IBM and the Holocaust - Assignment Example

? Assignment Assignment In past civilisations, many regions were ruled by empires. These empires had a strong hold on the societies, and it was mainly due to their economic power. It is a well-known fact that; with economic power comes political power. This power was then used to rule the people in these societies because the economically able cultures had invested a lot into these societies. The problem with such empires in the past was that, they were never satisfied with the much or little they had. In Germany, for example, the Nazi regime proved problematic to the Jews. They used multinational corporations, and their technology to identify whoever they thought did not belong (Black, 2001). They wanted to impose their rule on everyone that was present at the time, who did not believe in what they believed. This meant that Jews had to run and live in fear of the prosecution they faced in their land. The Nazi generals wanted to ensure that their reign was felt, and this resulted in the death of more than 2000 thousand Jews. One such empire was the Akkadian Empire. A symbiotic relationship existed between the Akkadian groups at the time, and the Semitic and the Sumerian groups. In the 22nd and 24th centuries, the Empire reached its political pinnacle after some of their conquests. The administrative powers of the kingdom came in the form of Sargon. He was the leader and had the power to declare war and any conquest went in his honour. To ensure that the administrative duties went according to plan, he ensured that the people working under him were close. This meant that relatives and family, for example his sons and daughters were appointed the chiefs in many of the kingdoms administrative posts. This is similar to what was present in the Nazi regime. Fathers and their sons were generals in the army against the Jews (Black, 2001). They ensured that everything done under Sargon was documented and relayed to the leader in their meetings. In Babylonian texts, towards the end of Sargon’s reign, there is an indicator that vast armies tried to besiege the kingdom that he had conquered. However, even in his old age, he still took to battle and won the war. The use of scrolls made out of papyrus was the initial documentation process of the happenings in the reign of the empires present. It is during this time that hieroglyphics was used to implement decrees and laws across the land. This is because, the Mediterranean people were famous for their knowledge of the land, and they were keen to assist in the growth of the Akkadian Empire. In the Nazi regime, all generals reported to the one commander who had authority over all others. During that time, Hitler was considered the head (Black, 2001). He knew of everything that was being done, and at the exact time. Another Empire in the 6th century was the Achaemenid Empire. This was also the First Empire of Persia or Iranian Empire. The pinnacle of the Empire’s conquest was symbolised by the vast land they had conquered, which extended from Europe down to Africa, and Asia. The large army and civil services ensured the emancipation of the many held captive, for example, the Jews from Babylonian captivity. It is this empire that insisted on the growth and industrialisation of societies in the regions they set up shop. During the reign of the Achaemenid Empire, the administrative roles were similar to any other empire that proclaimed war on any region. It is through documentation from the royal scribes in the empire that the information on what was happening that modern day societies know of their true origins. Scribes in the empire were given the task of writing down whatever was being said. This is because there was to be proof of what was to be done among all the servants in the Emperor’s service. There was the delegation of power among the empire might have been its undoing through the cultural diversity present in the lands they conquered. The king’s authority was weakened and the documentation in the local governments proves the empire’s crumble. In some Judeo-Christian texts, the impact that the Edict of Restoration of Cyrus the Great is mentioned and the religious impact he had on the culture and land of the Athenians. In the Nazi regiment, messengers were used to transfer messages (Black, 2001). There was also the division of power, which allowed the generals present to carry out their own operations. Last, but certainly not least, was the Byzantine Empire. Originated in the 4th century and ensured they handled all matters concerning their dynasty, from religion to the cultural life of the people. The documentation of the administrative is found in some of the Christian texts that existed in historic times. The Empire was built on the power of the Church during their reign. It is recorded that paganism, among the people of that region, was the only source of inspiration. This was during the early phases of the Byzantine rule. During the course of their reign, administrative problems came in the form of a military deficiency. This prompted the Empire to be divided into the Eastern and the Western part. Theoretical and philosophical discourses, which included emperors, were the main form of information. Product Lines - History of the Apple Product Line It was during the 1980’s that the Apple Corporation decided to get involved in the technological world of computers and system software. During this time, there was the evolution of computers as a result of innovativeness and technological advances. These enabled all the parties involved to become more creative with their merchandise, so as to capitalise on the evolving market. Globalisation assisted in the growth, development, sale, and purchase of these creations, as the whole world got involved in the corporate world of technology. The introduction of Apple’s first computer was in 1976, which went for $ 666.66 (Isaacson, 2011). It was the Apple I, but its subsequent model; labelled the Apple II, became a much bigger success. The technological breakthroughs in the Apple II made it an instant favourite among the Apple lovers. Later on, in some of their more significant inventions, Apple became a household name. This was after 1986, where there was the popularization of the Mac Plus. It is said to have had the longest lifespan for the Mac models that were present at the time. Individuals opted for these models because; they offered a look into the future. Some of the defects that were present in some of the models had to be replaced as the corporation was losing clientele (Isaacson, 2011). The manner in which they dealt with this is through recalling some of the defective merchandise, and replacing them with newer models. This helped the corporation maintain their consumer base, and help them acquire more. The introduction and sale of the iMac in 1998 ensured that Apple became the most popular computer selling corporation in the world, and ensured their history was written. This was after it became the fastest selling computer in the world. The advancement in technology has allowed Apple to have global competition, but it still remains the most profitable corporation in the world (Isaacson, 2011). Some of the computational roles in the computing world were difficult to go around. However, advancement in technology and practice enabled the existence of personal computing. This was in the late 1970’s, at a time when only enthusiastic hobbyists and information technology experts were the only ones capable of going round the information software. Text editors, spreadsheets, and computer games enabled a vast majority of individuals to enjoy the experience brought on by the computing world (Isaacson, 2011). For all those who wanted to use computers as tools, it was through these applications that the usability of the new age became practical for everyone. The usability and maintainability of the computer era was made easier through software engineering, and that is how the big-kids in the computing world managed to go through the irreconcilable roles. Personal computing improved the chances for them and they could hire labour that could now focus on the growth of the computing corporations. There is a shift in which the globalised working environment is handling the changes in the computing world (Isaacson, 2011). This embrace now assists organizations measure their worth, in terms of their labour force, and their revenue per fiscal year. Counterculture and its impact on the development on digital technology In his book, Turner implies that capitalism may have reduced the pace at which the technological era, digital utopianism, evolved. He presents his audience with the rationale that the technological era was a revolutionary movement and that its slow nature was brought on by capitalism. He, however, did not fail to mention that it was something that could stand on its own, as it once did, back in the sixties. In the book, Turner offers a new perspective on how the media shaped up, and how the cultural communalism made this evolution possible. He dwells into the mind of the audience and gives them an avenue to think of the manner in which society can exist. He offers the audience an image of how the democratic, social, and political world can coexist peacefully (Turner, 2006). Turner explains how the computing era brings about personal freedom, sharing of knowledge, and self-consciousness. He counters some of the perceptions that many individuals have of the cyber world and the military science world. The arenas Turner presented are accurate and depict what the cybernetic world looks like today, as a result of the relationships created by the institutions present back then. Brand is focused on in the subsequent chapters and the impact he had on the world of science. He, Brand, built an image of technology as being the key to evolution in terms of transformation, both personal and social. It is through Brand that the new vision of the culture of communalism achieves a level of legitimacy (Turner, 2006). The evolution of all technological visions is made a reality, in today’s world. The social, political, and economic utopia is changing, thanks to the growth of technology, and the digital world (Turner, 2006). Turner implied this change would occur regardless of the slow start that this advancement may have had. It is likely that in the next few generations, what is being seen now might be considered ancient. However, it is through research and creativity from the likes of Turner and Brand that individuals cannot forget the evolution or beginning, and struggle of all technological processes. In conclusion, the historical significance that these stories have on digital growth is the pressure they placed on the perfection of the digital age. Changing the perception of a vast number of individuals in the world may have shaped the acceptance of digitalisation. It is through these stories that individuals get to comprehend the struggles that were placed in the education of the masses about the digital world. The knowledge acquired is priceless as the authors were keen to share their knowledge with the world. This is through research from around the diverse areas they knew of technological advances. The New Left and Communalism discussed in Turner’s book indicate that there was a separation between the two. The audience is left to wonder what would have happened if the two were to join (Turner, 2006). This is the historical impact that is placed on such information, on the technological and digital world. References Black, E. (2001). IBM and the holocaust: The strategic alliance between Nazi Germany and America's most powerful corporation. New York: Dialog Press. Isaacson, W. (2011). Steve Jobs. Oxford: Simon & Schuster. Turner, F. (2006). From counterculture to cyberculture: Stewart brand, the whole earth network, and the rise of digital Utopianism. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Read More