings brings a different perspective to the minds of people who believe all techology is good. In my mind, techonolgy is started out to make our lives easier with good intentions. Later then, humans become the problem with technology, perhaps pushing it to far to top other countries. In "Cat's Cradle," having the ice-nine would have made the military have an easier time in mud, but while it solves all the watery areas they are in the problem would become way larger freezing all the water on Earth.
In my opinion, the "human factor" means that humans have the control over not only their lives, but also the technology that affects others lives as well. When pushing the limits of technology, we are risking the chances of not only hurting ourselves, but aslo the environment that our future generations will have to live with. When having a strong self control with our technology, we will know how far is too far with the research being done. I believe Vicente used the term "human factor" to show that humans are to blame if technology goes wrong.
The criticims made towards technology in the two readings brings a different perspective to the minds of people who believe all techology is good. In my mind, techonolgy is started out to make our lives easier with good intentions. Later then, humans become the problem with technology, perhaps pushing it to far to top other countries. In "Cat's Cradle," having the ice-nine would have made the military have an easier time in mud, but while it solves all the watery areas they are in the problem would become way larger freezing all the water on Earth.
In my opinion, the "human factor" means that humans have the control over not only their lives, but also the technology that affects others lives as well. When pushing the limits of technology, we are risking the chances of not only hurting ourselves, but aslo the environment that our future generations will have to live with. When having a strong self control with our technology, we will know how far is too far with the research being done. I believe Vicente used the term "human factor" to show that humans are to blame if technology goes wrong.
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