It is not farfetched to say that people are easily awed by innovation, specifically technological ones. How many of you have been hooked by the functionality of a new cell phone or the high definition of a television set? Did you ever think to yourself "I wish I had that or I'm going to buy that?"
The text book incorporates the notion of "supervening necessity." As did better business practices lean on the need of the telephone so does our need to have cell phones to stay in contact with family and friends, share pictures, text messages, listen to music, record video, record voice, keep an agenda, etc. To see what I'm getting at? It seems to me that the "supervening necessities" that arise are giving way for technologica convergence. In a society where we consume so much, whether it be information to the newest business comodity, we are contanstly looking for something. What is that something? That's interesting because I could not pin point one thing. Your reasons may differ from another depending on your need, personality, or likes and dislikes. Maybe it's a status thing. Is it for functionality? I don't know; however, "supervening necessity" is the driving force of an utopian society or dystopian society, depending how you look at it. I'm more on the side of utopian personally, but we'll save this discussion for another day.
This is perfect headway into the unintended consequences we face on new technology. Postman made an interesting point that no one new innovation is one sided in consequences. All have good and bad consequences. It now becomes a matter of weighing the consequences whether we participate or not, and if we do participate, what are the good and the bad consequences of that. For example, should I get a cell phone? Yes, I think I will get a cell phone? People can now reach me at anytime. Is this good or bad? Will I become dependent on this phone? What kind of phone do I need? Will this phone do everything I want it to do? Note, I'm already supposing that the phone will need to do more than just call someone. Do you see my point?
From a researching point of view the U&G of a device can, as the article stated, identify and measure the practicality of the devise in the market place and in society. This method of identifying and measuring will help me identify how to give a better analysis of the uses and needs of digital asset management in the financial industry, which is the topic of my research paper this quarter. It will identify how well this method of technical business practice will be incorporated in the corporate world. Then again going along with Postman again, maybe all that needs to be done is tell people it will work and it will. Because as Postman states "in a world without spiritual or intellectual order, nothing is unbelievable; nothing is predictable, and therefore, nothing comes as a particular surprise." (itallics used for sarcasm)
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Steve, the one thing about UG theory is its relationship to motivation theory. I think that's an additional element to consider as you do your research (which already may have).
Postman also wrote a book about TV that I read years ago, "Amusing Ourselves To Death." One point he made there - as you are planning to study the ideology of DAM - is
"Public Consciousness has not yet assimilated the point that technology is ideology."
He goes on to say the following, elaborating more on this notion:
" This in spite of the fact that before our very eyes technology has altered every aspect of life in America during the past 80 years (he published this in 1985). For example, it would have been excusable in 1905 for us to be unprepared for the cultural changes the automobile would bring. Who could have supected then that the autobmobile would tell us how we were to conduct our social and sexual lives? Would reorient our ideas about what to do with our forests and cities? Would create new ways of expressing our personal identity and standing?
"But it is much later in the game now. . .we have seen enough by now to know that technological changes in our modes of communication are even more ideology-laden than our mode of transportation. . . Introduce speed of light transmission of images and you make a cultural revolution. Without a vote. Without polemics. Without guerilla resistance. Here is ideology, pure if not serene... All that is required to make it stick is a population that devoutly believes in the inevitability of progress."
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