Who Will We Be in CyberSapce?

Winner raises a very interesting question: does the intensive application of high technology necessarily change the way people define themselves, the society where they live, and the relations among people or among people and society?

Winner spends a lot of the words on the analysis of the industrial society, and uses it as an analogy which leads us to think about the “information society”. He is telling us: don’t be over optimistic about technology, be critical! Technology does not necessarily bring true democracy and social equity. Some of his arguments directly points to the article written by Dyson et al., which are very interesting to read.

I think the arguments in this article are powerful and persuasive. And I do agree and appreciate his criticism toward “mythinformation”. There is only one thing that I have doubt at. The analysis and critiques of the industrial society cited by the author are mostly about the early or mid 20 century. I keep wondering, haven’t things changed a lot since then? Is it not just a process of progress?