History and Evolution of the History and Evolution of the Digital AgeDigital Age

Kathy E. GillKathy E. Gill

13 January 200913 January 2009

What is “technology”?What is “technology”?1: technical language; 1: technical language; 2a: applied science b: a technical 2a: applied science b: a technical method of achieving a practical method of achieving a practical purpose purpose 3: a totality of the means employed 3: a totality of the means employed to provide objects necessary for to provide objects necessary for human sustenance and comfort human sustenance and comfort

Technology, Simply PutTechnology, Simply Put

Knowledge used to solve Knowledge used to solve problems and extend human problems and extend human potential.potential.

Technology is about Technology is about enabling enabling changechange and and amplifying amplifying its directionits direction. .

CommunicationCommunication

A process in which A process in which participants create and share participants create and share information with one another information with one another in order to reach mutual in order to reach mutual understanding (Rogers, 1995).understanding (Rogers, 1995).

Two forms: Two forms: mediated and face-mediated and face-to-faceto-face

An EvolutionAn Evolution

Caves in France / BuildingsCaves in France / Buildings Paper and charcoal/inkPaper and charcoal/ink Printing PressPrinting Press Telegraph et al (radio, Telegraph et al (radio,

television)television) Computer mediated Computer mediated

communicationscommunications

So, what is new?

1. Scarcity1. Scarcity

2. Distance2. Distance

""This is the age of This is the age of telegrams. The public is telegrams. The public is

accustomed to the accustomed to the consideration of facts in the consideration of facts in the

briefest terms.”briefest terms.” The Science Record for 187The Science Record for 18733

ParadoxParadox Pre-voice telephony – we Pre-voice telephony – we transferred “data” (eg, transferred “data” (eg, wire transfers of money)wire transfers of money)

Digital age – our “voice” Digital age – our “voice” is now “data” (zeros-and-is now “data” (zeros-and-ones)ones)

DIGITAL AGE PROGRESSIONDIGITAL AGE PROGRESSION

Digital AgeDigital Age““Information Era”Information Era”

InnovationsInnovations

Zuse Z3 replica on display at Deutsches Museum in Munich Atanasoff–Berry Computer replica at 1st floor of

Durham Center, Iowa State UniversityThe First Operational Digital Computer

Email (1971)

World Wide Web (1989)

Webcams (1990s, mainstreamed 2000s)

Online Games (1990s, mainstreamed early 2000s)

Broadband (mainstreamed 2000s)

Wireless Networking (early 2000s)

Wireless Headphones (early 2000s)

Bluetooth (early-to-mid 2000s)

late 1970s

1990s

Technology eases Technology eases human life…human life…

Issue relating to Issue relating to digital agedigital age

Technology create climate changeTechnology create climate change

Global WarmingGlobal Warming

Causes:Causes:

Carbon Dioxide from Power PlantsCarbon Dioxide from Power Plants

Carbon Dioxide Emitted from CarsCarbon Dioxide Emitted from Cars

Carbon Dioxide from AirplanesCarbon Dioxide from Airplanes

Carbon Dioxide from BuildingsCarbon Dioxide from Buildings

Can technology stop climate Can technology stop climate change?change?

George Bush before heading to George Bush before heading to Gleneagles and the G8 summit. Gleneagles and the G8 summit. Instead, he declared, new Instead, he declared, new technologies would suffice to save technologies would suffice to save the environment. the environment.

““But what sort of technology does he But what sort of technology does he have in mind?”have in mind?”

Some of the projects favoured by the Bush Some of the projects favoured by the Bush administration are highly speculative, with administration are highly speculative, with potential applications many decades potential applications many decades away. away.

There are plans to change the reflectivity There are plans to change the reflectivity of the Earth, by placing giant reflective of the Earth, by placing giant reflective shields in orbit, or injecting shiny particles shields in orbit, or injecting shiny particles into the atmosphere. into the atmosphere.

--While it might reflect energy from the sun While it might reflect energy from the sun back into space, it is difficult to predict what back into space, it is difficult to predict what effect it would have on the atmosphere and effect it would have on the atmosphere and global climate.global climate.

Other speculative options, such as Other speculative options, such as placing huge carbon extractor fans placing huge carbon extractor fans near cities, have also been proposednear cities, have also been proposed..

Other promising developments, such Other promising developments, such as the capture of carbon from power as the capture of carbon from power plants and its sequestration deep plants and its sequestration deep underground, or improvements in the underground, or improvements in the efficiency of fossil fuel power plants,efficiency of fossil fuel power plants,..

According to Davies, all of these According to Davies, all of these options should be part of our long options should be part of our long term fight against climate change. term fight against climate change. But we need measures to cut But we need measures to cut emissions now. emissions now.

"It is a problem which is here with us "It is a problem which is here with us now."now."

Development of new technologies can Development of new technologies can only be a part of a comprehensive only be a part of a comprehensive approach to climate change, Davies approach to climate change, Davies argues. We need to make more argues. We need to make more efficient use of current technology, to efficient use of current technology, to provide up to half of the 60-70% provide up to half of the 60-70% reduction in emissions needed in the reduction in emissions needed in the next few decades. More prosaically, next few decades. More prosaically, we need to change our behaviour, we need to change our behaviour, too.too.

Technology damage the climate, and human Technology damage the climate, and human accustomed with technology.accustomed with technology.

Abusing the technology are also abusing our Abusing the technology are also abusing our nature. nature.

During this critical period of human history, During this critical period of human history, healing the damage of industrial civilization healing the damage of industrial civilization is the task of our generation. Our response is the task of our generation. Our response depends on the conscious evolution of our depends on the conscious evolution of our species and this response could very well species and this response could very well save this unique blue planet for future save this unique blue planet for future generations.generations.

The changes is within our hands.