COMN 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Marshall Mcluhan, Substantivism, Technological Convergence

• School: York University
• Department: Communication Studies
• Course: COMN 1000
• Professor: George Georgopoulos

Document Summary

This chapter situates information and communication technology (ict) in the broader realm of technology in general. It begins with considering some theoretical perspectives on technology that emphasize its practical, social, and situated nature. Among the perspectives on discussed are instrumentalism, determinism, substantivism, critical theory, and constructivism. Ict is illustrated to be linked to social, political, and economic control. In the past century, public policy is said to have had a major impact on its development and the resulting industries with which we now live. Digitalization and technological convergence have reopened the past policy issues and problems. But the answer to how to provide for the greatest social benefit, given the technologies and industries currently emerging, may not be a replication of twentieth-century solutions. The chapter also considers the different dynamics the internet brings to policy questions and how these dynamics are challenging copyright law. The social rationales most often used in favour of technological development often highlight health and education.