Does Technology Control Us

When reading chapter 2 of Technology Matters, David Nye starts the chapters off with posing a question, Does Technology Control Us? The question is the title of the chapter, after which his writing is based off of. When looking at the question it is quite broad and vague. But with that comes a smart strategy. He allows himself to have much more success in the research and examples that he gives us. It also gives us, the readers, more of an opportunity to answer the question for ourselves and debate it with others.

Nye chooses to represent both sides of the question by taking a stance with both sides. He uses perspectives from all around. He uses a socialist, capitalist, and other views on how they would answer the question. He also shows points of view from different cultures and areas throughout the world. An example is the use of the gun. In Japan the people eventually used the gun as a weapon. However they did not all like the use of it and eventually banned them, for cultural reasons. They were going back to the use of the sword and arrow. It wasn’t until about 300 years later from 1543-1853 that they used the gun again. If it wasn’t for Commodore Perry, Japan might have not used guns. However, at some point they might have, but when we look at other tribes, such as in Africa, we know that they don’t use guns yet.

He also uses the idea of the wheel. In Central America the Aztecs knew of the wheel, but decided to not use it. Instead they used all of the manpower they had to transport the material to make their buildings. Also, when in Northern Africa, the people decided to not use the wheel, because they would have to build roads and use oxen and horses, which together have to require much more water than camels. So instead they kept to camels, which don’t require so much water, and are able to carry impressive loads on their backs throughout the desert.

So to answer his question, from his point of view, it seems that technology does not control us. The only way, in which we perceive that it does control us, is the fact that we choose to let us control us. We want anything and everything possible to be in our lives, to make it simpler. Each country and nation is different. We look at the U.S., there is so much that we have and use, that we need technology to make our lives move on. The day that we no longer need technology might be the day we fall as a country, but the reverse could happen as well. The day that we keep advancing technology might be the day in which we fail as a nation and lead to our own destruction.

I believe that technology does control us. Of course my answer might seem one-sided, but its due to the fact that I have been born and raised in a country that has always used technology and adapted to its ways. I feel that if technology stopped developing that we would no longer be a super power and that there would be a stand still with other nations. Without a phone, computer, car, and other materials, what would I do? What would we do? Is it possible to move on without needing technology? The answer is floating in the air, but until that answer arrives, technology will be a 3rd parent. Helping us, either good or bad, in today’s modern society.