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Tenner, without a doubt, believes that technology has enhanced human life, yet persuasively contends that many of the scientific developments of the past century have produced their share of additional complications. In his book, "Why Things Bite Back," Tenner complains that almost nothing about technology has been predicted with any accuracy. As machines become more and more advanced, they also become less predictable (Tenner, 1996, p. 17). The marvels of modern technology, for instance, include the development of the soda can which, when discarded, lasts for eons and improvements in football padding which originally were meant to prevent injuries ended up encouraging more aggressive play, causing injuries to increase (Page, 1998). Furthermore, World Health Organization sprayed DDT to kill malaria-carrying mosquitoes in a third world country and though the mosquitoes died, so did a parasitic wasp that had controlled thatch-eating caterpillars (Page, 1998). Therefore, the peoples' roofs collapsed and other DDT-poisoned insects were eaten by geckos, which were eaten by cats (Page, 1998). When the cats died, the rats flourished and the locals were suddenly faced with outbreaks of typhus and plague. In response, WHO parachuted 14,000 live cats into Borneo (Page, 1998).
It’s no secret that the amount of technology we engage with throughout our day-to-day lives has been rapidly increasing over the years. Computer performance doubles every few months, and has since 1942, beginning with the Atanasoff-Berry computer, the first electronic digital computer, built before World War II in a basement lab at Iowa State University by math and physics professor John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry, a graduate student (Page, 1998). Most cell phones are now equipped with more functions than we will likely ever find the need to use. While most would assume that the more features we have, the better. In reality, the more that we rely on new technologies in our lives, the harder it is for us to adapt when they are gone. When’s the last time you’ve had the power go out at your home? You really start to realize our dependence on technologies such as electricity just for accomplishing the most common tasks.
Works Cited:
Page, D. (1998, April 1). Man vs. machine: the halftime report. Retrieved February 25, 2015, from http://home.earthlink.net/~douglaspage/id9.html
Tenner, E. (1996). Chapter 1. Ever since frankenstein. Why things bite back: Technology and the revenge of unintended consequences. New York: Knopf.
It’s no secret that the amount of technology we engage with throughout our day-to-day lives has been rapidly increasing over the years. Computer performance doubles every few months, and has since 1942, beginning with the Atanasoff-Berry computer, the first electronic digital computer, built before World War II in a basement lab at Iowa State University by math and physics professor John V. Atanasoff and Clifford Berry, a graduate student (Page, 1998). Most cell phones are now equipped with more functions than we will likely ever find the need to use. While most would assume that the more features we have, the better. In reality, the more that we rely on new technologies in our lives, the harder it is for us to adapt when they are gone. When’s the last time you’ve had the power go out at your home? You really start to realize our dependence on technologies such as electricity just for accomplishing the most common tasks.
Works Cited:
Page, D. (1998, April 1). Man vs. machine: the halftime report. Retrieved February 25, 2015, from http://home.earthlink.net/~douglaspage/id9.html
Tenner, E. (1996). Chapter 1. Ever since frankenstein. Why things bite back: Technology and the revenge of unintended consequences. New York: Knopf.