Comments on Reading 4.1 & Reading 4.2

I find the readings are quite hard to understand, particularly the first one, but I'll try my best to explain the main concept.

The reading discusses the relationship between the technology and the society, whether the technology is seen as the cause and the society as the effect or vice versa. There are two main opinions about the relationship between technology and society: technological determinism and symptomatic technology.

Technological determinism basically points technology as the cause and society as the effect. A change in technology triggers change in society. In other words, technology determines the society. Symptomatic technology, on the other hand, points society as the cause and technology as the effect. A change in technology is merely a result of control by the society.

However, I would like to think the ideal way to see the relationship is the balance between the two opposing views. It is a cyclic relationship that continuously affect one another. Without doubt, the development of technology has altered the society greatly. Although technology is accidental, radio and television are not invented coincidentally in the same time when the society is in need of a new form of communication that is more effective and more efficient; the development took place to suit the society's growing need.