tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606986552278957417.post5804682954421746242..comments2013-04-05T11:15:11.375-07:00Comments on Research Methods to the EXTREME: Are Researchers Slaves to Technology?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00047431081245424412noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606986552278957417.post-43336308911855983362013-02-01T10:52:29.821-08:002013-02-01T10:52:29.821-08:00Yup, I also think that "technological determi...Yup, I also think that "technological determinism" implies a chain of causal effects, all of which necessarily follow from the other. The interplay between technologies and our daily practices seems more a matter of reciprocal, relational influence...But the line between influence and effect is fine indeed!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11841274727181569847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8606986552278957417.post-5334147826700987932013-01-29T17:11:13.872-08:002013-01-29T17:11:13.872-08:00This reminds me of a question that came up in our ...This reminds me of a question that came up in our last class about the actual value of technology. Do we in some cases use newer technologies simply because of access, even though older (and perhaps wiser) technologies would do a better job? The example given was that of paper surveys.<br /> <br /><br />I can't remember the exact response, but the prof noted something about technological determinism, and used the analogy of 'everything seeming nail like, if one has a hammer.' I've never fully understood how to apply that analogy to my actual life, but whenever I hear it, images of hammers and nails appear, and I start trying to figuratively put them together...am I shaping my environment, (i.e. existence), or is it shaping me? <br /><br />In this case, I started thinking of the technology in the room; the MAC I'd borrowed from the Inforum, the table in front of me, the chair I was sitting on, the classroom windows, projector, screens, ceiling, text book; and that sort of extended into how I got there that morning; the trains, roads, staircase, entrance ways, elevators, etc. I'd like to believe I chose my actions that morning, and perhaps to some extent I did, but would the outcome have been different had the technologies been different; and by extension, the thoughts and emotions experienced, I think most definitely!<br /><br />The term ‘technological determinism’ suggests that our course is determined by the technologies we’re exposed to, but as you've noted in your post, "the design of the technologies do not have to determine all...if one has an understanding of the design of these technologies they will be able to understand the effects they have as well as have an influence on them." - Mandi ArlainMandihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07643507466024879356noreply@blogger.com