Changing technologies

As we all know, Marshall McLuhan famously stated that technologies can be seen as extensions of the human self, though it is not only this concept which i find interesting, but also the issue of our dependency and attitude towards new media technologies. Concerns which were raised in the third lecture questioned whether or not humans have come to identify themselves through technology, the idea of technology being an adornment/attachable/detachable accessory, and our reliance on external technologies to function within society today. Other ideas which grew from these key concepts can be identified when looking at the argument as to whether or not technology is used to remedy deficiencies of the human body, or, if in fact these deficiencies are just the limitations. An example of this can be seen through the use of the telephone which carries the voice over a large distance, does this technological invention remedy the human voice?

The idea that media shape the way we organize our thoughts is also of high relevance, for example, post-it-notes aid the transportation of our ideas in comparison to the note pad. Our daily activities are so heavily influenced by external technologies that they have become a vital part of our regular routines. I do not view this as a negative thing though, just a consequence and outcome of the technological age in which we live in. The idea of Cyborg theory is also significant within society toady, it can be explored thorough the breakdown of three important factors, those being: Animal/human, organism/machine and physical/non physical. Understanding the ideas of cyborg theory can be identified through the concept of celebrating hybridity and warning against essentialism. It warns against believing in the idea that all humans share the same traits, and supports the belief that what makes us unique is the different technologies that we utilize and therefore how we use them. Ultimately these developments play an extremely important role in the way this current generation think about, act towards and use changing technologies.