Damian's Blog

Reflections on Amish Technology Practices

2006-05-01T11:55:00.001-07:00

1) Who are the amish and why do they avoid certan technologies?

The Amish are a group of people who live in groups in Pennsylvania. They've always been a very close community that believe in strong relationships. They have very strict rules about expressing individuality. They believe that what is most important is what is best for the community, which is good because I think everyone wants what's best for their commmutiy... at least a lot of people in New York do. The Amish try to avoid technology when they believe it will affect their people in a bad way, that's also good because, obviously, nobody wants to have something that could put people in harm or in danger.

2) According to Howard Rheingold, how do the Amish go about adopting a new technology? What criteria do they use to decide whether or not to allow it?

Every two years all the Amish in the district and the bishops of the community get together to discuss church matters and technology ideas. In the article, Mr. Rheingold asked a question to an Amish man about cell phones. He replied with an example of a question that was brought up in past meetings. "Are cell phones used to make a living or just for gossip and frivolous chatter?" Obviously, the Amish want what's best for them and their people. They discuss questions that are raised about technology and decide whether or not it would be useful for them or something that is not needed.

3) Do you think we should be more careful about which technologies to allow into our lives? Explain your opinion. How should we decide this? Give examples of positive and negative technologies to illustrate your ideas.

I guess, I mean most of us want what's best for the world (at least I do), but some new ideas just aren't really needed in life. Some things are just pointless, but then again, people use and are greatly appreciated about what's been made, like a cell phone. It's been used, and still is being used by millions of people around the world, mostly for comminication while not being at home. Well this is kind of a bad example, but maybe a remote control can be sort of a negative idea, I mean it can be handy, yes, but people aren't moving enough. How can we decide this? Hmm, well like I said some things just don't appeal to people, so they don't sell. They don't sell so they're off the market, not getting shipped to stores anymore, so in a way everyone decides the outcome of what sells and what doesn't, I mean we're the ones that are spending are cash.

Reflections on Amish Technology Practices

2006-05-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

1) Who are the amish and why do they avoid certan technologies?
The Amish are a group of people who live in groups in Pennsylvania. They've always been a very close community that believe in strong relationships. They have very strict rules about expressing individuality. They believe that what is most important is what is best for the community, which is good because I think everyone wants what's best for their commmutiy... at least a lot of people in New York do. The Amish try to avoid technology when they believe it will affect their people in a bad way, that's also good because, obviously, nobody wants to have something that could put people in harm or in danger.2) According to Howard Rheingold, how do the Amish go about adopting a new technology? What criteria do they use to decide whether or not to allow it?Every two years all the Amish in the district and the bishops of the community get together to discuss church matters and technology ideas. In the article, Mr. Rheingold asked a question to an Amish man about cell phones. He replied with an example of a question that was brought up in past meetings. "Are cell phones used to make a living or just for gossip and frivolous chatter?" Obviously, the Amish want what's best for them and their people. They discuss questions that are raised about technology and decide whether or not it would be useful for them or something that is not needed.
3) Do you think we should be more careful about which technologies to allow into our lives? Explain your opinion. How should we decide this? Give examples of positive and negative technologies to illustrate your ideas.
I guess, I mean most of us want what's best for the world (at least I do), but some new ideas just aren't really needed in life. Some things are just pointless, but then again, people use and are greatly appreciated about what's been made, like a cell phone. It's been used, and still is being used by millions of people around the world, mostly for comminication while not being at home. Well this is kind of a bad example, but maybe a remote control can be sort of a negative idea, I mean it can be handy, yes, but people aren't moving enough. How can we decide this? Hmm, well like I said some things just don't appeal to people, so they don't sell. They don't sell so they're off the market, not getting shipped to stores anymore, so in a way everyone decides the outcome of what sells and what doesn't, I mean we're the ones that are spending are cash.

Our Trip to the "Samsung Experience"

2006-02-06T14:32:00.000-08:00

1) How is new technology presented to us by the companies that create and sell it?

New people come up with different thoughts and ideas. With those they can create bigger and better things for everyone. When someone comes up with something that could sell, they express it to the people they work with.

a) Observations: What images, language, textures, colors, shape, size, and other design features do you observe in this space?

I never really thought about the colors, textures, shapes and sizes of everything (even though those TVs were huge!), but I did see a lot of expensive looking cell phones.

list key images you observe: Lots and lots of cell phones, and TV screens.

list key language you hear or read: English?

describe textures you feel or see: Textures?

describe colors or color schemes you see: Mostly every color.

describe common shapes you see: Squares and rectangles.

Size. Does it seem to matter, and in which products?

I would say TVs and computer monitors... I mean come on, who wants a huge cell phone?!

Other observations:

b) Inferences: What are we being asked to believe about ourselves in relationship to technology? What values are behind the technology? Justify your inferences based on observation. State any prior assumptions you are making:

In a sense we're all kind of being brain washed by all this new technology. All the companies and business corporations are just coming up with more ways to make us spend our money... that's what it seems like to me anyway. Sure a cell phone with a TV on top of it can be useful, but does everyone need one? Should people have to spend their money on something that they might not even use? I guess that's just life, people need to make a living somehow right? It all seems like a dream to me.

2) What is your reaction to the Samsung Experience? Describe any shifts that occurred in your emotional and physical state when you arrived. Try to explain the cause of thesfeelings.3) Of the different products you have observed, which do you think has/will most change the way humans live in the future? Name it and explain your thinking.

It's great what they have going on over there, I think it really gives people a chance to look at what people can create... and what people can sell. Honestly I don't think any of Samsung's fancy devices could change the way we go about life. Like I said before, a cell phone with a mini TV on top of it can be something that can make millions, but it'll never change the way I live my life.