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Mythinformation (1986)
Written by Langdon Winner
Langdon WinnerProfessor of Political Science,
that wrote for Rolling Stone magazine
A Metaphor Explored
Information Revolution; Move into an age characterized bythe overwhelming dominanceof electronic information systemsin all areas of human practice.
Would this computer revolution involve a significant shift in the locus of power (as do most political revolutions) or is something similar going to happen in this instance?
Will this computer revolution be strongly committed to a partical set of social ideals (as revolutions often do.) If so, what are the ideals that matter? Where can we see them argued?
Will the computer revolution bring about victory of one class over another?
By and large the computer revolution is conspicuously silent about its own end.
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits outside our work
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits outside our work
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits outside our work
Environmental destruction can be avoided
The opportunities for personal creativity will be unlimited
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits outside our work
Environmental destruction can be avoided
The opportunities for personal creativity will be unlimited
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of information
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits outside our work
Environmental destruction can be avoided
The opportunities for personal creativity will be unlimited
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of information
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits outside our work
Environmental destruction can be avoided
The opportunities for personal creativity will be unlimited
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of information
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systemsSocial, political, technical changes will produce conditions likely to lead to the formation of groups with their
own distinctive sets of values, activities, language and dress
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits outside our work
Environmental destruction can be avoided
The opportunities for personal creativity will be unlimited
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of information
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systemsSocial, political, technical changes will produce conditions likely to lead to the formation of groups with their
own distinctive sets of values, activities, language and dress
INTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONELECTRONIC FUNDS
TRANSFERCOMPUTER_AIDED INSTRUCT.CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINESELECTRONIC MAIL
COMPUTER TELECONFERENCINGONLINE STOCK MARKET
Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Most boring jobs can be done by machines
Make human lives richer and freer
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits outside our work
Environmental destruction can be avoided
The opportunities for personal creativity will be unlimited
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of information
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systemsSocial, political, technical changes will produce conditions likely to lead to the formation of groups with their
own distinctive sets of values, activities, language and dress
INTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONELECTRONIC FUNDS
TRANSFERCOMPUTER_AIDED INSTRUCT.CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINESELECTRONIC MAIL
COMPUTER TELECONFERENCINGONLINE STOCK MARKET
INTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISION
ELECTRONIC MAILELECTRONIC MAILELECTRONIC MAILELECTRONIC MAILELECTRONIC MAILELECTRONIC MAGAZINESELECTRONIC MAGAZINESELECTRONIC MAGAZINESELECTRONIC MAGAZINESELECTRONIC MAGAZINESELECTRONIC MAGAZINESELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICECUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICECUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICECUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICECUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICECUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Environmental destruction can be avoided
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
INTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONOpportunities for work and
socializing on a more flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than
ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more flexible,
cheaper and convenient basis than ever before
INTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONINTERACTIVE TELEVISIONA rich diversity of subcultures will be
fostered by computer-based communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered by computer-based
communication systems
BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?
The Great Equalizer
01 people are bereft of information02 information is knowledge03 knowledge is power04 increasing access to information
enhances democracy and equalizes social power
Nonsense
information ≠ knowledge ≠ power ≠ democracy
Information and Ideology
Flood of dataTime-specificInformation is itself a perishable commodity
Everywhere and Nowhere
The three concerns outlined at close in this paper:
-the surveillance state and accompanying self-surveillance now
often called "panopticism”
- the alteration of patterns of human sociability
-the mobility and unlocatability of power that is now often called "rhizomatic"
Mythinformation
The almost religious conviction that a widespread adoption of computers and communications systems, along with
broad access to electronic information, will automatically produce a better world
for humanity.
Basic Argument
The transitions accompanying computer technologies may have some
democratizing potential - but this potential must be identified and worked
toward. It will not be realized automatically.
