A comparison of the perspectives of the evolution of technology
The evolution of Technology
Technological evolution presents a theory of radical transformation of society through the development of technology. Technological upgrades and the development of new products lead to the creation of better things in comparison to what previously existed. Technological advancement takes place at a rapid pace, leading to a large number of people struggling to keep up. With this rapid evolution and the impact that it has on society, anthropologists, sociologists, and other societal figures have come up with different ways for the assessment and understanding of the technological development process. This article reviews the perspectives of three theorists on the development and impact of technology on the society
Gerhard Lenski
According to the sociologist, technological progress results in the driving force in civilization evolution. The growth of technology and civilization closely correlate. Human progress is viewed in relation to the information they possess. The development of human societies is dependent of=n the knowledge on how to utilize natural resources.
Leslie White
The anthropologist focuses on technology with regards to the harnessing and controlling of energy. According to White, the primary function of any culture is to manage energy. White developed a formula to support this assumption, stating that P = E*T. According to the equation, “E” represents the consumed energy, “T” represents the measure of the efficiency of technological factors that utilize the absorbed energy, and P is the product generated following the calculation of the measures.
Alvin Toffler
The views of Toffler are associated with the postindustrial era. The opinions of Toffler are reliant on the concept of Future shock. His definition of Future shock is that it is the personal view of too much change in a short period. He elaborates that human societies experience profound social and technological changes. Industrial societies are changing to supper industrial societies. He suggests that a large number of people find this change overwhelming and consequently discontinued.
All three perspectives elaborate on the way technology affects society. These views provide diverse perspectives on the subject, although they all associate technological advancement to society. All the theorists view technology in different aspects. While white view technology with regards to energy, the view of Toffler relates to industrialization, and the opinion of Lenski is on the subject of civilization. In my view, the perspective of Lenski provides the most elaborate insight on the subject. The view ties technological advancement to societal culture, a factor that provides a realistic view.