Technological Determinism vs Social Determinism of Technology PDF

Technological Determinism Vs Social Determinism of Technology MUSC1032 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES AT MONA FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND EDUCATION INSTITUTE OF CARIBBEAN STUDIES Technological Determinism - Definition Technological determinism is the belief that technology is the principal init...

Technological Determinism Vs Social Determinism of Technology MUSC1032 THE UNIVERSITY OF THE WEST INDIES AT MONA FACULTY OF HUMANITIES AND EDUCATION INSTITUTE OF CARIBBEAN STUDIES Technological Determinism - Definition Technological determinism is the belief that technology is the principal initiator of the society’s transformation- Prof. Thomas Hauer, VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, Czech Republic - Social changes are controlled by the technology, technological development, communications technology and media. - The modern information society arises as a result of the development of innovations, new technologies and their social and political implications. Technological Determinism - Definition Two different branches of technological determinism. 1. Radical (Hard) -Technology represent a prerequisite for changing the society. -Technology is the primary driver of social change and development. -Technology develops independently of social concerns, and that it creates powerful forces that regulate social activity and its meaning. -People organize themselves to meet the needs of technology, and that the outcome of this organization is beyond their control. Technological Determinism - Definition Two different branches of technological determinism. 2. Moderate (Soft) -Technology is one of several factors that contribute to societal change, rather than being the sole cause. -Technology can enable or facilitate societal change, but it doesn't work alone to produce that change. -Technology is a guiding force in human evolution. -Soft determinists believe that humans have the ability to make decisions about the outcomes of situations. What we DO know to be true is… - The Internet and the nature of new media is fundamentally changing the structure of the society. -The expansion of computers, networks and the Internet has radically changed many aspects of not only human communication, but also the entire society’s life. -The rising popularity of new technology has changed the nature and the way our society and the individuals act i.e. the way we do the shopping, recruit staff, pay taxes, use the library, gain academic degrees and educate ourselves. -Technology has led to the emergence of new forms of art such as digital painting, 3D modeling, and digital photography. -Technology has revolutionized the music industry, impacting production, distribution, expanded the sonic possibilities for musicians and made live performances more immersive and visually stunning. Examples of Technological Determinism Invention of Firearms - Industrial Revolution enabled mass production of firearms, making them more readily available to larger armies and populations, significantly altering the scale of warfare. - Emergence of powerful colonial empires and hence colonial expansion. - The widespread availability of guns influenced social structures, impacting power dynamics between different groups within societies and contributing to political instability in some regions. Examples of Technological Determinism Invention of the Automobile - Paving of roads. Connectivity to communities. -Working people moved out of city centers. Creation of suburbs. - Housing now required garages to keep cars. Lessens your interactivity with neighbors (enter and exit homes inside your vehicle. - Increased division of social classes. Bigger cars, more expensive cars or even just the ability to own a car. Examples of Technological Determinism Invention of the Mobile Phone - Communicate with others without being tied to a specific location or the availability of a phone line. - Created alternate forms of Human Interaction (i.e. text/video messaging, social media dopamine, thirst trapping, attention economy, doom scrolling) - Social capital of having the latest and greatest gadget. - Categorizing people according to what measure of technology they have access to.  Social Determinism of Technology - Definition Social determinism is the theory that technology is a product of society, and that social, political, and cultural values shape it. It's the opposite of technological determinism, which holds that technology shapes society once it's created. -Social determinism was studied by the French philosopher Emile Durkheim (1858–1917), who was considered the father of social science. Social determinism of technology means that the development and adoption of technology is primarily driven by social factors, like economic needs, political agendas, cultural values, and social power dynamics, rather than solely by technological advancements themselves.  Social Determinism of Technology– Key Points - Social determinism emphasizes that social factors, such as cultural, economic, and political choices, determine technological innovation. - Social determinists believe that every technological development is a result of a social need, such as political, military, or economic. - Social determinists believe that technology is created as a result of power relations, or decisions made by the elite.  Examples of Social Determinism of Technology -The design of assistive technologies like screen readers or voice control systems is largely driven by the needs of people with disabilities, pushing for inclusivity in technology development. -The rise of social media platforms like Twitter can be partially attributed to the need for public discourse and activism around political issues, facilitating rapid information sharing and mobilization. -Laws around data privacy or environmental standards can significantly influence the design and features of new technologies, pushing companies to prioritize certain aspects over others -The development of advanced weapons systems like drones or GPS technology often originates from military research and funding, shaped by geopolitical considerations and the need for military superiority How does Technological Determinism or Social Determinism of Technology shape Music Technology? Technological Determinism - Technological determinism minimizes the importance of personal agency, which is a key factor in shaping the music creation experiences e.g. create music using pre-programmed musical sequences generated by machines (sequencers, synthesizers and now A.I.) - The way people consume music has changed with technology, including the introduction of visual media coupled with music (YouTube), streaming audio created by platform playlists (instead of selecting your own music), streaming live music experiences instead of attending concerts. - Synthesizers, Drum machines and now DAW (Digital Audio workstations) with the usage of virtual instruments (vst’s) has expanded the sonic possibilities for musicians beyond the physical realm and has even brought about the creation of entire musical genres based entirely on the use of technology. (e.g. samplers responsible for Hip Hop, software vst named MASSIVE responsible for DubStep) How does Technological Determinism or Social Determinism of Technology shape Music Technology? Social Determinism of Technology - The need for the democratization of music creation fueled the technology deemed appropriate for achieving these processes. Musicians needed access to expensive studios with expensive equipment requiring specially trained staff (engineers) to operate. - The invention of the electric guitar to compete with louder instruments on a stage during a live performance. The invention of synthesizers to replicate the sound of an an orchestra, The invention of drum machines to stand in for an actual drummer. - The desire for individuals to share music without constraint to physical media or cost (The rise of NAPSTER and illegal file sharing) as well as the desire for musicians (and corporations) to distribute their music outside the confines of a costly manufacturing and distribution process (mp3 technology, streaming services).