COM 3125 Lecture Notes - Lecture 37: Digital Divide, Technological Determinism, Usability
Document Summary
An approach that identifies technology, or technological developments, as the central causal element in processes of social change. Emphasizes the overwhelming and inevitable effects of technologies on users, organizations, and societies. Technology is in control, not humans, has all the agency. Emphasizes that media technologies are embedded in ongoing social processes that affect their evolution. Doesn"t ignore the inherent capacities of different media, as a result the development and application of new media technologies is neither fixed nor fully predictable. Consists of all members of a certain social group who share the same set of meanings attached to a specific artifact. Scot sees a lot of relevant social groups competing to control a design. Refers to the gap in access to information and communication technologies between wealthy and poor regions in the world. The transition of a population from on comprised of few large audiences for any one media product to another comprised of more numerous smaller audiences.
