Technology as a means of cultural exchange.
Caroline Gwitira
Culture is different the world over. Cultural traits, traditions, languages, art and media are presented in different ways around the world. The inherent spread of culture around the world is greatly dependent on technology. Countries that have access to advanced technological tools inherently learn about other cultures more, and are also able to share their cultures easily. This is mainly because technology facilitates the fast and efficient transmission of ideas across cultures. It is also notable that the cultures that have access to newer technologies are more widely spread the world over.
Technology has a direct impact on the way people communicate in today’s society. The development of advanced technological systems has facilitated efficient and effective communication in what we know as the digital age, an age where communication is through some sort of technological tool. Most communication is electronic and media publications are also shared via digital medium. As a result, globalization can be described as “the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa” (Giddens 1990: 64) Technological advancement in some countries facilitates optimum and timely communication of thoughts and ideas and ultimately cultural traits.
We live in a society where digital communication is more widely used than face to face communication. This daily and constant use of technology in the world is contributing greatly to Technological advances have contributed greatly to an increase in mass media communication and cultural exchange, mainly because media is more readily available to users through advanced technological devices like cell phones, iPods, and computers. Popular social networking websites on the internet are used worldwide and to some extent subliminally serve as a medium for cultural exchange.
Education is one of the areas of society that has greatly been influenced by technology. Due to a high demand of technology savvy employees in the workforce, computer literacy is being emphasized early with many schools giving their students the opportunities to work with computers in school. Even children as early as preschoolers are learning to use computers through programs like Giggle Bytes, which is an affordable solution for preschoolers to learn some computer basics. It is offered in some preschools. The use of such a program at such a young age only puts emphasis on just how big a part computers are in today’s society. Even at college level, students must use computers to complete assignments, and may even complete their education completely online. In an article in The Journal of Information Technology, Marcel J. Dumestre highlight that “U. S. colleges and universities are increasingly investing in technology to upgrade their technology infrastructure and to develop or refine their distance education programs,” a typical illustration of just how great the role of technology is in education. This ability to use technology as an educational tool has facilitated a forum to explore education methods from different places. It has also created a forum to exchange educational ideals, ideas, theories, and research through the use of modern innovative technology.
With the high cost of office space in many large cities, and the high cost of travel in today’s economy, many companies offer their employees the opportunity to telecommute. The ability for an individual to be able to work from home part or full time is yet another illustration of how deeply technology is embedded in our society. Many people have access to the internet in their homes through broadband, dial up or wifi. The convenience of having access to the technological implements in the home and on such a wide scale highlights how accessible technology is to users. Employers and e employees are able to communicate beyond a mere intranet within companies, but through the internet in what may be described as a virtual office. According to the U.S Census Bureau, in 2009 nearly seventy percent of the population that is twenty five years of age and older had access to the internet in their home in the United States. Since 2009 internet use has continued to increase around the nation. Not only do users have access to the internet in their homes through computers, but the telecommunication technology industry has also flooded markets with smart phones and other wifi capable cellular phones. This just increases the use of the internet and further illustrates how big a part of our everyday live technology has become.
Technological implements have become a part of virtually every aspect of our daily lives and in essence our culture. We use appliances everyday in our homes, at our places of employment and business, in our schools, and even our hospitals. Thus technology is a big part of our way of life. “An almost unspoken assumption about technology is that its development is inevitable,” as such is continues to become an even greater part of our culture, and in turn, “our culture shapes the technologies we build and the technologies that we adopt” (Enrico Coiera). There has been somewhat of a widespread communication revolution that is only continuing to spread in this ‘digital world’ where technology facilitates communication to such a great extent that technology in itself has become not just a medium of communication but an inherent part of our culture with users of all ages continuing and increasing their use of technology in their daily lives.
Work Cited
Image http://www.tenafly.k12.nj.us/~teisenberg2/worldcultures/
The impact of culture on technology. How do we create a clinical culture of innovation? Enrico Coiera Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of NSW Sydney http://www.informatics-review.com/thoughts/impact.html
Advances in technology affect interpersonal communication
The Impact of Technology on U. S. Higher Education: A Philosophical Approach,Marcel J. Dumestre, Loyola University New Orleans,Louisiana, U.S.A.http://www.jiti.com/v1n2/dumestre.html
Internet Use in the United States: October 2009 Detailed Tables http://www.census.gov/population/www/socdemo/computer/2009.html
7 comments:
Hi Carmen
This is a great post and article. Culture an diversity is what makes our country and world so exciting.
Hi Caroline-
Beautiful Post!
Amy
Hi Caroline,
You touch on alot of issues that technology has increased for us since its explosion... or implosion! There is alot we are offered with technology, especially education. I was thinking if I wanted to move out of the country I can still finish my degree from CUNY SPS without it being an issue and I'm sure many years ago that could not be the case.
Great Post!
Sharon
Hi Caroline,
You bring up some very valid points about technology influencing culture. In today's world the use of technology is 100% of not only our job, but, also the way we communicate. Whether we use a computer at work, a cell phone to socialize (or the internet to socialize for that matter) technology is all around us and has influenced the way we interact with others. Your article was very enjoyable to read!
Carmen
Interesting link to Giggle Bytes. How does the percentage of households with Internet in the U.S. compare with other technologically developed countries? I would have like to hear examples of cultural exchange resulting from technology as your title suggested. The first paragraphs review what we’ve already discussed in class and the readings so it would have been interesting to delve more deeply into the cultural exchange to add to our knowledge. I was curious to know how some web sites provide cultural exchange for schools in different countries and link rural communities to knowledge bases in urban areas.
Hi Caroline,
thanks for the lovely read, you are right technology is making comunication so much easier. However though I am a techi, a part of me can't help but wonder if we asre no overly reliant on technology, and losing something in the process. Also I think that a lot of us and our children are damaging our eyes, back shoulders and carpel tunnel spending too much time with the machines.
Hi Caroline,
Your essay brings up an excellent point about the use of technology and how even preschoolers are learning to use computers. I remember when there were only a few computers at school and you had to learn how to use it on your own. Technology gives us the opportunity to use the internet to keep in touch with people, make new friends and even get a college degree. It will be great to see where we are in ten years and see where technology takes us. Thanks for a great read.
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