Moore's Law and Technological Determinism: Reflections on the History of Technology

Ceruzzi, Paul E.

doi:10.1353/tech.2005.0116

Cited by 61 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…But Moore's Law is not a natural law; instead, it is a self-referential forecast about the future of a socio-technical environment that involves complex and unpredictable feedbacks. Manufacturers of integrated chips themselves use projections of Moore's Law as production targets for the expected number of transistors they will try to fit on a chip [10]. In this way the socio-technical forecasts of Moore's Law become folded into readings of ubiquitous computing's envisionings, and so bundled in with their accountable character.…”

Section: Envisionings and Forecastsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Envisioning ubiquitous computing

Reeves

2012

Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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Visions of the future are a common feature of discourse within ubiquitous computing and, more broadly, HCI. 'Envisioning', a characteristic future-oriented technique for design thinking, often features as significant part of our research processes in the field. This paper compares, contrasts and critiques the varied ways in which envisionings have been used within ubiquitous computing and traces their relationships to other, different envisionings, such as those of virtual reality. In unpacking envisioning, it argues primarily that envisioning should be foregrounded as a significant concern and interest within HCI. Foregrounding envisioning's frequent mix of fiction, forecasting and extrapolation, the paper recommends changes in the way we read, interpret and use envisionings through taking into account issues such as context and intended audience.

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Section: Envisionings and Forecastsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Envisioning ubiquitous computing

Reeves

2012

Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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“…Qualquer pessoa que possua um computador pessoal, um portátil ou um tablet (são vendidos no mundo, por ano, entre 400 e 500 milhões destes 3 dispositivos 17 ), depara-se com um processo de atualização permanente do software que cedo torna os produtos obsoletos ou obriga a novas aprendizagens por parte do utilizador sem que nenhum destes atos passe por discussão e debate (Ceruzzi, P. 2005). Mesmo os chamados "nativos digitais" enfrentam dificuldades no que diz respeito aos conhecimentos sobre o digital em contexto profissional, diferente do ocioso, o único realmente dominado por esta geração (Arranz et al, 2017).…”

Section: Pano De Fundounclassified

“Era bom que trocássemos umas ideias sobre o assunto”: análise à retórica da tecnologia

Mendonça

2018

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ResumoA tecnologia, sobretudo a de informação e comunicação, é uma variável central da propaganda moderna. Fazer propaganda implica ter à disposição meios poderosos de difusão de mensagens, possibilidade garantida pela técnica atual. Esta relação pode desenhar-se sob uma segunda forma: a tecnologia como conteúdo propagado. Pretende-se analisar esta vertente, mas articulando-a com a disposição material da tecnologia no quotidiano enquanto modo também ele propagandístico de a apresentar. Para o efeito, articulam-se os conceitos de "propaganda", em Jacques Ellul, e de "retórica", em Michel Meyer. Em Ellul, a propaganda é uma prá-tica totalizante; em Meyer, a retórica é interrogatividade, aspeto por vezes ausente, facto associado a ações de propaganda. Julga-se que a tecnologia hoje apresenta-se como total e pouco interrogada. Para o evidenciar, indicam-se um conjunto de casos e dados que mostram a existência desta retórica contundente na comunicação da tecnologia (designada de "pano de boca") e na vivência dos artefactos técnicos como bens de consumo e pragmática do quotidiano (referida como "pano de fundo"). Em suma, elabora-se uma análise ao estado da discussão sobre o desenvolvimento técnico, verificando a sua fraqueza e sublinhando as implicações éticas e políticas.Palavras-chave: tecnologia; propaganda; comunicação; retórica. AbstractTechnology, especially information and communication technologies, is a central variable in modern propaganda. Propaganda implies someone having powerful means of spreading a message, a possibility guaranteed by technique. This relationship can be drawn under a second form: technology as propagated content. The aim of this paper is to analyze this aspect, but articulating it with the material disposition of technology in everyday life as an also propagandistic way of presenting it. To this end, the concepts of "propaganda"by Jacques Ellul and "rhetoric"by Michel Meyer are articulated. In Ellul, propaganda is a totalizing practice; in Meyer, rhetoric is about questioning, an aspect sometimes absent of media -a fact associated with propaganda. It is believed that technology today presents itself as a totalization and with lack of questioning about its orientation. To demonstrate this, a set of cases and data are shown that identify the existence of a rhetoric of contundency in the communication of tech-Data de submissão: 2018-03-29. Data de aprovação: 2018-04-26.A Revista Estudos em Comunicação é financiada por Fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Factores de Competitividade -COMPETE e por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do projeto Comunicação, Filosofia e Humanidades (LabCom.IFP) UID/CCI/00661/2013.

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“…The type of technological determinism inherent in Moore's Law (i.e., exponential growth in computer processing capacity) will no doubt result in more integrated networks, facilitating communication among billions of people and agents. When we improve on DNA or optical or quantum computing, we will discover capacities that we are not yet aware of (Ceruzzi 2005). Are we, though, trying to replicate something that is of a whole other order than intelligence alone?…”

Section: Are Our Present Bodies Crucial For Human Identity?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Religion and the New Technologies

2017

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, Wired published a controversial article entitled "Why the Future Doesn't Need Us" by Joy (2000), co-founder and chief scientist at Sun Microsystems. In this article, Joy called for a moratorium on research in three technological fields-artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and genetic engineering. He noted that, while we were poised to make rapid technological advances in each of these three areas, our understanding of the ethical questions these technologies would inevitably raise was lagging far behind. Fearing that a convergence of these technologies could be deadly, Joy writes, "We are being propelled into this new century with no plan, no control, no brakes. Have we already gone too far down the path to alter course? I don't believe so, but we aren't trying yet, and the last chance to assert control-the fail-safe point-is rapidly approaching." The intervening years since Joy's warning have indeed brought significant advances in each of these technologies-Deep Learning, nanobots, CRISPER-Cas9, just to name a few. While a moratorium on their development was never in the cards, Joy was right about one thing. These technologies have huge implications for how human life will unfold, indeed, for what it might mean to be human in the coming decades. Each holds great promise-for new medical cures, for new materials, and for new insights into our world. They will bring great wealth to some and could ease the human condition for many. However, as Joy warned, each of these technologies also brings the possibility of great peril. Science fiction writers have explored the worst-case scenarios. But we need not go to extremes to find reasons for concern. Artificial intelligence may not surpass human intelligence in the foreseeable future, but it is likely to soon displace many workers from their jobs. Nanotechnology may not end in the whole world converted to "grey goo," as engineer and futurist Eric Drexler once suggested, but we do not know what long term effects nanoparticles, and other technological innovations, could have on the environment. Genetic manipulation may not end in biological warfare, but it is likely to exacerbate the divide between those who can afford it and those who cannot. For good or ill, these technologies will change the way we work, live, think, and love. Thus, it makes sense to approach them from a religious perspective. How do these technologies change our understanding of ourselves, our place in the world, our relationships to one another, the way we face death, or our relationship to God? These are not new questions. Since the first humans fashioned weapons and clothing and controlled fire, humans have been using technology to master our environment. French philosopher Jacques Ellul describes the purpose of technology as "to defend man" (Ellul 1964, p. 405). Through technology we seek shelter from the elements and from predation, cure from sickness, and ways to make our lives safer, longer, and more comfortable. But our technologies go beyond a defensive role. Early humans also mixed pai...

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Moore's Law and Technological Determinism: Reflections on the History of Technology

Cited by 61 publications

References 16 publications

Envisioning ubiquitous computing

Envisioning ubiquitous computing

“Era bom que trocássemos umas ideias sobre o assunto”: análise à retórica da tecnologia

Religion and the New Technologies

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