Memorandum  

[Street Address] [City], [State] [Postal Code] Phone: [Your Phone] Fax: [Your Fax]

E-Mail: [Your E-Mail] Web: [Web Address]

To: Dr. Karen C. Holt From: Kyra Todd, Victoria Race, Caleb Despain, Amy Ferriola Date: 23 January 2012 Subject: Research Proposal “Modern Conveniences: The Impact of

Technology on Culture” Purpose: To identify the influences of science fiction on today’s society. Science fiction was once viewed as nothing more than entertainment. What most people fail to realize is that without the seemingly impossible dreams of history’s visionaries, we would not have the technologies we view as necessities today.

What kind of technologies does society overlook? What influence has Science Fiction had on military gadgets and exploits? What scientific advances are currently in progress that are intended to improve society? When was technology first introduced into music? What significant part does technology play in today’s musical culture? Has culture evolved as music has evolved?

• How is increasingly mobile technology affecting people's lives? (Greenblatt 773-796) • How are the different types of social networking changing communication/language? (Waechter,

Subrahmanyam, Reich, and Espinoza 151-173) • How are avatar-based game websites affecting people? (Bryant and Akerman 127-140; Noor and Lobek 22-28)

• What are the negative implications of technological progress? • What is the cultural impact of anti-technology movements?

Background: Science Advances through Literature By Kyra Todd I have always loved the genre of speculative fiction and seen great value in what they have to teach us. I am an avid reader and hopeful writer of this genre and so have dealt with a variety of its sub-genres. I have taken many writing courses and read many articles on science fiction and what it has to offer the world. One such course was devoted to the works of Orson Scott Card who explored many gadgets and themes of science fiction through his Ender series.

2

Musically Inclined Technological Takeover By Victoria Race Growing up with a Father who is a musician made me appreciate and love music to an extent most people do not understand. I learned a lot of things from him including music theory and music technology. I myself am a vocalist and an aspiring audio engineer. I have studied music through my whole schooling career and will continue through graduate school. I have watched the music technology change and watched music change right along with it. This music evolution absolutely fascinates me. Music influences my life just as I know it influences society as a whole. Social Media and its Grip on Society By Amy Ferriola

I first connected to the Internet in 1993 or 1994 on a 2400 baud (14.4 KB/s) modem. At the time I was around the age of 11 or 12, and the Internet was limited by the slow transfer rates, steep hourly fees, and a small user base. I was instantaneously drawn in by the social element that the Internet had to offer, frequenting IRC or HTML-based chat rooms. When AOL Instant Messenger was introduced in 1997 (Walker), I quickly switched to that platform. The social aspect of the Internet became more endeared to me when, two years later, I met my husband via that same instant messaging platform. As Internet speeds have accelerated over time, social networking through the Internet has become more intensive. I have been an active participant in the social world of the Internet, following the evolution of social networking through OpenDiary, LiveJournal, Blogger, Xanga, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ among other sites. With each new implementation, and with increasing portability, I have watched the world become astonishingly dependent on social networking websites a primary method of communication (Waechter, Subrahmanyam, Reich, and Espinoza 151-173). Technophobia: A Negative Outlook on Technological Progress By Caleb Despain

I have always grown up with an interest in science fiction and the future. As a youth I was practically obsessed with everything from Star Trek to Star Wars. The infinite possibilities of the future had always captured my imagination. Yet, since those days of my youth my outlook has drastically changed. As a teenager, I saw the addictive effects of technology and the dangers of its misuse. I never grew opposed to technology but I am learning to be more cautious in using it. I’ve also become more interested in the implications of technology and the warnings of Dystopian fiction. These are embodied in my own ambitions to be a writer, in that I wish to use writing as a medium for warning against technological excess. Significance:

This paper will take the reader on a journey through technology’s influence on society through literature, music, and social media as well as touch on the dangers of such advancement. Through this adventure in research, we have attained a greater understanding of technology’s effect on culture. There have been times of laughter, joy, and frustrations along our path, and we now hope to share the best of what we have learned through our writings. Science Advances through Literature

The research in this paper will consist mostly of secondary resources including books and articles. Through the path of science fiction, primary resources such as books written by science fiction authors and interviews with professors on the subject will be utilized.

3

This paper will be an important contribution to the field of knowledge because not many people honestly appreciate from where their comfortable life originates. They see all of the cool gadgets such as portable hard drives, electronic tables, and sliding doors and just accept them as part of their everyday lives. What they fail to comprehend is that each of these marvelous inventions were once merely a whimsical dream of a speculative writer. If it were not for these writers and the scientists who made their fantasies a reality, our society would be drastically different. Knowing and understanding this, perhaps society as a whole will pay closer attention to other ideas and concepts presented in these so-called “works of fiction”. Perhaps they will see themselves reflected in the mirror of a possible future. Musically Inclined Technological Takeover Music has and always will have an impact on culture. In its early days music was not only a way of expression, but a way for people to get out of their dreary houses and do something different. It’s a form of entertainment, but also shapes us as a society. Technology has made music easier to access and has changed the overall musical quality. Many question whether this is a benefit to the music world and how music has changed us culturally. This section will clarify whether this musical evolution is to the advantage of the new age and how music technology has influenced our society and culture. People are losing respect for what music used to sound like without the fancy technology like synthesizers, and voice modification software. Have we lost what real talent is because of this technological takeover? Can just anyone be an artist? Within this section these questions will be addressed. People watch the technology change around them and are completely oblivious to what impact it can have. There is a lot of good in technology, but also many adverse effects. Music is directly impacted by technology because of the amount of new devices released to the market each day. Understanding the fact that our music culture is drastically changing could aid in the understanding good music is not just synthesizers and processed voices. Music is an art form that shapes our society and this art form is being slaughtered by the technology at hand. Social Media and its Grip on Society

The technology of the modern digital age is revolutionizing the way people communicate (Walker). One example that is easy to briefly trace is the evolution of letter writing. It used to take weeks or longer for stamped letters to reach their destination. As methods of vehicular propulsion have improved over time, the estimated delivery time has dropped to a few days. Despite this improvement, people have hungered for faster textual communication. With the introduction of email, electronic letters could arrive at their destination within hours or minutes. As email became an increasingly popular method of communication, cell phones capable of sending short text-based messages were introduced. Although there have been some length limitations associated with text messaging, this incredible invention has reduced message delivery time to a matter of seconds. Traversing through this example easily explains that technological breakthroughs are changing the world. The changes have been both positive (Noor and Lobek 22-28; Nov 60-64) and negative (Greenblatt 773-796). Electronic messages lack the personal touch of hand-written letters and, in the push for speedy textual communication, grammatical structure has been quickly falling out of fashion. The ever-increasing speed of convenience, however, has been able to cause long-distance gaps between family and friends to seem less daunting. Technophobia: A Negative Outlook on Technological Progress

4

As we study the impact of technology on human culture it is easy to dwell on the positives. Technology has done much to improve and change the world culture. Yet, as it is in almost every culture there are dissenting voices. Voices that seek in this case, to check technology’s rapid progress and maintain what they believe it means to truly be human. Especially now, as we have reached such a technological peak, we find resistance the mounting ever more. (Bailey) What is interesting to note though is that movements such as these have been around for hundreds of years. Probably the earliest example is that of the followers of Ned Ludd, who destroyed the automatic looms in textile factories during the “Industrial Revolution.” (Fox xii) It is these individuals known as “Luddites” who can be really attributed to influencing many of the current movements against technology. We also find as part of this counter-cultural movement, many of great authors whose novels seek to warn of the consequences of taking technology too far. The novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley is one of the earliest examples of this type of literature. (Tenner 3-32) Many other authors since then have also offered their voice against unchecked technological progress and its dangers. It is important to note that these movements are what really help us understand the technological impact on our culture. The perspectives of these anti-technologists allow us to take a more critical look at technological progress and better evaluate its implications for us as human beings. As the book “Why Things Bite Back” by Edward Tenner notes, technological progress can often have unintended consequences. Understanding these movements against technology can allow us to better understand those possible consequences and how to avoid them. Description and outline: Science Advances through Literature The origins of technology through science fiction

Every-day gadgets Phones/ sensors/ medical equipment

Military Applications Planes and arial fighters Weapons

Little know or understood realities Cloning/ cloaking devices/ DNA manipulation

Musically Inclined Technological Takeover To complete this project I will conduct research in the library taking advantage of the books and encyclopedias there. I will also use the internet as alternate research for professional opinions. I may also interview a few people in the music industry to see their take on the topic. The interviewees would include: Will Sowers (bassist in the band “Emarosa”), Andrew Cook (drummer in the band “A Rocket to the Moon”) and Jorge Acosta (experienced and working in the music industry). Musically Inclined Technological Takeover

Music Background How has music effected society/ culture?

Changes in society/ music culture over time Technology evolution

Synths, voice, processing, and electric instruments How has music effected artistry?

Changes in genre over the years

5

Social Media and its Grip on Society Social media and society

Social Networking Websites Myspace to Facebook Cultural issues

Privacy Reuniting friends Family togetherness across the miles

Online Gaming Types

MMORPG Facebook Games Avatar-based

Cultural Issues Addiction Self-Image Cyber-bullying

Instantaneous Messaging Evolution: from IRC to text messages Cultural Issues

Mobility Grammar Impact on verbal communication Technophobia: A Negative Outlook on Technological Progress Arguments against Technological Progress Anti- Tech movements:

Ned Ludd and the Luddites: Neo Luddites, Violent movements, Literary movements, Religious movements Amish

Dystopian writers: Mary Shelley, Ray Bradbury, Jules Verne, Negative consequences of technological progress, Dickens

Methodology:

For this paper, we have divided the topic into four different sup-categories: technology in literature, technology in music, technology and social media, and the implications such technology has on our present and future. To gather our resources, we will mainly pull from internet websites and peer review journals. The occasional textual source will be used but as our subject is an ever-growing topic, most books will tend to be out of date. To cover topics under the technology in literature heading, we will conduct interviews with on-campus professors who teach classes on the subject. We may also reference professors in the mechanical

6

engineering department who can tell us what kind of technological advances they have seen emerging in their given field. Problems:

The biggest issue our group has faced thus far is coordination. We have vastly different schedules and, since there are four of us, scheduling time for all of us to gather simultaneously has been somewhat of an issue. We are doing our best to overcome this by establishing communication through email, phone, and text messages. Class time has been valuable to us for exchanging ideas and setting deadlines.

In addition to finding little time to meet outside of class, there are research issues that we expect to encounter as well. These problems include, but are not limited to a lack of specific research having been conducted into our given topic. It is a significant possibility that the statistics and studies that would be of most value to us may not have surfaced yet. We will do our best to work around these issues by gathering all available data and drawing conclusion from what we have access to. Annotated Bibliography: Angwin, Julia. Stealing MySpace : The Battle to Control the most Popular Website in America. New York:

Random House, 2009. Print.

This book is about the growth of MySpace and some of the downsides that were associated with the growth. It also touches briefly on other social networking websites such as Friendster and Facebook. Bailey, Ronald “Rebels Against the Future:Witnessing the birth of the global anti- technology movement.”

Reason Magazine Online February 28, 2001

This article describes a growing “anti-technology” movement around the globe. He notes that the prediction the Francis Collins, former head of the human genome project who predicted a global anti-technology movement as early 2030. It appears that this prediction is both accurate and early. The author notes, that after visiting a “International Forum on Global Technology Teach-In” he believes the movement is finally beginning. He describes how the meeting’s speaker and agendas were devoted to criticism of our current technological progress. Bryant, J. Alison, and Anna Akerman. “Finding Mii: Virtual Social Identity and the Young Consumer.” Virtual

Social Identity and Consumer Behavior (2009): 127-140. Ebrary. Web. 11 Jan. 2012.

This article follows the trend of avatars in virtual communities and discusses how the choices in avatars reflect the personality of the users.

Dinello, Daniel. Technophobia: Science Fiction Visions of Posthuman Technology. Austin: University of Texas

Press, 2005. Print.

7

In this book we find a veritable treasure trove of information for both the literature aspect of our paper but also information regarding the anti-technology fears today. Pertaining to the literature section, I will use chapters including “Engineered Flesh”, “Malevolent Molecular Machines: Nanotechnology”, and “Cybernetic Slaves: Robotics”. The chapter titled “Infinite Cyberspace Cages: the Internet and Virtual Reality” will pertain to the internet section of the paper. We may also use the chapters “Technology is a Virus: Machine Plague” and “Epilogue: Technophobia” in the Technophobia section. Fox, Nicols. Against the Machine: The Hidden Luddite Tradition in Literature, Art and Individual Lives.

Washington DC: Island Press, 2004. Print

This book explores the Luddite movement against technology from the early 19thcentury. This centuries old movement formed and continues to form the basis for those opposed to modern technological progress. Though brief in its description of the movement itself it goes into much detail as to its influence on our modern society. This work also cites Luddite influence on well-known authors and artists. As well as attempting to apply the ideas of this movement to our modern society.

Greenblatt, Alan. “Impact of the Internet on Thinking.” CQ Researcher 20.33 (2010): 773-796. Web. 11 Jan.

2012.

This explores how the Internet is changing the way people think. It explores technology in the classroom, information overload, time distribution among various types of online activities, and the prominence of mobile devices. Hellman, Hal. Great Feuds in Technology. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2004. Print.

Hal Hellman describes the some of the greatest inventions in history. He also details the fierce debates that arose around these inventions. Covering as far back as the Luddite movement, as well as the opposition to nuclear submarines, it helps one better understand both sides of the debate on technological development.

“Internet and World Wide Web.” The Cutting Edge : An Encyclopedia of Advanced Technologies. New York:

Oxford University Press, 2000. Print.

This entry is a basic outline following what the Internet is, follows its development, examines its uses and limitations, and attempts to address some possible issues. Kirkpatrick, David. The Facebook Effect : The Inside Story of the Company that is Connecting the World. New

York: Simon & Schuster, 2010. Print.

This book is mainly about the background of Facebook and its creator, the success, and a bit about what draws some users to the site. Noor, Ahmed K., and William E. Lobeck. “Disruption from the Virtual World.” Mechanical Engineering 131.11

8

(2009): 22-28. EBSCOHost. Web. 11 Jan. 2012.

This article talks about how the virtual world concept made popular is also useful for communications for academia, businesses, the military, NASA, and others.

Nov, Oded. “What Motivates Wikipedians?” Communications of the ACM 50.11 (2007): 60-64. EBSCOHost.

Web. 11 Jan. 2012.

This is an analysis of the collaborative sharing of information through Wikipedia, exploring possible motivations behind the people involved in volunteering their free time the expounding and sharing of information.

Silverberg, Robert, and Martin H. Greenberg, eds. The Arbor House Treasury of Science Fiction Masterpieces.

New York: Arbor House, 1983. Print

This book is an anthology of what are considered great works of science fiction throughout history (before 1983). I intend to take a closer look at stories such as “Man of Parts” by H. L. Gold, “Sold to Satan” by Mark Twain, and “The Sliced-Crosswise Only-on-Tuesday World” by Philip Jose Farmer. Snodgrass, Mary Ellen, “Technology” Encyclopedia on Utopian Literature. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO.

1995. Print

This encyclopedia is devoted entirely to the subject of “Utopian Literature,” or literature devoted to speculation on an ideal society. The entries cover a variety of topics from various authors, to different works of Utopian literature. Entries about “Dystopian Literature” are also including allow one to see both sides of the argument Utopian ideas. There is also a lengthy section about authors and works that discuss the adverse effects of technology on society. Tenner, Edward. Why Things Bite Back. New York: Vintage Books, 1996. Print.

Edward Tenner’s book “Why Things Bite Back” primarily discusses the unintended consequences of technology. He describes technology will solve one problem only to create others. For instance, he notes that although computers were predicted to eliminate waste paper, the amount of waste paper has increased in recent years. It is a book that presents arguments similar to that of anti-technologists, that of exercising caution in our technological progress. Waechter, Natalia, Kaveri Subrahmanyam, Stephanie M. Reich, and Guadalupe Espinoza. “Youth Connecting

Online: From Chat Rooms to Social Networking Sites.” Emerging Practices in Cyberculture and Social

Networking (2010): 151-173. Ebrary. Web. 11 Jan. 2012.

9

This article analyzes and questions how the behaviors of today’s youths are being influenced by time online, and it questions how it this is affecting their development.

Walker, Miles. “The History of Social Networking.” WebMaster View. WebMaster View, Aug. 2011. Web. 21

Jan. 2012.

This article briefly traces the beginnings of social networking from early BBS (Bulletin Board Systems) methods through to today’s social networking websites. Winston, Morton E. and Edelbach, Ralph D. Society, Ethics, and Technology. Canada: Wadsworth, 2000. Print.

These authors provide numerous essays on the societal and cultural impact of society. It also covers aspects of the Luddite movement, while discussing various opposing views of the subject of technological progress. The authors include individuals direct connected to modern technological develop including Bill Gates. The text delves deeply into the impact of current technological progress as well as ethical implications for the future. “Youth Culture.” Encyclopedia of Children, Adolescents, and the Media. Ed. Jeffrey Jensen Arnett. Thousand

Oaks: Sage Publications, 2007. Print.

This entry is a general overview of youth culture. It touches on media, the Internet, television, cartoons, and how teenagers spend their disposable income

10

Timetable and Schedule: Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1/17 1/18 1/19 1/20 1/21

Meeting with group to work on Proposal (3:00)

Group meeting at McKay commons (10:00)

1/22 1/23 1/24 1/25 1/26 1/27 1/28

Email Kyra with proposal info/ schedule by noon

Research proposal due

Email Kyra with annotated bibliography

1/29 1/30 1/31 2/1 2/2 2/3 2/4

All sources due Group meeting: put together parts of paper (McKay 12:45-2:30)

Research paper draft due

2/5 2/6 2/7 2/8 2/9 2/10

By Sunday email everyone their comments and corrections

Group meeting: Review rough drafts and report in meeting (tentative)

Research Paper Due

Paper Due Dates Group Meetings Email By dates Request for approval:

Each of us has our own given interest in this topic and we would like very much proceed. Given our thought into this topic and our dedication to the subject, we respectfully request approval to continue in our research.