Mass Media And
Technology
A writers technique : figures of speech
core reading -1
Computer and the pursuit of happiness
David
Gelernter
·
This
essay refuses the fact that 21st century is the age of information technology.
The writer puts there questions:
a)
Are
computer and the internet really responsible for the revolution of information
technology.
b)
Whether
the computer and the internet has really helped the human being over 50 years.
c)
Will
the computer and the internet play significant change in the next fifty years.
In this essay the writer is writing the
public opinion that the writers have brought revolution in information
technology. According to the writer it is not only the computer and the
internet that has played a significant roll is making the age as information is
but the other means like radio and television are equally responsible.
The
writer clearly says that neither we are in information nor the computers and
internet have brought revolutionary development in human history. The people
claim that what counts in 21st century is the information but they
have been mistaken. In fact the materials which were important in the 20th
century are equally important even in the present time. The writer says ,”
virtual food make you feel full but it does not prevent from starting.” It
clearifies that the artificial world or the abstract ideas can never help the
human beings to live a natural life.
It
is generally claimed that we have got sophisticated machines to create stone
and deliver the information. However this claim is not able to process that the
present generation are much happen that the precious ones. No doubt the
children of the present time enjoy their self in play with computers. But it
don’t not necessary mean that the part generations were not happy.
The
writer believe that the computers and the internet have brought a redical
change in science and engineering however it is just and evolution of the
industrial age in other sector. Therefore 21th century is not a revolution but
it is an evolution of the 20th century.
Have
computers been good or bad for making seems they were invented 50 years ago.
Obviously information has inriched the life a moral human beings but it doesn't necessarily mean that wealthy people are happy. The writer compares the
information technology with plumbing. In the industrial age the common place
was the well where face to face communication was possible. But in 21st century
the water has been brought to home with
the help of plumbing. Un doubtey, it is easy but not healthy. Truly speaking
the compacter and the internet have ignored help benefit. Moreover human desires are the same although the ways of fulfill them might be differed. Therefore
the life of the marking hasn’t been changed by the computers and the internet.
# Will the computers and internet
bring significant changes in the next 50 years?
The
writer doesn't cleared that the computers and the internet have brought changes
in the present time. This main argument is that the development of the
information technology is continuous and there is no revolution yet all. He
compares the development of information technology which breathing. Just as
breathing supports the life, so does information technology. Besides there is
no significant change in the structure of human desires but here might be in
the days to come. Although the writer criticizes the role of the computers and
the internet in his first 2 paints he argues that the whole pectic should not
be give only to the computes and the internet. But we have to see the contribution of the industrial age for the progress of the 21st century.
Themes
-
Possibilities
and limitations of technology.
-
The
nature of technological change.
-
The
pros (adv) and cons (disadv) of the internet
-
Online
shopping and education.
-
The
difference between information and knowledge
-
The
distinction between reality and virtual reality.
Three
Questions
I.
Whether
thanks to the computers and the internet.
II.
Whether
computes have been beneficial or determental (harmful)
III.
Whether
computers are likely to have positive or negative influence.
David Gelernter is this argumentative
essay raises three question about the use of computers and internet and address
them an his own way. First question he raises is his whether thanks to computer
and internet we are now giving in a new information age. He answer this
question negatively and says that we aren’t in a information age and computer
and the internet aren’t a revolutionary development in human history except in
science and engineering. He opines that we need food, clothing, sheltered and
possession and this thing are need now. There is not any change in this
matters. Brought by information age he says information age is the
revolutionary development of industrial age.
The second question is whither
computer have been beneficial, detrimental( harmful) to humanity over the last
50 years. Even this question, answers negatively. Through computers have
generated lots of information and much wealth, human happiness has increased on
the whole. New technology have came into existence but social structure. They
have engendered haven’t necessarily improved and the human element associated
with old structure has decreased.
The
third question is whither computes or likely to have positive or negative
influences. Over next half centuries ( 50 years). This question is answered
rather positively. He says that technology will have little to do with human
happiness in the future. Respite the new possibilities that new technologies
introduce human uniqueness and happiness lie between technological strength,
sped and intellect.
