CMN 1160 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Substantivism, Technological Determinism, Social Forces

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Communication
• Course: CMN 1160
• Professor: Daniel Pare

Document Summary

Communication technology and society: theory and practice convergence: The merging of previously distinct media technologies and media forms through digitization and computer networking. Or a business strategy by which the media properties of communication conglomerates work together. Technology: the devices and the knowledge or understanding of their use and operation and an understanding of how they fit into a larger set of social circumstances. Cyborg: emphasizes how humans and human activity articulate with technologies. Instrumentalism: relatively naive position, which view technology as a value-neutral tool that can shorten the path to a natural ends or social goal. Technological determinism: technology operates according to an inexorable logic inherent in the technology itself, always towards progress. Substantivism: technology operates on its own inherent logic, but this logic is does not necessarily represent progress or improvement. Sees technology as offering possibilities from which society chooses a course of action.