Everywhere we remain unfree and chained to technology, whether we passionately affirm or deny it. But we are delivered over to it in the worst possible way when we regard it as something neutral; for this conception of it, to which today we particularly like to do homage, makes us utterly blind to the essence of technology.
Heidegger
Whether it is the “acceptable loss” of life that car technology affords (O’Donnell, 1999), or the ability to process thought differently through the invention of writing (Ong, 1982 ), technology has the ability to shape the way we look at things, the way we think, the loss and gain we are willing to accept.
Heidegger, M. (1953/1977). The question concerning technology. In M. Heidegger, The
question concerning technology and other essays (trans. W. Lovitt) (pp. 3-35).
New York: Harper & Row.
O’Donnel, J & Engell, J. (1999) From Papyrus to Cyberspace: The Cambridge Forum
[radio broadcast]. Retrieved from http://media.elearning.ubc.ca/det/etec540/etec540-audio.html
Ong, Walter. (1982.) Orality and literacy: The technologizing of the word. London:
Methuen.
