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COLUMN TITLE: THE OPEN COLUMN: Technology, Society, Culture
LEAD (1st column):
From this IC@ST issue on the magazine will feature a column on
topics that bridgetechnology, society and culture. The co-editors
of this column Mieczysaw
Muraszkiewicz and Jan Kaczmarek will share it with other invited
authors to trace
and discuss two-way impacts between technology, society and
culture at large. In
their first introductory article the authors set the background
for the column main
theme. Read more (Read the introductory column)
THE INTRODUCTORY ARTICLE
A technology becomes truly exciting only when it gets to be a
social phenomenon.The thrill of excitement comes from its
disruptive potential, its ability to shift
paradigms, alter business models and ways the society is
organised. The
uncertainty over the end result 'of it all', fuels speculations,
provokes inspiring
discussions and creative thinking. This solely shall serve as
sufficient reason for us
to host this column on technology and society, but let's add two
more. Firstly, the
very way how technologies shape social phenomena is particularly
interesting,
secondly it does matter towards which direction the technology
pushes the evolving
society, and we wish it to be in the direction of open
society.
We have learned from the writings of Marshal McLuhan that the
medium itself, not
only the content it carries, affects the addressee of the
message. The medium notonly conditions the meaning of the message
but has a deep long term influence on
how people perceive the surrounding world in general, and how
they adapt to it.
The more widespread the medium the largest and faster its
impacts. So it is not
true that only the way a technology is used matters, how the
technology is matters
equally. Information and communication technologies shape the
media of tomorrow
and their impacts on human cognitive habits and cultural
patterns are undoubtedly
profound however the extent to which they translate into
evolution of the
civilisation is yet to be traced. These impacts can either be
destructive or
constructive for the establishment of open society, in which
individuals can flourish
to the benefit of all.
The notion of open society has been introduced by Karl Popper in
his opus magnum
"Open society and its enemies" that treats about the permanent
struggle of
mankind and the civilisation against its inner evil forces that
try to suppress an
individual, commonly for the sake of ideology or interests of a
few chosen ones. The
transition from a closed tribal society to an open society is a
quest of freedom and
democracy thirsty individuals against tribal reactionists that
act against it. Though
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Popper uses the words that appear to pertain to the times that
are gone forever, the
totalitarianisms of XX century, he describes mechanisms that are
still valid
nowadays, yet the methods of the enemies are far more
sophisticated and difficult
to pin down. Whether it is via control of information, imposing
standards, promoting
habits, creation and manipulation of simulacra, etc. the freedom
and full
development potential of individuals are constantly at risk.
Popper is an optimist however, he sets up a positive project,
being convinced that
the enemies of open society shall fall. Self-actualisation of
individuals seems a
proper panacea of our times. Let it be then the spirit of this
column, which we will
eagerly share with invited authors to discuss the topics
prompted by the Popperian
agenda. This theme has already proven to be stimulating for it
has served as a
driving inspiration of Mobile Open Society through wireless
Technology (MOST)
Foundation (www.most-program.org), an NGO established nearly a
decade ago
which created a forum for discussing the implications of
communication
technologies, mobile in particular, on democracy, economic
growth and societal
development. Our involvement in MOST has convinced us that the
interdisciplinary
thinking on the verge of technology, society and culture can be
equally valuable as
entertaining. We hope to bring you a bit of both in the coming
issues.
If you would like to suggest a topic or feature in this column
please contact us at
[email protected]
