"The Real World of Technology" by: Ursula Franklin

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“The Real World of Technology” by: Ursula Franklin

        The continuous improvement and development of technology creates a paradox in which society becomes unable to survive without technology. As we evolve as a society, our need of technology evolves with us.

        In the “The Real World of Technology” by Ursula Franklin, she identifies technology as a house that we live in. This house expands with the expansion of technological development. Franklin points out that technology enters our lives the day we are born, along with not knowing that it has control over us. She also points out that as we grow older in this “house” of technology, we lose more control of our self control.

The paradox in this article is that when we believe or think that developing new technologies is beneficiary to our society, and not know the fact that we have the desire to develop these new technologies because we always try to better ourselves. By doing so, we become addicted to technology and cannot function without it.

        In her article, Ursula Franklin compares technology to democracy. She says that they both have ideas and practices, and they also include myths and various models of reality. The intent of this comparison is to show that society is in need of technology as much as it is in need of democracy. We live in a democratic society, and because of this democracy, we thrive to create and update technologies to better assist our lives. By doing so, we are falling into the trap in which technology controls and guides our lives.  


“Feminist Perspectives on Technology” by: J. Wajcman.

        In the article “Feminist Perspective on Technology”, written by J. Wajcman raises a few interesting ideas. According to Wajcman technology has a life of its own. Although humans created technology and are developing it continuously, we have no control over it. She also refers to technology as an irresistible force moving forward. This implies that we are unable to stop technology from growing due to the fact that we became so dependant on it that we became in need of it to live our normal lives.  

        Another interesting perspective that Wajcman discusses in her article is whether society shapes technology or visa versa.  According to Wajcman, technology shapes society, especially women. Since the introduction of technologies such as word processors, women have become more involved in society. They are now a part of the economy because they are no longer entitled to house work only. Although women are now a part of a technological society, yet men have total domination of technology. According to Wajcman changes in technology are really important, but society itself should change in order to adapt to new technologies. And by adapting to technology, society becomes stronger due to the equality between men and women. Wajcman believes that technology is neutral and effects society from the outside.

        One of Wajcman’s main beliefs is that technology in this day and age limits the social gap between men and women. It also enhances the economical status of technological societies, because equality between men and women benefits technological societies.


“Appling Technology to Ourselves” by: C.Cassidy

        This article raises plenty of serious issues regarding how technology shapes our society. These issues include the power struggle between man and technology, new reproductive technologies, and imposing limits on technology.

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In her article, she refers to the saying “the fish knows nothing of water”. This implies that we are so dependant on technology, yet we don’t realize how dependant we became. We need to get a better understanding of the role that technology plays in shaping our modern society.

        The technological advancement in the field of reproductive technologies is considered to be the most counterseal fields in our current time. New reproductive technologies are designed to target the wealthy sector of society. It creates a society where the rich has access to this technology that could produce a “perfect ...

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