Politics in Wired Nations: Selected Writings of Ithiel De Sola Pool by Ithiel de Sola Pool

Author:Ithiel de Sola Pool [Pool, Ithiel de Sola]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Political Science, General, History & Theory
ISBN: 9781351291064
Google: wSBWDwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 39950002
Publisher: Routledge
Published: 1997-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

A Closing Observation

The processes described can be generalized in a closing observation about technological determinism. Usually the physical nature of a technology in its early and primitive form is fairly determinative of its use. At that primitive stage there is little understanding either of the underlying laws that are embodied in the device or of the technical alternatives. If the technology is to be used at all, it must be used with the existing hardware. Technological determinism is, therefore, a powerful force at that early stage.

Later, intellectual understanding of the technology advances, and as technicians learn how to make the device do what they want it to do, the degree of technological determinism declines. Social values, goals, and policies take over, and the technology is shaped to serve them.

In its early days, telecommunications technology had a significant effect on the character of the modern city, mainly leading to urban concentration. Later, a more flexible telecommunications technology allowed people increasingly to escape urban concentration.

In prospect now is a still more flexible and malleable communications technology that will give people still more choices about how they will use it. One choice that seems very likely to be frequently made in the near future is to use telecommunications as a way to resist the renewed force toward urban concentration that stems from the rising cost of energy.

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