DON MARIANO MARCOS MEMORIAL STATE UNIVERSITY

NORTH LA UNION CAMPUS

Sapilang, Bacnotan, La Union

College of Graduate Studies

REPORTER: AIKO R. APOSTOL

TOPIC: DEMOCRATIZATION
Course: GR 398-ADVANCED ITMS
Professor: SHALIMAR L. NAVALTA, Ph.D.

DEMOCRATIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY

Democratization of technology refers to the process by which access to technology rapidly

continues to become more accessible to more people. New technologies and improved user
experiences have empowered those outside of the technical industry to access and
use technological products and services. At an increasing scale, consumers have greater access to
use and purchase technologically sophisticated products, as well as to participate meaningfully in
the development of these products. Industry innovation and user demand have been associated
with more affordable, user-friendly products. This is an ongoing process, beginning with the
development of mass production and increasing dramatically as digitization became commonplace.

History
Scholars and social critics often cite the invention of the printing press as a major invention that
changed the course of history. The force of the printing press rested not in its impact on the
printing industry or inventors, but on its ability to transmit information to a broader public by way
of mass production. This event is so widely recognized because of its social impact – as a
democratizing force.[2]
The printing press is often seen as the historical counterpart to the Internet.[3][4]
After the development of the Internet in 1969, its use remained limited to communications
between scientists and within government, although use of email and boards gained popularity
among those with access. It did not become a popular means of communication until the 1990s. In
1993 the US federal government opened the Internet to commerce and the creation
of HTML formed the basis for universal accessibility.[5]

Contributions

Cultural Contribution
This trend is linked to the spread of knowledge of and ability to perform high-tech tasks,
challenging previous conceptions of expertise.[10]
Widespread access to technology, including lower costs, was critical to the transition to the new
economy.[11] Similarly, democratization of technology was also fuelled by this economic transition,
which produced demands for technological innovation and optimism in technology-driven progress.
[12]

Since the 1980s, a spreading constructivist conception of technology has emphasized that the social
and technical domains are critically intertwined. [10] Scholars have argued that technology is non-
neutral, defined contextually and locally by a certain relationship with society. [13][14]
Andrew Feenberg, a central thinker in the philosophy of technology [citation needed], argued that
democratizing technology means expanding technological design to include alternative interests
and values.[15] When successful in doing so, this can be a tool for increasing inclusiveness. This also
suggests an important participatory role for consumers if technology is to be truly democratic.
Feenberg asserts that this must be achieved by consumer intervention in a liberated design process.
[13]

Improved access to specialized knowledge and tools has been associated with an increase in the "do
it yourself" (DIY) trend.[16] This has also been associated with consumerization, whereby personal or
privately owned devices and software are also used for business purposes. Some have argued that
this is linked to reduced dependence on traditional information technology departments. [17]
Astra Taylor, the author of the book The People's Platform: Taking Back Power and Culture in the
Digital Age, argues, "The promotion of Internet-enabled amateurism is a lazy substitute for real
equality of opportunity."[18]
Industry Contribution
In some ways, democratization of technology has strengthened this industry. Markets have
broadened and diversified. Consumer feedback and input is available at a very low or no cost. [19]
However, related industries are experiencing decreased demand for qualified professionals as
consumers are able to fill more of their demands themselves. Users of a range of types and status
have access to increasingly similar technology. [7] Because of the decreased costs and expertise
necessary to use products and software, professionals (e.g. in the audio industry) may experience
loss of work.[20]
In some cases, technology is accessible but sufficiently complex that most users without specialized
training are able to operate it without necessarily understanding how it works. Additionally, the
process of consumerization has led to an influx in the number of devices in businesses and
accessing private networks that IT departments cannot control or access. [19] While this can lead to
lowered operating costs and increased innovation, it is also associated with security concerns that
most businesses are unable to address at the pace of the spread of technology. [21]

Political Contribution
Some scholars have argued that technological change will bring about a third wave of democracy.
[22]
 The Internet has been recognized for its role in promoting increased citizen advocacy and
government transparency.[23] Jesse Chen, a leading thinker in democratic engagement technologies,
distinguishes the democratizing effects of technology from democracy itself. Chen has argued that,
while the Internet may have democratizing effects, the Internet alone cannot deliver democracy at
all levels of society unless technologies are purposely designed for the nuances of democracy,
specifically the engagement of large groups of people in between elections in and beyond
government.[24]
The spread of the Internet and other forms of technology has led to increased global connectivity.
Many scholars believe that it has been associated in the developing world not only with increased
Western influence, but also with the spread of democracy through increased communication,
efficiency, and access to information.[23] Scholars have drawn associations between the level of
technological connectedness and democracy in many nations.[1][25]
Technology can enhance democracy in the developed world as well. In addition to increased
communication and transparency, some electorates have implemented online voting to
accommodate an increased number of citizens.[26][27]
Advantages of Democratization in Technology

Increased citizen participation and Government transparency

Twitter and Facebook Live inspired civil movements. From the Me Too movement, to the protests
happening in Hong Kong and Chile, social networks and forums enable civic association, organization
and spread of a political idea. Still, there are two sides of every coin — thanks to social media,
Trump also became president.

Easier development of patents and quicker growth in innovation

Patents ruled the industry of technology and innovation before, and no one was able to make a
replica of an existing design without paying for its usage (or be sued). Now, it is easier to make a
slightly different product, with a different method, and even quicker. The existence of open source
culture of sharing, makes it possible for things to evolve and grow, without paying for a certain
blueprint. Technology today doesn’t belong only to big corporations, but also to its users.

Growth of businesses and entrepreneurship

Technology that helps businesses be more efficient also increases democratization, because tools
are more available, and often at a smaller price. We can use productivity tools, cheap landing page
builders and graphic design platforms as an example.
Another leap in democratization is the innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence, that would
enable the companies to measure and adapt the processes much quicker, and decrease the barriers
such as expenses, workforce, and infrastructure. For example, using a chatbot can bring
personalized experience and exquisite customer care for a certain company, which builds strong
bonds with the customers.

The democratization of expertise, growth of learning and development

Technology brings a balance in the experience and expertise of experts too. As it turns out,
hierarchy is often harmful to progress. Instead of nurturing a culture of ‘experts’ and keeping the
knowledge to ourselves, technology and its progress inspire a culture of sharing, and with it
innovation, creativity and new ideas and processes.
The biggest revolution is happening in the field of learning and growth. Before, in the corporate
hierarchy system, a few people in HR decided what the employees would learn and what tools the
company would use. In today’s digital world, the best approach is the opposite one. Employees learn
on themselves, and they propose ideas and solutions to the higher levels of the organization. The
power is more in the hands of the employees, and they are willing to share knowledge and
creativity.
Sharing of knowledge between colleagues and sectors is very effective — it’s four times more likely I
companies with high performance, and makes companies more resilient and agile.
How to identify experts and help them educate others? With the suitable tools.
Companies can act like a network that facilitates the digitalization of the informal educational
process. For example, if we give suitable tools to our employees directly. Then, the key process of
choosing the material of learning should be managed.

Flexible working and smaller expenses

The great number of communication apps, co-working, and productivity, made it possible to work
from home and have flexible work hours. Cloud systems enable our work to be accessible to us from
everywhere and any device.
In the next few years, it is expected that the democratization of technology will radically change
the way we research and use biology, finance, development of new technologies, etc. It is already
visible how technology changes, for example, the sales system — money transfers are free, the
prices are lower without provisions, and more and more people have trust in paying online.

Disadvantages of Democratization of Technology

Wastes our time

Technology waste our precious time. You think that how I can say that modern technology wastes
our precious time.
Actually, this is one of the bad effects of technology on us. But we didn’t recognize it.
There is a lot of modern technological gadgets that most people used and waste their precious
time. Like television, video games, play stations, music players, and most mobile phones.
People mostly used these kinds of technological devices in their most of the time and waste their
precious time doing unimportant activities.
They used these devices during their work time, study time, and even in their bed instead of
sleeping, they like to used such kind of modern technological devices.

Causes distraction from work and study

Modern technological devices and gadgets are the most distracting things nowadays.
Smartphones, video games, television people mostly used and these things are the most distracting
and engaging technological devices.
It distracts people from their work, study and many more, and the results are they waste most of
the time by using these devices instead of work or study.
People lost their interest in their goals and ambitions for which they have to work hard to achieved
and waste their precious time in using such kind of irregular activity.
I am not saying that to not use it. But to use it in a specific time, we have not to use them every
time.
We have to make a time schedule for us and followed it. Work time is work time, study time is
study time, we have not used it every time, but at a specific time, we can use it.

Reduces the creativity of people

One of the worst things about modern technology is technology reduces the creativity of the
people.
As I say before modern technology is the most distracting thing nowadays.  People are always busy
using modern technological gadgets, and by this, it reduces their creativity.
Creativity is something like finding some kind of new, interesting and unique ideas in everything
and to implement in the real, and these creative ideas come from deep thinking.
But by the use of technology, they busy their minds in using only modern technological gadgets.
So, they definitely lose their creativity.

Causes social isolation of the people

Modern technology causes social isolation of the people.
People are always busy in using their mobile phones or watching television and didn’t want to do
anything else.
Actually, they get addicted to it by the extensive use of technology.
They didn’t want to do any kind of other activity or to go outside and meet with the people, their
relatives, friends, etc.

Causes lack of interest in studying

Most of the important thing for the students is their ambitions and their goals which they have to
achieved and study for.
But by the extensive use and addiction to technology, they lose interest in the study. They always
want to use the computer, mobile phones, tablets, play stations, etc.
They leave their ambitions and goals they have to achieve. Most of the students get affected by
this.

Causes health problems in peoples

Technology also affects our health. There are different kinds of diseases found in the people are
caused by the extensive use of technology.
Most of the people use their mobile phones nowadays. Which also affects the health of people.
Some of the bad effects of technology human health are given below.
1. Damage eyesight
2. Damage hearing
3. Increase obesity
4. Brain cancer
5. Asthma problems
6. Skin cancer

Causes waste of money

Waste of money on technology has become a trend nowadays. People waste a lot of their money on
technology.
The technological machines, devices, and gadgets are so expensive. People pay a lot of money for
it to buy, and also their maintenance is very expensive.
This is because of the addiction of the people to the technology. They always want to buy the
latest, expensive and advanced technology they used to.

Causes dependency on technology

Dependency is also a bad effect of technology on the people.
If we look and analyze the people of 20 years back. then we can find there is a big difference
between the people of today’s world and the people from before 20 years.
We can find that people from 20 years before are so strong and creative because they were work so
hard by themselves daily.
And the people from now they all depend on the technology. If we take all the technological
machines and gadgets from then they will not be able to work properly.
Because they all are dependent on technology, and by this, they lose their creativity and also
health.
People become lazy by the excessive use of technology, and technology also lowers the value of
human workers.

Causes security Issues in Using the Technology

Security is also one of the issues found in the usage of technology.
Our societies are growing and going to the side of technology. every person wants to make
everything automatic and for this, they use the technology.
They refer to the use of advanced technology security systems in their houses, offices, and
factories.
And the problems in the technology is that it sometimes failed and didn’t work properly, and it
takes a lot of time in recovery.
It’s very dangerous for people. They can lose money, privacy and even the lives of people.
So, these are the disadvantages of modern technology on youth for society.
Now I am going to discuss all the advantages of modern technology for people.

Conclusion

Democratization is visible in every process based on technology today. It happens equally in open
source software and everyday life in society. The only problem of democracy in technology, is the
problem of democracy in its core — Can every member of the society be rational, self-aware and
educated enough, so as not to abuse it? The answer is, of course, no. But it remains to be seen if the
progress will be bigger than the collateral damage brought by the easy access to technology.

The exciting thing about the democratization of technology is the fact that it can lead to much
faster development in the industry. Advancements which had previously taken years can occur in a
much shorter space of time.

The democratization of technology has the power to change people’s lives, as it opens up a whole
host of new opportunities and possibilities. It gives people new ways to make money through
development, advertise and promote businesses, and invent new things. The people of today are so
lucky to have access to all these things, and dreams that were previously impossible are now
achievable.

It is certainly an exciting time to be alive, as we are now witnessing technological progress at its
fastest ever rate. There is no limit to what can be achieved through the democratization of
technology, and there is no doubt that the industry is going to continue to develop at a lightning
pace from now on.

References
Democratization of Teachnology. Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratization_of_technology on September 18, 2020

Muhammad Adil. 2020. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF MODERN TECHNOLOGY ON YOUTH IN

SOCIETY. RETRIEVED FROM HTTPS://ADILBLOGGER.COM/ADVANTAGES-DISADVANTAGES-MODERN-
TECHNOLOGY-YOUTH-SOCIETY/on September 18, 2020

Stefanija Tenekedjieva.2019. All you need to know about democratization in technology. Retrieved
from https://medium.com/wearelaika/all-you-need-to-know-about-democratization-in-technology-
3b43331a495eon September 18, 2020