TECHNOLOGY

AND THE
INDIVIDUALS
VS.
OUTDOOR
EXPERIENCE

WHAT IS TECHNOLOGY?
Broadly

speaking, technology is how

people modify the natural world to
suit their own purposes.

BRAINSTORM:

What sorts of
technology can you think of that
would affect an individuals outdoor
experience?

SOME OF THE WAYS

TECHNOLOGY INFLUENCES
OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES
Access to
roads, vehicles etc
outdoor
environments
Clothing,
goretex, fleece, metal
sleeping,
alloys
camping gear
Activity
specific gear

bikes, surfboards,
canoes / kayaks, skis

Venue

Safety
gear

Pre and
post trip
images

accommodation has
changed dramatically to
incorporate modern
technologies eg. Smoke
detectors, sewage systems
radios, phones, GPS,
compasses, maps

how we get information

about an area without
visiting it and how we
capture and store
information for recall after a
trip

CONs - TECHNOLOGY AND THE

INDIVIDUALS OUTDOOR
EXPERIENCE
Technology has allowed
greater access for relatively
unskilled participants (perceived loss of skills and selfreliance).

Navigational devices less self reliant. Easier to undertake

what would previously have been considered difficult
pursuits. Map reading knowledge no longer required and
help is just a phone call away (GPS). Therefore, less
challenging!

Climate control common these days (air conditioners &

heaters), so people cannot cope when forced into the
wilderness with no flushing toilet or hair straightener!!!.

Unfamiliar territory temperature, reliance on facilities

PROs TECHNOLOGY

Opposite view is that technological devices

allow more people to experience the
outdoors and decrease the need for
expensive and time-consuming rescues.

TECHNOLOGY AND
MOTIVATIONS FOR SEEKING
OUTDOOR
Often
the experienceEXPERIENCES
of technology in everyday

life motivates people to seek outdoor activities

that offer a simpler, less complex experience.
On the other hand, many of the pursuits that
people engage in in an outdoor setting have a
heavy requirement on access to specific
technologies.
For example, we might go back country ski
touring to get away from it all but rely on
technology to get us there, rely on technology
for the specialist clothing we wear, and rely on
technology for the ski gear that enables us to
get out there.

EQUIPMENT OVER TIME

Read text pg. 55 & 56.

Look at the equipment/clothing brochures and

tags.
Choose 4 different items, for each:
List what they are made from
What are the benefits of using these products?
What equipment/materials would have been used
in the early 1900s & 1970s for the same
purpose?

PROs Cont. - TECHNOLOGY

AND SOCIAL RESPONSES TO
It is often technology that allows us to
RISK-TAKING
rescue people who get into trouble in

outdoor activities.
Technology also allows us to create new
outdoor experiences / activities eg. Paragliding, kite surfing, snowboarding.
Technology also allows us to simulate
outdoor settings indoors with wave
pools, indoor rock climbing centres,
indoor ski hills in warmer climates.
Consider our rock climbing trip on Friday.
What sorts of technology we were reliant
on?

TECHNOLOGY AND
COMMERCIALISATION OF THE
OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE

Way HIP

Outdoor gear provides an example of the

relationship between technology and
commercialisation of the outdoor
experience.
In many places outdoor gear has
become the new hip clothing to be seen
in and it is marketed in this way.
In much the same way that 4wd cars are
now marketed to people who may never
take them off-road, outdoor gear is
marketed to people who may never use
them in their originally intended outdoor
settings particularly shoes and clothing

VS.

VS.

READ:
REFLECTIONS ON THE
IMPACT OF TECHNOLOGY
ON OUTDOOR
EXPERIENCE

YOUR TASK:
Reflect on a recent outdoor experience and
the effect of technology on that
experience. What differences did you
experience as a result of the use of
technology?
Use the following headings:
Differences in Ecological Footprint
Differences in Community
Differences in Activities
Differences in Experience of the
Environment

CLASS DEBATE
As

a class, debate the statement:

Technological developments in
equipment have (positively) affected
participation in outdoor pursuits
2 Teams: Affirmative (agrees with
this statement)
Negative (disagrees with this
statement)

Each team will appoint 3 speakers.

1st

Affirmative must:
- define the topic.
- present the affirmative's team line.
- outline briefly what each speaker in
their team will talk about.
- present the first half of the
affirmative case.

1st negative must:

- accept or reject the definition. If you don't do
this it is assumed that you accept the definition.
- present the negative team line.
- outline briefly what each of the negative
speakers will say.
- rebut a few of the main points of the first
affirmative speaker.
- the 1st negative should spend about one
quarter of their time rebutting.
- present the first half of the negative team's
case.

2nd affirmative must:

-

reaffirm the affirmative's team line.

- rebut the main points presented by
the 1st negative.
- the 2nd affirmative should spend
about one third of their time
rebutting.
- present the second half of the
affirmative's case.

2nd negative must:

-

reaffirm the negative's team line.

- rebut some of the main points of
the affirmative's case.
- the 2nd negative should spend
about one third of their time
rebutting.
- present the second half of the
negative's case.

3rd affirmative must:

- reaffirm the affirmative's team line.
- rebut all the remaining points of the
negative's case.
- the 3rd affirmative should spend about
two thirds to three quarters of their time
rebutting.
- present a summary of the affirmative's
case.
- round off the debate for the affirmative.

3rd negative must:

- reaffirm the negative's team line.
- rebut all the remaining points of the
affirmative's case.
- the 3rd negative should spend about two
thirds to three quarters of their time
rebutting.
- present a summary of the negative's case.
- round off the debate for the negative.

Neither third speaker may introduce any

new parts of their team's cases.

REBUTTAL

In debating each team will present points in favour of their case.

They will also spend some time criticising the arguments
presented by the other team. This is called rebuttal. There are a
few things to remember about rebuttal.

1. Logic - to say that the other side is wrong is not enough. You
have to show why the other side is wrong. This is best done by
taking a main point of the other side's argument and showing
that it does not make sense. Because a lot of the thinking for
this needs to be done quickly this is one of the most challenging
and enjoyable aspects of debating.

2. Pick the important points - try to rebut the most important

points of the other side's case. You will find that after a while
these are easier and easier to spot. One obvious spot to find
them is when the first speaker of the other team outlines briefly
what the rest of the team will say. But do not rebut those points
until after they have actually been presented by the other team.

3. `Play the ball' - do not criticise the individual speakers,

criticise what they say. To call someone fat, ugly or a nerd does
not make what they say wrong and it will also lose you marks.