Evolving Technologies

The telegraph, electrification, telephone, and radio are all technological advancements that redefined communication. Vincent Mosco’s “When Old Myths Were New: The Ever Ending Story,” describes that the introduction of each innovation brought much anticipation and high expectations-all revolving around the ability to unite people from across the nation. However, each technological innovation was soon surpassed by the next advancement. Mosco states when a new communication advancement is introduced, the ‘older’ versions simply fade away. People eventually forget the importance of each new development and their high expectations of cultural unity shift from one communication platform to the next. History now reveals that people may have over anticipated the capabilities of these technologies and a utopia has yet to be discovered. These same expectations are being applied to the internet today. But has society truly forgotten what advancements have led us to the development of the internet? When the next new wave of communication is introduced, will the same expectations be anticipated yet again?

I feel people will never truly forget the communication technologies of the past because each was uniquely monumental and created a new form of communication. In order for technology to advance, I feel it must build on past developments. The telegraph, electrification, telephone, and radio did not fade away --but evolved into a form of communication. The telephone and radio are prime examples of how technology builds on its creations—and not ceasing further development a product because it already served a specific function. The telephone-and its uses- have come a long way since its introduction. As household cordless phones made the shift to hand held cell phones with web surfing capabilities, the telephone incorporated the internet and did not fade away. The radio has also reached new platforms thanks to internet and satellite advancements. Listening to the radio has never been more available to users—with the internet and cell phones and a completely new ‘XM’ channel that entices many listeners with less advertisements than traditional radio. Each of these technologies proves that innovations that forever change the way of communication do not fade away, but evolve.

Technological evolution has rapidly made the transition to cars. Developments over the years have made cars more luxurious and safe. Now Google is in the process of transforming cars into vehicles that can drive themselves. This serves as another example of technology building and advancing.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/science/10google.html