Roszak's critique of computer technology and human consciousness

Computers and the Internet

The Naked Mind

When Roszak refers to the "naked mind," he means to speak about the capacity and ability of the human mind as compared to the capabilities that the computer machines can do. According to Roszak, how the human mind works has vital differences from how computers process information. Roszak praises the human mind because according to him, the human mind is more dynamic and more independent than the computer machines. That is, humans can achieve their goals without having to depend on machines. The machines, on the other hand, cannot do the same independence to reach achievements. Roszak states that but I find it important to recall that mind has never been dependent on machinery to reach the peaks of achievement agree with Roszak when he suggests that the human mind is powerful than the potentials that humans think of about machineries. It is indeed true that the powers of the human mind can never be out-measured by what computers can do, even by the most ingenious machines. After all, such machines were all products of the intellect and vision of the human mind.

The Mainstay of Technology in the Mass Market"

Perhaps, the mainstay of technology in the mass market that Roszak speaks about are the computer machines that currently rule the information age. It is a common knowledge that computers are now produced massively to meet the needs of society in this age of information and technology. Hence, almost everyone now owns a computer and that almost everyone's professions and tasks are facilitated by computers.

Roszak believes that this mainstay of technology in the mass market can be a threat to the reality in life that humans must consider. The power that computer machines can provide to man, according to Roszak, has been exaggerated by the claims and beliefs of man on the machine. According to Roszak, it is not the mainstay of the technology that deliberately presents threat but the vision and belief of man on computers. Roszak states that The computer... has been overdressed in fabulous claims. Further, I believe these claims have been deliberately propagated by elements in our society that are making some of the most morally questionable uses of computer power. The glowing promises with which they have surrounded that power need to be challenged if the computer is not to be delivered into the wrong hands. As this should make clear, my interest...is not in the technology of computers, but in their folklore: the images of power, the illusions of well-being, the fantasies and wishful thinking that have grown up around the machine. Primarily, my target is the concept to which the technology has become inextricably linked in the public mind: information.

Financial Market Concerns - Real Economy

Roszak's concern on the financial market involves the relationship of technology and economy in terms of gain and fall. According to Roszak, technology is already bringing problems that were as significant as with the solutions that it brings. One area that technology presents problems is in the financial market, where, if technology is used in the hands of the wrong people (Roszak), problems will certainly arise. Roszak further discussed that the money that comes in the market nowadays are not products of "real economy" such as services, manufacturing, industrial firms, and many others. Instead, they come from "information economy." As defined by Roszak, "information economy" is nothing more than the ethereal "derivative" financial products that can only exist in a world where minute-by-minute tracking of enormous volumes of data is possible

If money is diverted away from the real economy, I believe that it will certainly matter. Humans should not be enslaved by technology. If money will only exist because of "information economy," which is very prone to wrong and illegal activities, what will happen then to the world? It may be possible that the world we live in will be inhabited with greedy humans that only reach for the goal of gaining money in a wrong way.

Sherry Turkle's Simulation

Perhaps what Sherry Turkle means, when she says."..they also accustom us to manipulating systems whose core assumptions we may not understand..." In reference to simulation games, is that we may not be able to fully understand everything that is embedded, and that comprises, technology but we can get accustomed in using it nevertheless. As with simulation games where a computer user may not completely know everything in the game, but is able to play much of it anyhow, technology may accustom us to lose interest in exploring things as long as we are able to manipulate it. In such case, Turkle is concerned that we must challenge our built-in assumptions rather than just let rely on them. Relying on self-assumptions and intuitions is one threat of technology that may accustom us.

When Turkle says "in the real world we have never had a greater need to work our binary assumptions," she perhaps means that it is a fact that most people rely on assumptions anyway. Usually, people never explore things out. Rather, they just let their basic instincts rule them.

PowerPoint Carries Its "Own Way of Thinking" Where "Presentation Becomes Its Own Idea"

This means that the use of technology, like PowerPoint, allows the delivery of more idea to its audience.

Aside from the idea that a student may try to present in his PowerPoint presentation, the tool itself can provide other way of transmitting the idea to the audience. Thereby, making the presentation a presentation of other information.

Embedding [information technology] in a culture that supports democracy, tolerance...and the complexity opinion is one of the next decade's greatest challenges we cannot afford to fail."

It is a fact that technology can bring both advantages and disadvantages to us. It brings advantages if it is used in good things. Otherwise, it will bring disadvantages to us. In a culture where there is democracy, people have the choice on how to use technology. How to use technology is a challenge for us. We cannot afford to fail because of the vast possibilities of consequences that technology can bring to humankind.