Technology, a Blessing or a Curse
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The main question that MacKay arises in the entire text is If technology is a blessing or a cures, he questions this a few times in the first couple pages.
He doesnt strictly stick with one or the other, Even though his text style is very cynical and more so against the advances of technology. Instead he goes ahead to describe how the idea of a blessing or a cures was inevitable, that it was always going to have its pluses and its minuses no matter what. But here is his real question, is there more blessings or curses. And are theses curse worth the sacrifice for the greater good of society as a whole.
He expresses this question using the abuse of text based technological communication.
A sub question arises from this, which is if Communication technology is being used for the purpose of which it is designed for.
At the beginning of his articles MacKay uses reference from Bill Gates to construct this question.
It stats ” Its not an alternative: its a different process altogether.” This statement questions how technology was really meant to be utilises, and the use of Gates statements reinforces MacKays credibility and the questions he arises.
So how is information technology supposed to be used?
Well Mackay attempts to solves this question by making clear that communication is a blessing when regarding the communication based on a business level, such as transmitting mountains of digital information or documents in the blink of an eye. In this respect Mackay considers technology to be an asset.
Technological communication only becomes a curse when the text communication becomes personal and human emotions are involved.
Hence, the idea of the paradox.
Which brings us back to the question, if the sacrifice is worth it?
He contrasts his point with the industrial revolution, describing how the invention of the car and the plane brought us a better sense of togetherness and has made us more productive in everyday life, but in doing so has polluted our planet.
Same thing here applies with his question, technological communication has brought us a faster way to do business with one and other all around the world, but the same technology has caused individuals to lose touch with basic human morals and ethics.
This leads me into MacKays next explored question; which is if ICT has lead societies and individuals into a state of which is unnatural concerning communication skills and the desire to communicate face to face.
Mackay raises this by stating that human are being digitised and rendered immune to the need for face to face human communication,