Module 6.2 - Media and Technology

technology

any tool or device that helps us do actions

knowledge gap

an ongoing and increasing gap in information for those who have less access to technology

e-readiness

—the ability to sort through, interpret, and process knowledge

digital divide

the uneven access to technology among different races, classes, and geographic areas

net neutrality

the principle that all Internet data should be treated equally by Internet service providers, is part of the national debate about Internet access and the digital divide - Supporters of net neutrality suggest that without such legal protections, the Internet could be divided into “fast” and “slow” lanes. A conflict perspective theorist might suggest that this discrimination would allow bigger corporations, such as Amazon, to pay Internet providers a premium for faster service, which could lead to gaining an advantage that would drive small, local competitors out of business.

media

refers to all print, digital, and electronic means of communication

utility patents

the first type - these are granted for the invention or discovery of any new and useful process, product, or machine, or for a significant improvement to existing technologies.

design patent

second type - commonly conferred in architecture and industrial design, this means someone has invented a new and original design for a manufactured product

plant patents

the final type, recognize the discovery of new plant types that can be asexually reproduced. While genetically modified food is the hot-button issue within this category, farmers have long been creating new hybrids and patenting them. A more modern example might be food giant Monsanto, which patents corn with built-in pesticide (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office 2011)

evolutionary model of technological change

a breakthrough in one form of technology leads to a number of variations

new media

encompasses all interactive forms of information exchange. These include social networking sites, blogs, podcasts, wikis, and virtual worlds

planned obsolescence

and it is the business practice of planning for a product to be obsolete or unusable from the time it is created

Neo-luddites

are people who see technology as symbolizing the coldness and alienation of modern life

technophiles

technology symbolizes the potential for a brighter future