Science and Inquiry discussion

Started reading Digital Sublime recently in prep for a class in New Media and Communication. Has anyone read it before?

Fascinated by the historical references to how new techs were perceived when the radio, telegraph, train, nuclear power were new and 'were going to save the world.' Seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same :)

What do you think about the author's claim that we're still living in the myth age of computers, that they haven't fallen to the background into a common appliance yet. I wonder if that's true.

I think we're still in the myth age of the Internet, but computers are already becoming fairly ordinary to the point that they're taken for granted.

Thoughts?

Haven't read it, but it looks interesting. However, it was published in September 2005, which is a full 7-1/2 years ago -- an eternity in these days of technological change.

Yes, that is a bit what I'm worried about too! But you know how it is with academic papers, the sources are often more important than how recent they are...

Then again, investigating what has changed in the meantime could be interesting :)

I agree with the 'save the world' perspective on new inventions. It's been ingrained into us, but is not true in that every new overarching discovery will not 'save us from ourselves' nor is it the ultimate answer. It is a story that replay's itself throughout history in science and other areas - government, religion, etc.

Just ran across this similar ? book:

http://www.amazon.com/The-New-Digital...

Whoa, big names. That one really goes on my To Read list. Comes out today.

Yep, on my TBR wish list. :)

Thanks for the recommendation! Adding it to my reading list as well :)

Here's an article which discusses The New Digital Age: Reshaping the Future of People, Nations and Business further, as well as the role of Google as an NGO.