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INFLUENCE OF COMPUTERS ON CULTURE Denise Hunter COMP 3851 November 25, 2009 LET THEM EAT DATA: How Computers Affect Education, Cultural Diversity, and the Prospects of Ecological Sustainability By C.A. Bowers 2000 MOST DOMINATE CHARACTERISTIC OF A COMPUTER? “It is a cultural mediating and thus transforming technology” (Bowers p. vii) Computers are a medium of influence on culture. CULTURE In what context are we using culture? “The culture concept...denotes an historically transmitted pattern of meanings embodied in symbol systems of inherited conceptions expressed in symbolic forms by which men [and women] communicate, perpetuate, and develop their knowledge about and attitudes toward life” (Geertz, p.89) Channelled through language. Root metaphors. Metacommunication. ROOT METAPHORS Deeply embedded into the language and culture of a particular group and are often not realized. Foundation of thoughts and actions of a cultural group. Some examples we encounter: “information highway” “electronic communities” “chat rooms” METACOMMUNICATION Involves indirect forms of communication. Personal and cultural insight and expression found in patterns of communication. Developed through face-toface communication, does not apply to communication through a computer. CULTURALLY MEDIATING CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS Computers often viewed as culturally neutral. Bias in technology based on the cultural assumptions of the designer. Sometimes hard to distinguish if that cultural assumption is shared by the user. Generally a solitary activity. Helps develop individualistic and anthropocentric ways of thinking. CULTURALLY MEDIATING CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTERS Computer mediated learning → degraded form of symbolic interaction. Data → degraded form of knowledge. LOCAL KNOWLEDGE Relates to the habits, traditions, and beliefs people have about the world around them. “this form of knowledge is contextualized, embedded in a community of memory and enhanced through mentoring relationships - all aspects of face-to-face communication that cannot be digitized and computerized without being fundamentally distorted” (Bowers p.69). TECHNOLOGICALLY MEDIATED DATA Much of data and information used no longer holds its historical and cultural context. Changes brought on by technologically mediated data: Increased status. Weaken local knowledge. Replace local knowledge while supporting consumer lifestyle that harms the environment. ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS World population about 6.7 billion. Challenge placed on humanity is to supply the necessary means to support this population. Average “ecological footprint” (global hectares per capita): Canada: 7.1 India: 0.9 Worldwide: 2.7 (Global Footprint Network 2008) TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT ON DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Half the world population found in India, China, and Southeast Asia. Freshwater, agricultural lands, local fisheries all stressed, rising levels of pollution Loss of local traditions involving production and exchange of goods. Developing modern economies and consumerist attitudes. CONSUMER LIFESTYLE Pressures placed on everyone to keep up with consumer lifestyle. Even those who are financially repressed. Social pressure to have computers in the classroom. Teacher and administrator lay off at the same time as acquiring means to computerize the school. EDUCATIONAL IMPLICATIONS Education system does not acknowledge relationship between technology and culture. General concerns with computer-mediated learning: Limit imagination, connection between data and thinking, superficial understanding, dependence, computer maintenance, accessibility, physical side effects. fail to include cultural/ecological perspectives. CULTURAL CONTENT IN EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE Computers and educational software contain cultural assumptions and biases. However, biases are found in other areas of the classroom/education. Teachers choose software that reinforces their own assumptions. Mental relationship between the mind of the student using the program and the mind of the designer of the program. EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE Storybook Weaver (1994) Create stories on the computer, uses imagination. Individual assumptions. DinoPark Tycoon (1994) Create/maintain a dinosaur themed park. Focus on new products, nature a consumed resource. The Oregon Trail II Simulate pioneers move along the Oregon Trail. Reinforces Western biases of emigrants. SimLife Create new environments. Anthropocentric point of view. WAYS TO ADDRESS CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS AND BIASES Discuss/ examine cultural assumptions, historical perspectives, decisions made by designers. Storybook Weaver DinoPark Tycoon Environmental impact. The Oregon Trail II Incorporate traditional folk tales. Indigenous cultures view on the arrival of emigrants. Sim Relate to a similar incident in history involving the introduction of a foreign species. ASPECTS OF TECHNOLOGY THAT ALL CITIZENS SHOULD BE AWARE OF: 1. 2. 3. 4. Differences between technologies developed in Western cultures and traditional cultures. Alternative ways to think of technology. Examination of how modern technology contributes to the culturally transforming process of commodifying knowledge and relationships. Modern technology requires a more complex view of tradition. ASPECTS OF TECHNOLOGY THAT ALL CITIZENS SHOULD BE AWARE OF: 5. 6. 7. Technology has an impact on language and patterns of thinking. Influence of modern technology on the nature of work. Acquire knowledge about how the cultural mediating characteristics of computers impacts cultural diversity and ecological sustainability. QUESTIONS?