SOC 3116 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: New Media, Social Reality, Wi-Fi
27 Jun 2018
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Department
Course
Professor
Learning Objectives
Develop a better appreciation of how much we rely upon electronic technologies
Implicate our actions today in the technology of the future
ICT - information communication technology
Focus of course - the role that technology plays in society
All of us ae users of technology in one way or another, it helps us but we can also become
frustrated with technology. Focus of course is not on the technology itself. We are trying to
critically examine the way technology shapes our social reality.
Social reality - how we perceive the world around us. We take for granted that the way that we
see the world is in fact how the world is. We are taught to think about the perspective that we
have in that way. More critically, we can recognize that each one of us has a different perspective
on how we see the world, how we see our relationship to the world around us, the people around
us etc.…
How we see reality is not a natural or absolute state. There is no absolute reality that we can say
"this is the way it is". There is not one thing that every single person can/will agree on.
We are trying to recognize that there are certain factors that shape and inform what it is we mean
when we talk about reality.
Our social reality is a function of the era we live in, where we live and endless other factors about
how we see the world and our place in it.
Focus of course - how does technology shape our social reality.
How does technology shape our social reality?
oMore independent/alone
oGreater access to information (but, less certainty about that information)
oGreater homogeneity
oGlobal village (meaning smaller earth)
oDifferent perceptions of "friendship"
oDifferent conception of community
oGreater global awareness - we can see and learn about different places because of
technology
oDiminished privacy linguistic dimensions regarding our use of language (words coming
from technology)
oAnonymity
We are exposed to a lot of information to use technology, accept technology and not ask any
questions about technology
Generally, advertising tell you good things, not bad things or problematic things about technology.
But its not just advertising, we always hear people telling you not to question technology.
The assumption is that technology is good for you (university provides access to Wi-Fi)
Does technology help you in life? Maybe but not necessarily.
Distraction is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Distraction is something that we pretend
that we can cope with. We tell ourselves how good it is and how its going to make us better
without addressing the fact that most of us perform far poorer by virtue of being distracted.
Multitasking is the idea that we tell ourselves that we cannot focus on anything for more than a
few minutes but we can focus on a lot of different things. Saying it as if it makes us more effective
- growing body of research confirming that that is completely untrue.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Develop a better appreciation of how much we rely upon electronic technologies. Implicate our actions today in the technology of the future. Focus of course - the role that technology plays in society. All of us ae users of technology in one way or another, it helps us but we can also become frustrated with technology. Focus of course is not on the technology itself. We are trying to critically examine the way technology shapes our social reality. Social reality - how we perceive the world around us. We take for granted that the way that we see the world is in fact how the world is. We are taught to think about the perspective that we have in that way. More critically, we can recognize that each one of us has a different perspective on how we see the world, how we see our relationship to the world around us, the people around us etc.
