Comments on: The disenfranchisement of the willingly unwired http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/2009/06/12/the-disenfranchisement-of-the-willingly-unwired/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed Promoting innovation and a conversational local politics Wed, 28 Dec 2011 13:58:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Paul Evans http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/2009/06/12/the-disenfranchisement-of-the-willingly-unwired/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Paul Evans Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:14:53 +0000 http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/?p=1171#comment-161 Thanks Graham / CD Totally agree on the question of 'culture' I hope a few of the suits look at the proposals for very small levies on the companies that make a fortune from transmitting content as well - there's an event on it here (modesty forbids me from saying who has set it up) - http://feu.eventbrite.com Thanks Graham / CD

Totally agree on the question of ‘culture’

I hope a few of the suits look at the proposals for very small levies on the companies that make a fortune from transmitting content as well – there’s an event on it here (modesty forbids me from saying who has set it up) – http://feu.eventbrite.com

]]> By: Graham http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/2009/06/12/the-disenfranchisement-of-the-willingly-unwired/comment-page-1/#comment-163 Graham Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:01:05 +0000 http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/?p=1171#comment-163 This is a much bigger question than anyone seems to notice - not just accessibility, but *culture* and attitude towards technology as a whole. As someone that's grown up with PCs and consoles and mobiles and etc, I think there's a fundamental question as to the balance we assign to our use of technology, much as there is about the balance we assign to, say, work or alcohol. Unfortunately, I think, most technological progress is driven more by profit (in the private sector), efficiency and/or cost-saving (in the public sector) than by a desire to do things "better" or improve the way we actually make decisions or interact. The end result is a bizarre dichotomy - either you're wired, or you're unwired. There is no middle ground. You're efficient, or you're inefficient/outcast. Which is a shame. My experience with tech is that you can't simply say "tech is good" or "tech is bad". What you can say is that tech should be used beneficially, as a means rather than an end. Broadband is needed for some things. It's not needed for, say, text messaging, or even lively discussion (unless all that chat via BBSes in the 90s was all a dream). Tech needs to be used _appropriately_, and _considerately_, rather than being told to everyone that it's just The Best. The assumption that Progress is good in and of itself needs to be re-thought. In the future, I hope people will laugh at the idea of being "wired" or "unwired", and all the connotations that go with them. Decision-making will be led by attitudes, rather than mediums. Politics will be about more than just appearances. Ah, but if only... This is a much bigger question than anyone seems to notice – not just accessibility, but *culture* and attitude towards technology as a whole. As someone that’s grown up with PCs and consoles and mobiles and etc, I think there’s a fundamental question as to the balance we assign to our use of technology, much as there is about the balance we assign to, say, work or alcohol.

Unfortunately, I think, most technological progress is driven more by profit (in the private sector), efficiency and/or cost-saving (in the public sector) than by a desire to do things “better” or improve the way we actually make decisions or interact.

The end result is a bizarre dichotomy – either you’re wired, or you’re unwired. There is no middle ground. You’re efficient, or you’re inefficient/outcast.

Which is a shame. My experience with tech is that you can’t simply say “tech is good” or “tech is bad”. What you can say is that tech should be used beneficially, as a means rather than an end. Broadband is needed for some things. It’s not needed for, say, text messaging, or even lively discussion (unless all that chat via BBSes in the 90s was all a dream).

Tech needs to be used _appropriately_, and _considerately_, rather than being told to everyone that it’s just The Best. The assumption that Progress is good in and of itself needs to be re-thought.

In the future, I hope people will laugh at the idea of being “wired” or “unwired”, and all the connotations that go with them. Decision-making will be led by attitudes, rather than mediums. Politics will be about more than just appearances.

Ah, but if only…

]]> By: cyberdoyle http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/2009/06/12/the-disenfranchisement-of-the-willingly-unwired/comment-page-1/#comment-162 cyberdoyle Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:52:05 +0000 http://blog.localdemocracy.org.uk/?p=1171#comment-162 just another example of non joined up thinking in this govt ... great post, hope some of the suits read it. just another example of non joined up thinking in this govt … great post, hope some of the suits read it.

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