Mythinformation (1986)

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Mythinformation (1986)

• Written by Langdon Winner

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• Langdon Winner
• Professor of Political Science,
• that wrote for Rolling Stone magazine

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A Metaphor Explored

• Information Revolution
• Move into an age characterized by
• the overwhelming dominance
• of electronic information systems
• in all areas of human practice.

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• Would this computer revolution involve a
  significant shift in the locus of power (as do
  most political revolutions) or is something
  similar going to happen in this instance?

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• Will this computer revolution be strongly
  committed to a partical set of social ideals (as
  revolutions often do.) If so, what are the ideals
  that matter? Where can we see them argued?

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• Will the computer revolution bring about victory
  of one class over another?

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• By and large the computer revolution is
  conspicuously silent about its own end.

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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Make human lives richer and freer

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Make human lives richer and freer

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits
outside our work
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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Make human lives richer and freer

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits
outside our work
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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Make human lives richer and freer

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

The opportunities for personal creativity will be
unlimited
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits
outside our work
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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Make human lives richer and freer
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of
information

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

The opportunities for personal creativity will be
unlimited
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits
outside our work
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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Make human lives richer and freer
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of
information

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
The opportunities for personal creativity will be
unlimited
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits
outside our work
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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Environmental destruction can be avoided
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
Make human lives richer and freer
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of
information

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

Social, political, technical changes will produce
conditions likely to lead to the formation of
groups with their own distinctive sets of values,
activities, language and dress
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
The opportunities for personal creativity will be
unlimited
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits
outside our work
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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Environmental destruction can be avoided
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
Make human lives richer and freer
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of
information
COMPUTER_AIDED INSTRUCT.

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

Social, political, technical changes will produce
conditions likely to lead to the formation of
groups with their own distinctive sets of values,
activities, language and dress
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
The opportunities for personal creativity will be
unlimited
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits
outside our work
ELECTRONIC MAIL
COMPUTER TELECONFERENCING
ONLINE STOCK MARKET
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Good Console, Good Network, Good Computer
Environmental destruction can be avoided
Environmental destruction can be avoided
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
Environmental destruction can be avoided
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
Environmental destruction can be avoided
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
Make human lives richer and freer
Environmental destruction can be avoided
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
Environmental destruction can be avoided
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
Enabling persons to have access to vast stores of
information
Environmental destruction can be avoided
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
Environmental destruction can be avoided
COMPUTER_AIDED INSTRUCT.
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
INTERACTIVE TELEVISION
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

• Most boring jobs can be done by machines

ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
Social, political, technical changes will produce
conditions likely to lead to the formation of
groups with their own distinctive sets of values,
activities, language and dress
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
A rich diversity of subcultures will be fostered
by computer-based communication systems
The opportunities for personal creativity will be
unlimited
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
CUSTOMIZED NEWS SERVICE
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
Enough leisure to follow interesting pursuits
outside our work
ELECTRONIC MAIL
ELECTRONIC MAIL
ELECTRONIC MAIL
ELECTRONIC MAIL
ELECTRONIC MAIL
ELECTRONIC MAIL
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
ELECTRONIC MAGAZINES
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
Opportunities for work and socializing on a more
flexible, cheaper and convenient basis than ever
before
COMPUTER TELECONFERENCING
ONLINE STOCK MARKET
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The Great Equalizer

• 01 people are bereft of information
• 02 information is knowledge
• 03 knowledge is power
• 04 increasing access to information enhances
  democracy and equalizes social power

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Nonsense

• information ? knowledge ? power ? democracy

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Information and Ideology

• Flood of data
• Time-specific
• Information is itself a perishable commodity

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Everywhere and Nowhere

• The three concerns outlined at close in this
  paper
• the surveillance state and accompanying
  self-surveillance now often called "panopticism
• - the alteration of patterns of human sociability
• the mobility and unlocatability of power that is
  now often called "rhizomatic"

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Mythinformation

• The almost religious conviction that a widespread
  adoption of computers and communications systems,
  along with broad access to electronic
  information, will automatically produce a better
  world for humanity.

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Basic Argument

• The transitions accompanying computer
  technologies may have some democratizing
  potential - but this potential must be identified
  and worked toward. It will not be realized
  automatically.