Week 3 - Response To Content

It really is amazing how far technology has already advanced over the many years humans have inhabited the Earth. It's fascinating how our brains comprehend the thought: "I need this," and then proceed to come up with a construction to help us achieve our goal. For example, the Abacus. The abacus laid down the foundations for the construction of a calculator. (Ifrah, 2003). Back before we had the technology to produce something as technological as a calculator or even the idea of simple numbers, we needed a more simplistic idea of how to help us with calculations. The abacus provided that for us. a simple device used to make calculations that were too big for a pair of human hands to make. Before the abacus was invented, ordinary everyday objects like sticks and stones were used. But through the years, our understanding of technology has increased and now we have the calculator, and even smaller versions of them on computers or even mobile phones.

Calculations aren't the only thing that has been progressed through the rise of technology though. There is also as I mentioned in Week 1 Tutorial task, the ability to write and read as been enhanced. From simple cave drawings to the invention of the Greek alphabet then through to books, manuscripts, printed works, and now e-books accessed through technologies such as the computer. Technology is increasing all the time. (Graur, 1992). It's a wonder where our world will end up. Will the environment still be beautiful or will we be living in a barren land taken up by all the technology we can thing of to make our lives better? Would more technology make our lives better? or just worse?

References:

·                     Ifrah, G 2003, 'Universal history of numbers', Wiley Press 2000. 

·                     Gaur, A 1992, ‘A history of writing’, British Library, London, vol. 2, p.236.  

Viewed 12th August 2011.

~Blue-Inspiration