MIT271 Technology & Human Values

March 5: Language/Technology (a) Invisible Technologies (b) Technology and Gender

Language: Invisible technology

Hidden (inconspicuous) ideological agenda:

Ideology integrated into our personalities and world-view; seems natural More hidden than machines because inside us

Examples of linguistic technologies

Questions 1. multiple choice 2. smoking and praying 3. no one buried alive/everyone buried dead

Zero calculation without an abacus

makes calculation more accessible makes complex calculations easier

Problems with statistics

Reification

= making an abstract idea into a (real) material thing [in other contexts associated with problems of essentialism] e.g. Francis Galton

More problems
IQ

What is it? Application to groups Loaded questions Opinions not measurable No account of ignorance Undermines political leadership

Polling

Benston: Gendered Voices and Technology

Men and women inhabit different conceptual worlds defined by their languages:
Masculine language is distinguished by its occupation with technology and technical terms

Problem: Women denied resources

How men use technology to express masculinity

Cars Guns Stereos

Sports/statistical

talk Computers over typewriters More?

Expressing femininity
Dress Not

technology:

home-ec

not shop theory not technique (practical knowledge) More?

Disempowering women
Restricts

womens domain of action

(control) Technology not developed to suit womens needs

TEST ON THURSDAY
Questions

on sheets and the web Ppt slides now up? General question session: Grad Club 5-7 tonight?