Technology often offers members of the lower and upper class a gateway to literacy; a pathway that brings with it both the luxury of flexibility and the fear of authentication. As technology evolves, the ease in which people can communicate with one another increases. This allows individuals to talk with others when needed and at their convenience; this flexibility was strongly exemplified in the invention of the telephone. However, more current technology such as online banking has brought about the concern for fraud. Although easily understood why many would share this fear, individuals also shared a similar fear over older technologies such as the telephone; a fear of the unknown and uncontrollable. Dennis Baron, in his article entitled “From Pencils to Pixels” illustrates the idea that every new technology must undergo certain stages before it is fully accepted by society. The particular technology must first be available to a diverse audience; to people who are not in the upper class. After permeating this group of people, the individuals must feel that this technology in a sense mimics functions of their older technology in a more efficient manner. After this notion has been accepted, others in society tend to buy this product, which lowers the cost. At this point, the technology becomes accepted, and “comes into its own,” where it becomes indispensible. To prove this point, Baron carefully chose sources that would support this idea.

A book written by Carolyn Marvin, When Old Technologies Were New, displays how new technology is often met with fear of both the unknown and uncontrollable, and how over time this fear evaporates. In comparing how technology affects social class, Marvin says that her study "argues that the early history of electric media is less the evolution of technical efficiencies in the communications than a series of arenas for negotiating issues crucial to the conduct of social life; among them, who is inside and outside, who may speak, who may not, and who has authority and may be believed," (4). Marvin aims at showing how technology merely elaborates on older inventions such as the telegraph, and how the real resistance behind accepting newer technology lies in how the technology shapes the social class. This impact on class is demonstrated through the invention of the telephone. Baron most likely uses this source as Marvin’s description and analysis of how the telephone affects individual’s social confidence in the telephone as a new technology, parallels how individuals feel about online banking. The telephone presented individuals at that time with a fear of the unknown. Marvin asserts, “ Asymmetries of dress, manner, and class that identified outsiders and were immediately obvious in face to face contact were disturbingly invisible by telephone and telegraph and therefore problematic and dangerous,” (86). Individuals felt insecure while talking on the telephone, as they could never be positive who was on the other end. This fear caused much social unrest, as those of a race that was subordinate at the time were able to call anyone without the other individual knowing. This put more power in the hands of the lower class, and allowed the upper class to have the power to deceive much more easily. Similarly today, online banking creates this same uncertainty. When you put your money into a machine and wait for the amount to be registered online, individuals feel the need to be very cautious. It is the fear of who is on the other end depositing that check. Another fear presents itself; the fear that others using the Internet may get hold of your information and abuse it. However, over time, more measures are being instilled to prevent fraud. Just as the telephone once presented danger, the online banking system will by Baron’s analysis, become indispensable to society. 

In order for individuals to possess this fear of new technology, they must first be introduced to it, as their opinions determine the success of the new invention.  In the Networks of Power Electrification in Western Society, 1880-1930, written by Thomas P. Hughes, the idea that the population must know what is going on is emphasized. In Baron’s article, the idea that a new technology is only successful if it permeates different strata of society is talked about. Hughes mentions that the new technology, in his case, the polpyphase universal electric supply system, must be somehow displayed to cause excitement. Hughes accomplishes this when he puts this new technology on exhibit in major cities such as Frankfort and Chicago. The people also create a sense of competition between companies as well since they base their decisions on the “merits of each system,” (106). This relates to Baron as he talks about how different companies manufacture pencils, and how their success depended on both quality and cost. Hughes claims about the population that, “Their participation and their influence upon decisions about technology are significant reminders that technological change cannot be understood if viewed only from the perspective of the designing engineer and the calculating cost accountant,” (107). In Baron’s terms, the technology must move past the “priestly” class. Both Baron and Marvin use this source to support the idea that to even have a debate over the advance of technology, people must be knowledgeable that there is indeed an advance going on. In a sense, sources serve to elaborate on a main point in an academic paper.

Back to my Home Page