In the video, Dr. Mayer says that another force that really has impact on the emergence of new technologies is rhymes of history, which occurs when “the affect or impact of a new development rekindles something from the distant past” (Laureate, 2009). Additionally, he says that it’s not the technology itself; but the affect (how the technology gets used) that is rekindled” (Laureate, 2009). There are many technologies that we use today that gained prominence due to their ancestor technologies because without the ancestor technologies, these newer technologies probably wouldn’t exist. Furthermore, because of past technologies, the technologies that were once thought ‘not possible’ are possible indeed (TEDtalksDirector, 2008).
Since the beginning of time, humans have found means of communicating with one another. Our intelligence allowed us to find methods of communicating with others from longer distances. This was done by means of smoke signals, carrier pigeons, and messengers, just to name a few. Afterward, we developed other methods of communicating through the use of various technologies, including morse code, telegraphs, and landline telephones – all considered telecommunication technologies. Now, we no longer have to depend on any of the older methods of communicating. The new methods that we have today allow for distant communication, and are much easier and simpler to use. Examples of today’s distant communication methods include instant messaging, text messaging, email, etc.
The focus of this blog will be on email, also known as electronic mail. Requiring Internet access, users must also have an email address, which is free from hosts like Yahoo, MSN, and Google. This is one technology that supports Kelly’s embodiment principle, as the world wide web is needed in order for email to occur (TEDtalksDirector, 2008). After these criteria are met, users can send and receive messages electronically/digitally easier and more quickly than having to send or receive messages via postal service. One the email is composed and sent by the sender, the receiver is able to receive the message instantaneously from any location around the world. Therefore, email is a powerful tool that has become a part of our everyday life personally, academically, socially, and professionally.
Here are some references that I was able to find on the history of email:
A Brief History of Email - http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/spring2002/cmsc434-0101/MUIseum/applications/emailhistory.html
The History of Email - http://mashable.com/2011/06/18/the-history-of-email-infographic/
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Rhymes of history. Baltimore: Author.
TEDtalksDirector. (2008). Kevin kelly: The next 5,000 days of the web. Retrieved July 9, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDYCf4ONh5M
Jessica,
ReplyDeleteOne of the notes I wrote when I was watching the "Rhymes of History" podcast this module was about email, and how it rekindles the "Pony Express." It is driven by humans' need to communicate with each other, and while a few hundred years ago, the only way to correspond long distance with someone was by writing a letter and having the Pony Express deliver it a few months later, email has certainly brought written communication up to the 21st Century. I can't remember the last time I wrote a snail-mail letter to someone. If we can't email, Facebook, Skype or some other online communication, we meet in person or talk on the phone. No more Pony Express-delivered correspondence! :)
AJ