The Digital Environment: Taking the Long View

2.Predictions about new media are often misguided

Technological Myopia:
First order effects are overestimated.
Second order effects are underestimated.
[First order effects are changes in practice or structure (that are evident in particular sites and across the system as a whole). And second order effects are the impact of these changes on patterns of social access and opportunity and social justice. Ball on Walker, 1981, "Education Policy and Social Class"].

Myopic Technological Rationalism:
Attributing excessive importance to the efficiency of the new medium.

Technological Efficiency Paradox:

Technology offers the potential to make life easier but added complexities increase both difficulty of use and user frustration.

Study questions

• define and differentiate the terms Technological Myopia,Myopic Technological Rationalism, and Technological Efficiency Paradox;
• identify and illustrate the three terms in everyday life and/or media reports of industry developments..

Want to read more?
Fidler (Mediamorphsis)