The innovations of the last two decades, led by the Internet and mobile devices, have fundamentally altered the way so many of us live, work, and play. Is modern technology a problem or a solution—and why? How is the disruptive impact of the Internet shaping human societies and cultures, our values, ideas of Self, and relationships? What trends should worry us the most, and who should we hold responsible for them? The viewpoints here are perhaps as numerous as people
themselves, even as we cluster them in categories like evangelists,
pioneers, enthusiasts, skeptics, laggards, technophobes, curmudgeons,
and so on.
Evgeny Morozov, an analyst of technological trends, has a new book, To Save Everything, Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism. In it, he attempts a critique of a culture that worships technology as the great hope and savior of humanity. I just read an interesting exchange between Morozov and Farhad Manjoo, technology columnist for Slate. I might read the book though my impression from this exchange is that while attempts like Morozov's are badly needed and he does raise many good questions, in the end young Morozov seems to me simply out of his depth for the ambitious task he has taken on. Here are links to the exchange:
Entry 1: Manjoo's opening salvo against Morozov
Entry 2: Morozov on what Manjoo gets wrong about his book
Entry 3: Manjoo on why Morozov has Silicon Valley absolutely wrong
Entry 4: Morozov on why and how technology journalism needs to evolve
Comments