Necessity is the mother of invention

The key issue that jumps out from the readings is the question of technological determinism. In other words, does the technology determine culture, or does culture determine how we use technology? McLuhan, obviously, was a large proponent of the idea of technological determinism. The media is the message basically means that the technology creates a social change. The technology we use influences every aspect of our lives and, in turn, influences our culture.

In The Technology and the Society, the author states that the idea of technological determinism has been mostly dispelled or quantified. The author talks about the idea of "cultural determinism," or the idea that our culture leads to new technology. Technology exists because of either a cultural proclivity towards that particular technology or a cultural need for that technology.

In his writings from 1945, Bush seems to embrace what Williams called "cultural determinism." Bush talks at length of the need of for a system of "storage, retrieval, and manipulation of information. Bush focuses on a problem in scientific research that could be solved by enhanced technology. From this perspective, it is the culture that is in effect creating the technology. The question can be posed: would anyone develop a technology for the storage and retrieval of data if there was not a proven use for the technology?

The Diffusion of Innovation Theory talks about innovators creating a technology, early adopters come next and eventually the technology reaches a certain point of saturation in the culture and it is adopted by the masses. There are many examples throughout history of technologies that are created, deemed innovative, and are never fully adopted by the culture for some reason. Looking at the idea of technological determinism from this perspective, it seems less likely that research and development can take place within an independent sphere. If the general population has no use for the technology, it will not be adopted. Laser discs, the BetaMax and now, HD DVDs come to mind.

The readings are basically asking us to think about the question; which came first the chicken or the egg? Doe technology determine culture or does culture determine technology. It seems at times that there is a very fuzzy line between the two. I personally like to think back to the old adage "Necessity is the mother of invention."