Out of all the course learning outcomes listed for this class I have to say that the most important would be being able to examine how communication technologies affect social issues in our world as a whole. Based on the premise of the technology ecosystems and that all areas of technology from social systems, to organizational infrastructure, to hardware, are all connected to us the individual, we must understand these systems to get a better view of how technology affects the world. At the end of the day, what is the point of understanding communication technology if we do not try to apply that information to better ourselves as a society? I believe the other learning outcomes all are interconnected with how society functions whether it be studying trends of where we came from or analyzing how new tech will affect policies. Overall, I’ve learned a lot about the history/evolution of past tech some of which I already had known, including radio, television, cameras, and the internet. For example, one of the blog posts I really enjoyed making was the evolution of computers through images. I’m now able to look at past trends like that and see how they influence the current trends of technology. Another blog post I wrote that shows this concept was the start of the research for the kick start project and how I had to relate past data trends to current podcast idea we were going for. The entire kick start project really showed me what it takes to start up an idea and the amount of time and in depth thinking that it takes to make a new technology successful. Not just things like the enabling or limiting factors but every aspect must be planned and accounted for including every aspect of the technology ecosystem and that is something I never fully realized before. In this class, I also learned about technology that I may have not even realized existed such as digital signage, the internet of things, and the popularity of e-sports.
After understanding the history and trends of these technologies I am more capable to discuss the social issues that are arising. A couple that are still prevalent in my mind include: representation of women in video games, the digital divide, and the dangers of automotive telematics and self-driving vehicles. These were always the topics in class that created the most interest with me because I could finally apply knowledge about the ecosystems to something relevant in everyone’s lives rather than just having a full understanding of tech in general. Honestly, we have a duty to be aware about topics like these because they will have a real effect on our future socially, politically, and economically. Finally, I believe that this class has widened my worldview towards technology and rather than viewing tech as just objects that makes things easier, I can see how it truly is interconnected with every aspect of lives not just communication. With that viewpoint in mind, I actually look forward to applying what I know in the future to make informed decisions towards whatever upcoming social issues arise.
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AuthorJames Caspary Archives
January 2019
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