Task 12: tool or medium?
by Ilya Shmorgun
Technology in general and computers in particular have a great impact on our lives. According to Ruckriem it not only influences our activities but in fact “revolutionizes the societal activity structure as a whole.”
Too narrow of a definition
It is quite difficult to categorize technology as a tool or a medium because both of these characteristics just seem to be too narrow to reflect the state of things. In his essay Georg Ruckriem comes to a similar conclusion stating that computer technology is both a tool and a medium at the same time. To Ruckriem it all depends on our perspective.
If we start looking at computer technology from the media perspective then we quickly realize that it is of universal nature, integrating every existing media into itself.
Adapting to technology
Feenberg states that technology is such a powerful force that we are not even able to adapt it to our needs, on the contrary we are the ones who must adapt. At the same time Feenberg sees technology as the most significant expression of humanity.
A manual for everything
This influence and adapting to technology can also be traced in the books we produce and read. Feenberg states that nowadays our stores are filled with operating manuals instructing us on how to live, love, raise children, eat, make money and so on. We have essentially become machines which can be run and maintained by obtaining a right manual.
Unexpected use cases
Then again we have become so much connected with technology that our own activities have begun shaping its development. Feenberg gives an example of email, which was not even originally meant to be used in the way we use it today, yet now we consider it one of the most important attributes of the Internet.
Conclusion
It is hard to categorize technology as being strictly a tool or a medium. It seems that it is both and something even more at the same time. Technology has influenced our lives so much that we have been forced to adapt to the rules it dictates. Yet our activities also shape technology creating new and unexpected ways of using it. In the end it seems that we just have not got enough time to reflect and analyze on the true nature of technology. We should continue studying and raising questions in order to finally realize what we are dealing with.
