The Culture of (High)-The Culture of (High)-Technology:Technology:

Historical and Philosophical Historical and Philosophical ConsiderationsConsiderations

Culture is a “whole way of life (ideas, Culture is a “whole way of life (ideas, attitudes, languages, practices, attitudes, languages, practices, institutions, structures of power) and a institutions, structures of power) and a whole range of cultural practices: whole range of cultural practices: artistic forms, texts, canons, artistic forms, texts, canons, architecture, mass-produced architecture, mass-produced commodities, technology, and so on. commodities, technology, and so on. […] Culture, in other words, means not […] Culture, in other words, means not only ‘high culture,’ what we usually call only ‘high culture,’ what we usually call art or literature, but also the everyday art or literature, but also the everyday practices, representations, and cultural practices, representations, and cultural productions of people and of societies.”productions of people and of societies.”

Questions Concerning TechnologyQuestions Concerning Technology

What What types of representationstypes of representations of of technology can you identify in popular technology can you identify in popular culture?culture?

How does our popular culture imagine How does our popular culture imagine our our relationship with technologyrelationship with technology??

What do these representations tell us What do these representations tell us about about the meaning of “being human”?the meaning of “being human”?

What do these representations tell us What do these representations tell us about about the meaning of technologythe meaning of technology? ?

The Utopians and the DystopiansThe Utopians and the Dystopians

In recent history there have always In recent history there have always been two views of technology.been two views of technology.

What they share in common is the What they share in common is the definition of technology as definition of technology as instrumentalinstrumental, a means to an end., a means to an end.• Heidegger thinks that this is a very Heidegger thinks that this is a very

narrow view of technology and narrow view of technology and historically quite new.historically quite new.

Theories of TechnologyTheories of Technology

The instrumental theory:The instrumental theory: Tools standing ready to serve the purpose of Tools standing ready to serve the purpose of

their users (Feenberg, 1991).their users (Feenberg, 1991). Technology in itself is deemed "neutral" Technology in itself is deemed "neutral"

• The value of technology then is determined by The value of technology then is determined by the use of the adopter.the use of the adopter.

Instrumental Technology: Freedom, Instrumental Technology: Freedom, Empowerment, and ControlEmpowerment, and Control

Box 2: Freedom at Fingertips

The American, French, and Russian revolutions notwithstanding, in 2001, NCR (finally) unveiled the “Freedom concept” to the world. In a demonstration at the Marriott Marquis hotel in New York in July 2001, “Freedom” came in the shape of a special bank automatic teller machine (ATM) in the shape of a bright red egg. Using a mobile phone or PDA, people were now free to obtain cash from ATMs. With the Freedom concept, mobile devices would replace the magnetic-stripe cards in a consumer’s pocket. A pilot project in Denmark gave people the first taste of such “freedom at fingertips” – Danes could now use for the first time a mobile phone to withdraw cash in a live environment at regular ATMs on the street.

NCR hopes its red eggs will turn into golden eggs. The company sees a lucrative future in dispensing more than cash from the Freedom eggs, or from regular ATMs with Freedom systems – in banks, restaurants, stores, airports, and hotels. Among the uses: point-and-click retrieval of travel or entertainment tickets, even MP3 files. Such Freedom-infused ATMs could dispense physical or virtual items. For example, local area maps can be downloaded on a mobile device. The mobile communications link in the “Freedom concept” employs infrared technology. Other short distance mobile technologies such as Bluetooth could also be used in ATMs specially adapted to accept such technology.

Source: “NCR hatches a Bluetooth Egg,” 10Meters News Service, July 13, 2001, http://www.10meters.com/ncr_atm.html; Lorraine Russell, “World First - Mobile Phone Used to Withdraw Cash from NCR ATM in Denmark Pilot Project”, http://www.ncr.com/media_information/2002/apr/pr042602.htm

CONCOR

Theories of TechnologyTheories of Technology

The substantive theory:The substantive theory: a new and powerful cultural system of a new and powerful cultural system of

technology that somehow develops outside technology that somehow develops outside our human agency.our human agency.

Humans standing ready to serve technologyHumans standing ready to serve technology

Substantial Technology: Substantial Technology: Enslavement and SurveillanceEnslavement and Surveillance

WAR IS PEACE WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTHIGNORANCE IS STRENGTH Box 3: Dataveilled Danielle

11-year old Danielle Duval will be implanted with a microchip to track her continuously. If kidnapped, Danielle’s location would be discovered via a computer. Professor Kevin Warwick of Reading University near London has worked with human-implantable chips, including some implanted in his own body. He is developing the chip that will go in Danielle’s leg, and provide security and assurance to the Duval family. Skeptics are not convinced that such Star Wars technology is ready for prime time. When Danielle’s mother was quoted as saying, “If a car can be fitted with equipment to enable it to be tracked when it is stolen, why not apply the same principle to finding missing children?”, a columnist wrote a rebuttal entitled “No, Mrs. Duval, you CANNOT track a mobile human by wireless like a car!” He argued that chip production economics, the need to have massive networks reaching every corner, and lack of portable power sources represented barriers that would take years to overcome.

Source: Lorraine Fisher, “Microchipped”, http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/page.cfm?objectid=12164609&method=full&siteid=50143 ; Guy Keweny, “No, Mrs. Duval, you CANNOT track a mobile human by wireless like a car!”, http://www.newswireless.net/articles/020801-tracker.html; Charles Gibson, “21 st Century Lives: Kevin Warwick”, ABCNews.com, Aug. 25, 2000, http://more.abcnews.go.com/onair/worldnewstonight/wnt000825_21st_warwick_feature.html

Technology as ControlTechnology as Control

Renaissance: the view of technology Renaissance: the view of technology as an instrumental and rational tool as an instrumental and rational tool that allows humans that allows humans to controlto control the the worldworld and and master naturemaster nature is born. is born.

Technological societies = Modern SocietiesTechnological societies = Modern Societies Non-technological Societies = Primitive Societies.Non-technological Societies = Primitive Societies.

Technology as ControlTechnology as Control Technology Technology “breaks down”“breaks down” the mythic or the mythic or

enchanted view of the world.enchanted view of the world. It makes the world and its objects It makes the world and its objects

available for human useavailable for human use, control and , control and mastery.mastery.

It It “secures”“secures” the world for humans in the world for humans in instrumental terms. instrumental terms. The paradox:The paradox: efforts to secure the world and its efforts to secure the world and its

objects has become all the more ‘frantic’ and objects has become all the more ‘frantic’ and ‘furious’ because these efforts are constantly ‘furious’ because these efforts are constantly under attack by the “unsecuring” tendencies of under attack by the “unsecuring” tendencies of technology itself.technology itself.

1919thth Century: The Rise of the Engineer Century: The Rise of the Engineer With this conception of Technology, the goal With this conception of Technology, the goal

is to make “everything” is to make “everything” practicalpractical.. EngineersEngineers and mass production come to be and mass production come to be

seen as seen as models even for artistic productionmodels even for artistic production!!!!• The house as a mass-produced “machine for The house as a mass-produced “machine for

living in.”living in.”• An object of design has to be “of no discernible An object of design has to be “of no discernible

‘style’ but simply a product of the industrial ‘style’ but simply a product of the industrial order of mass production. E.g., a car, an airplane, order of mass production. E.g., a car, an airplane, a building. a building.

Technologies or WarTechnologies or War

The 20The 20thth Century: The Modern View Century: The Modern View

Everything is to be subjected to Everything is to be subjected to standardization and rationalization – standardization and rationalization – the T-Model replaces the customized the T-Model replaces the customized coach car.coach car.

The practical, the functional came to The practical, the functional came to be seen as the holy grail of be seen as the holy grail of production.production.

The famous: “form follows function” – The famous: “form follows function” – the birth of a the birth of a machine aestheticmachine aesthetic

Summary: 1750-1960Summary: 1750-1960

With the coming of the modern era, With the coming of the modern era, the conception of technology was re-the conception of technology was re-defined from the classical Greek defined from the classical Greek notion of “art”:notion of “art”:

• Strives to “kill” the “spirits that Strives to “kill” the “spirits that “animate” the world.“animate” the world.

• Render objects of the world as “dead.”Render objects of the world as “dead.”• Open a world of rational enlightenment.Open a world of rational enlightenment.• Bring scientific-technological progress.Bring scientific-technological progress.

The subject in modern views of The subject in modern views of technologytechnology

Instrumental Theory

Rational Subject

Human is master of technology

Human knows and controls world through technology

Substantial Theory

Rational subject

Human has lost mastery over technology

Human becomes like technology/less human

(“technologized zombie”)

Empowered and enriched subject

Enslaved and disempowered subject

Technology is functional, constructive and rational

Technology is irrational, chaotic, and destructive

High-Technology:High-Technology: Technological Technological Humans and Cyborg Consumers?Humans and Cyborg Consumers?

Aesthetization of Aesthetization of technologytechnology

Technology is Technology is generative, generative, “alive”“alive”

From monstrous From monstrous robots and robots and mutants to mutants to artificial artificial intelligence, intelligence, cyborgs, and cyborgs, and biotechnological biotechnological life-forms. life-forms.

APPLIED DIGITAL APPLIED DIGITAL SOLUTIONSSOLUTIONS

VeriChip CorporationVeriChip Corporation

Miniaturized, Implantable Miniaturized, Implantable Identification TechnologyIdentification Technology

VeriChip is a miniaturized, implantable radio frequency identification device (RFID) that is about the size of the point of a typical ballpoint pen. It contains a unique verification number. Utilizing an external scanner, radio frequency energy passes through the skin energizing the dormant VeriChip, which then emits a radio frequency signal containing the verification number. The number is displayed by the scanner and transmitted to a secure data storage site by authorized personnel via telephone or Internet.

Nancy Nisbet Nancy Nisbet

Her chips, which emit a read-only 134-kilohertz frequency that is read Her chips, which emit a read-only 134-kilohertz frequency that is read by a scanner, contain a 12-digit alphanumeric ID. They were injected by a scanner, contain a 12-digit alphanumeric ID. They were injected into the back of her hands, in the fleshy area between the thumb and into the back of her hands, in the fleshy area between the thumb and index finger; the first was implanted in October 2001, the second in index finger; the first was implanted in October 2001, the second in February 2002. February 2002.

The location Nisbet chose for one of the chips -- the back of the right The location Nisbet chose for one of the chips -- the back of the right hand -- is also the precise spot where, according to Biblical lore, the hand -- is also the precise spot where, according to Biblical lore, the "Mark of the Beast" will be placed during the apocalyptic end of the "Mark of the Beast" will be placed during the apocalyptic end of the world detailed in the Book of Revelation. world detailed in the Book of Revelation.

Eduardo KacEduardo KacInserted a chip into his ankle during a live performance in Sao Paulo in 1997 and then registered himself in an online pet database as both owner and animal.

After he implanted the device, a collaborator in Chicago read the chip information with a robotic arm controlled over the Internet, in effect making Kac's body a node in the Internet network.

Levis and Philips:Co-producing the Levis and Philips:Co-producing the Kid-CyborgKid-Cyborg

““A multifunctional children’s anorak with A multifunctional children’s anorak with integrated camera, game displays, and – integrated camera, game displays, and – a special highlight – connected to the a special highlight – connected to the Global Positioning System (GPS) targets Global Positioning System (GPS) targets the somewhat larger toddlers. The the somewhat larger toddlers. The navigation system enables worried navigation system enables worried parents to keep close tabs on their parents to keep close tabs on their children. children. A further advantage: the up-A further advantage: the up-and-coming generation effortlessly and-coming generation effortlessly learns how interactive technology learns how interactive technology functionsfunctions.”.”

But what about us Humans?But what about us Humans?

The machine aesthetic of modernity The machine aesthetic of modernity conceives technology as dead and conceives technology as dead and humans as alive.humans as alive.

Humans are “outside” technology.Humans are “outside” technology. If machines are “alive” they are If machines are “alive” they are

perceived as monsters, irrational, perceived as monsters, irrational, destructive (Frankenstein, Golems, destructive (Frankenstein, Golems, “False Maria” in Film “Metropolis”, “False Maria” in Film “Metropolis”, Terminator I, etc.) Terminator I, etc.)

Technology can be “out of control.”Technology can be “out of control.”

But what about us Humans?But what about us Humans? The high-tech age The high-tech age “merges” technology and the “merges” technology and the

human elementhuman element (e.g., Neuromancer, cyber punk, (e.g., Neuromancer, cyber punk, Matrix)Matrix)

Machines, the “electronic realm”, the Machines, the “electronic realm”, the “cyberspatial matrix”, in short “cyberspatial matrix”, in short high-technological high-technological systems are seen as so complexsystems are seen as so complex that there that there appears to be a generative, mutational force in appears to be a generative, mutational force in technology that is beyond our control.technology that is beyond our control.

TechnologyTechnology is no longer just an instrument but is no longer just an instrument but has its own logic and “mystery.”has its own logic and “mystery.”

But instead of conceiving of this as destructive But instead of conceiving of this as destructive and out of control, and out of control, we embrace this uncertaintywe embrace this uncertainty and engage in acts of cooperation, of and engage in acts of cooperation, of “making “making deals”deals” (Gibson). (Gibson).

We and/are the Robot

Overcoming the DichotomyOvercoming the DichotomyInstrumental Theory

Rational Subject

Human is master of technology

Human knows and controls world through technology

Substantial Theory

Rational subject

Human has lost mastery over technology

Human becomes like technology/less human (“technologized zombie”)

Empowered and enriched subject Enslaved and disempowered subject

Technology is functional, constructive and rational

Technology is irrational, chaotic, and destructive

Postmodern Theory

Open, hybrid, cyborg subject

Technology is autonomous and agentic

Mutable subject

Fusion and participation with technology

Human becomes posthuman (“network node”)

Conclusion

From a “deep structures” perspective of anthropology, high-tech is now associated with a specific, new archetype:

• No longer apart from but of us.• No longer controlled but left to (partly)

control us.• No longer fully understood but with an air

of the magical.

High-Technology & Design

What is High-Tech for them?

Is it just a matter of more technology?

High-tech as Cultural Expression

• “High”-lights the non-instrumental.• “High”-lights the non-technological.

High-tech merely simulates technology. Brings back a meaning of technology that

has been obscured in our modern conception: art and aesthetics.

Form and Function become separated!

High-Tech Design:

“…a style or design or interior decoration that uses objects and articles normally found in factories, warehouses, restaurant kitchens, etc., or that imitates the stark functionalism of such equipment.” – English Dictionary Entry.

High-tech Aesthetics

What does this mean?

In the culture of High-Technology, modern notions of technology are turned on their heads!• High-tech turns functionality and

instrumentality into something else. But into what?

Technology comes from the Greek: Technέ

Technέ means: art, skill, or “craft” The aesthetic aspect of technology was

never really not part of technology, just repressed in our conception of technology.

We witness a re-emergence of the aesthetic within our conception of high-technology: representation, style, design.From “either/or” to “and also”: instrumentality/functionality AND ALSO

aesthetics/style

So, What is the Age of High-tech?

Technology becomes a matter of representation…

…of style… …of design… …of image.

High-Tech as Style

Having a High-Tech Style:

From basketball shoes, to hair-cuts, to apartments (with pipes and ducts in the open, concrete floors, and glass walls, etc.), things are being described as having a high-tech style.

in high-tech then, the modern view of functional form has been widely abandoned in favor of a technological look or style that need not be functional in any traditional sense.

High-Tech as StyleBush’s Aircrafts Saddam’s Aircraft

High-Tech as Style

High-Tech as Style

High-Tech as Style

High-Tech as Style

Dimensions of High-tech

Is starkly minimalist, functionalist interior design high-tech?

Is the complex circuitry of a microprocessor high-tech?

The dimensions of high-tech: 1) Minimalism (reducing objects to the most

necessary forms, miniaturize, streamline).2) Complexity (miniaturization requires

“more in less”).

Evidence in the Marketplace?

Cell phones, PDAs

DVDs

Stereo systemsand speakers

Walkman

Laptops

Sneakers

Eye glasses

Night clubs, restaurants

Apartment buildings

ConclusionConclusion

Our conception of Technology has Our conception of Technology has shifted.shifted.

The dimension of High-tech can be The dimension of High-tech can be found somewhere at the intersection found somewhere at the intersection of two tendencies: minimalism and of two tendencies: minimalism and complexity.complexity.

Design now a major site of (high-) Design now a major site of (high-) technology innovationtechnology innovation