Prof Strate then goes to discuss the computer as a medium and its representation of time. Prof Strate presents us with the example of surveillance and states:
“given the hyper speed of computing technology, surveillance can occur in real time. Total recall becomes total see-all…Gelernter is enthusiastic about computer power and its potential to revolutionize such activities as news gathering, traffic control, hospital organization, and the political process. It is therefore difficult to decide which is more frightening: the implementation of the system that he describes, or Gelernter’s seeming obliviousness to the threat it poses to freedom and privacy. Moreover, he misses the irony of installing mirror worlds in a culture characterized by rampant narcissism. Mirror worlds, as symbolic representations or maps of the present (and the past), also represent the computer’s potential to both control and contain the outside world through hyper speed surveillance and information processing and the ability to respond immediately.”
It is interesting how cyber time will completely mirror that of reality and be able to present us with images of the outside world. The constant surveillance that we are under is frightening. Every move we make, every step we take can be recorded without our knowledge. Such a system can be beneficial to our society, but as Strate suggests are we willing to give up our freedom and privacy in order to establish such a system? Do the gains really outweigh the losses? This poses the question of how far will society go in order to know our position at every point in time, whether its real time or cybertime. If such a system was fully implemented, it’s similar to just inserting a computer chip in our bodies and tracking our every movement.
Moreover, many people were astounded by Google Earth and its ability to allow a person to view satellite imagery. Although this program was pretty cool, it may just be a predecessor to the system Gelernter was speaking of.
good point about satellite imaging and Google Earth--I'd like to see more discussion of it. And what is that a picture of?
ReplyDeleteThis is really a heated debate of giving up what we think may be a freedom of privacy for security. The Patriot Act is a great example of being under surveillance, as the government had the right to listen to our conversations and a list of other allowed actions. The debate has been going back and forth for a very long time now and it's hard to say who is right. I think privacy is important but so is security, but at what cost?
ReplyDeleteThere's something about being able to disconnect from the world. With a system that watches our every move to mirror in cybertime that wouldn't be possible. Or at least, it would be that much more difficult.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to security: "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-Benjamin Franklin
I honestly think the idea of google earth is really scary. The idea that we are constantly being monitored makes me feel beyond uneasy. I personally do think that it is an invasion of privacy; what if this is only the beginning?
ReplyDeleteI still can't get over the idea of putting a cyber chip into a dog to track their every move-- but now they're thinking about putting one into people? That's frightening.
ReplyDeleteAfter 9/11 we were very weary of our safety and all the upgraded surveillance seemed like a great idea. Now that time has passed we are becoming weary of our privacy again.
ReplyDelete