General philosophy regarding technology
in this course: Because much of the information technology used
in the Transcriptions/Literature and the Culture of Information
project is new to the humanities (and is being personally configured,
coded, or designed by instructors and research assistants), there
are sure to be glitches, gotchas, and bugs. This is not a problem
but an opportunity. This course encourages a philosophical approach
to the experience of information technology. Problems should be
reflected upon in the context of the overall life of contemporary
information. For instance, if you are having trouble accessing a
site or are experiencing delays, how might those practical problems
be related to larger issues of access or time in contemporary culture?
Why is the delay of a minute now so frustrating compared to the
delays of days, weeks, or months that societies in the past accepted
as part of the normal rhythm of human communication? "Reflecting"
on technical problems is perhaps in the last analysis more a matter
of attitude than of deliberate thought. In his Zen Computer,
Philip Toshio Sudo suggests that as you sit down to boot up your
computer you should first acknowledge it and what it means:
"Before you start and after you finish working, make this one
simple gesture toward your computer: Give it a nod" (fuller
quote).
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Course Technology
Page content by Alan Liu | Graphic design by Eric Feay
(revised 1/25/01 )