Neo-Luddites

Neo-luddites are those that are against the development of technology. One believes that in this country in 2009, it is relatively impossible to be completley against technology. This term started in the Industrial Revoultion, when individuals were against the devolpment of machines that made their lives easier.

In my daily life, as a university student, I am constantly using technology. From checking my emails to Facebook when I wake up, to texting my friends and listening to my iPod Nano on the way to lectures. Often these lectures require prior research, we often do this by researching online (usually on our own personal laptops). However, as students, we sometimes have to take out library books, without modern technology this would be alot harder. Our library is particularly modern, with self-service checkout points, as well as alarms (upon exit without checking out the book), these are all controlled by the magnetic strip inside the book. Even searching for the book involves technology, as one as to search on the special designed computer programme to be able to find which floor the book is on, and then one would usual take the lift to the next floor.

Back to the lecture, these are usually given by a lecturer who uses powerpoint presentations to helo get their message across. These are also then posted online for us to download, print out, and learn from. After lectures, I will usually watch TV on my LSD flatscreen which has Freeview and a DVD player built in, a neo-luddite would not be happy about this all-in-one, very modern (and very expensive) piece of not really necessary equipment.

On certain days, if one was to shop, we can not avoid technology-with electronic tagging of goods and payment systems (especially as I never carry cash). On more random days, a modern individual is in contact with a large amount of technology in hospitals- someone who is against the advancement of technology may have a problem when it comes to the very extensive and very modern technology now present in most areas of hospitals.

Neo-luddites have some good ideas as to why advancements in technology are bad, such as people cutting themselves of from the world (not the case however with mobile phones/email), dehumanization, health problems and to a larger extent, nuclear warfire. I believe that advancements in technology are good and it is up to the individual and society to use the technology how they wish and how much influence it has on their lives. Personally, I couldnt be against advancements in technology, because I couldnt be without the technology I have in my life.