Week 3

Technology has expanded and improved a lot since its humble beginnings of the printing press.

Since then it has rapidly taken over our worlds where to a point we rely on technology in our everyday lives. Yet in the beginning there was a positive and negative outlook, such as the futurist author Filippo Tommaso Marinetti who is referencing automobiles says, “We declare that the splendor of the world has been enriched by the new beauty, the beauty of speed.” (Unit 3 View) while Charlie Chaplin premiered the film Modern Times (1936).

https://www.google.com/searchq=filippo+tomaso&biw=1308&bih=665&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=
0ahUKEwjp6v_oxZfMAhUM22MKHcA9Df0Q_AUIBygC#tbm=isch&q=filippo+tommaso&imgrc=Ptqcu7HgojqwuM%3A

I watched Modern Times the first time last quarter for the DESMA 8 class and I thought it was entertaining. The silent film is about Charlie’s character who works in a factory where machines prominently interact with the workers. It comically portrayed how machines control the workplace and in a factory, workers are also considered one. There is one scene where Charlie is working in an assembly line with a parts coming towards him on a conveyor belt. He starts out doing well but quickly the machine picks up and he is not able to keep up with the machine. In the end he screws up the job and is also physically affected by the repetitive motions. This film was Charlie’s prediction of how robots could negatively affect society.    

                                                              https://youtu.be/DfGs2Y5WJ14

In a way Charlie’s predictions were correct where as our society has become dependent on technology. Such as the people who are obsessed with their phones and social media. However I really believe technology has done more good than harm. We are able to create amazing things that can help people, cure people, or connect people. For example with robotics, computers can help me calculate or access anything I want via the Internet. Then when you combine robots with art artists and engineers create really cool stuff. Such as in 2012, Peter William Holden created the “Vicious Circle”. Opposite of Charlie’s views, “It took its cues from the Industrial Revolution and aims to convey the dualist nature of technology and the power humans have to influence its course” (Computer Science Zone).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0SPfbtEA1k

In conclusion, though there are controversial views at the rapid development of technology, without machines our world would be lost. Yes we rely on machines, some more than others, but our dependence is to benefit society and in the third culture it can create a more creative side. 

Citations:

 10 Mind-Blowing Pieces of Robot Art". Computer Science Zone. 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2016.

 Modern times. Dir. Charlie Chaplin. RBC Films, 1936. YouTube.

Vesna, Vitctoria. "Robotics pt1." UCLA, Los Angeles. 16 Apr. 2016. Lecture.

Filippo Tommaso Marinetti. Wikipedia. Web. 16 Apr. 2016. 

 "Projects." Robots. San Francisco Robotics Society of America (SFRSA). Web. 18 Apr. 2016.