The Cultural Value of the Computer - Essay Example

Cultural artifact analysis: Computer My artifact is computer. Computer was one of the best inventions in 20th century. Nowadays, computers become one of necessities in peoples life. Even if someone never touched a computer before, computers still surround them. Computers are widely using in many areas, such as banks, government, and businesses. With the advent of the internet, the use of computers has expanded where people now shop, work and study online. Indeed the computers are very useful in our society, but there are also disadvantages to it such the radiation it emits and the pollutant it create during its manufacture, computer virus among others. Nevertheless, computers have changed the way we lived. In my generation, particularly us students who are used to seeing computers every day, we generally ignore its importance although we use it in many aspects of our lives. It is as if computers are a given that we do not seem to value it. To appreciate the cultural literacy and values embedded in our computers, I would like to illustrate a world without computers to highlight its importance. From my point of view as a student, studying would become such a chore and a drag. Imagine writing school papers on a typewriter where it does provide room for mistake because once the word is struck on the paper, it cannot be corrected anymore. The inconveniences of writing a school paper in a typewriter can go on and on. From my teacher’s point of view, he or she would have difficulty tracking each of us because the teacher has to record the performance of each student manually. Papers are also submitted in hard copy that would inconvenience him or her to keep a mountain full of student papers especially if the teacher is handling several classes. Research would also be difficult and thus learning will becomes slow. Every time we need to know about something, we have to go to the library which would burden our librarian. It is also inconvenience because libraries only operate during office hours. Life for us students in general would also be difficult. Without computers would also mean without the devices that are dependent to it such as my iPhone, iPad, games and we can forget about social networking without computers. The truth of the matter is, our life today is dependent if not centered on computers that are why our generation is now called information age. The literacy values of this artifact cannot be discounted for it includes every aspect of our lives. From the time we wake up until we sleep, we may not be conscious of it but we depend on computers. The alarm clock that wakes us up is actually a function of computer. Our timed microwave ovens, coffee also makes use of computer programs. Our television sets and cars make use of computer. And it is a given that computers are used intensively at work because it was primarily created for that purpose. Despite its advantages and benefits, the computer has also its own setbacks. As earlier mentioned, it emits radiation that could be unhealthy to us and the process of manufacturing its hardware is not necessarily environment friendly. It has created new addiction such as the addiction towards computer games and social networking which distracts the students from focusing on their school works. It also became a venue of illicit activities such as child pornography over the internet or voyeurism for some students. Cybercrimes are also on the loose where hackers steal financial and personal information for their own gain. Costs in security have also gone up in companies because they also have to add security measures in their company’s system against hackers. Computers in a way has also contributed to unemployment because it has replaced jobs which were used to be done by human being particularly in manufacturing where robots replaced workers in assembly plants. This concerns me because time will come that I will join the workforce and the job that I might be doing is already done by a computer. Considering these setbacks about computers, its benefits still far outweigh its disadvantages. For me as a student, its cultural value is immeasurable because it hastens learning. This is supported by study and was even proven to help us students improve our mathematical skills (Bronner). Where before research was so slow because one has to go to a physical library just to look for a simple information, all I have to do now is just to Google it. If the research is scholarly, I can always access the university library right in the comfort of my room anytime, any day. The amount of information that could be researched in a physical library, say in a week, can be gathered in just an hour with the help of computers. Writing school papers are also convenient both to us students and professors. For us, computers allow us to edit our paper without having to repeat the entire process just like with typewriters. Computers also allow us to present our school papers in a more attractive way that our professor can readily read. True, computers may have replaced some functions of human beings in the workplace but it has also benefited us. Their process becomes more efficient, quality became higher and prices became cheaper. It benefits us because we are able to buy products at a much lower cost with a consistent quality. The exchange of ideas and information also became faster. News, communications can be delivered and had at real time. In effect, the world is reduced to a global village because of easy communication (McLuhan). For example, we easily became familiar about a different culture just by checking on our friends in facebook or watching videos about in youtube or just by going to a website. In my case, I already became familiar about United States even before coming here through the internet thus making my adjustment easier. I also do not get that homesick because I can readily keep in touch with my loved ones back in China through Skype if I miss them. Comparing the advantages and disadvantages of computers to us students as a cultural artifact, I can say that the cultural value it represents is indispensable to our daily lives particularly to our studies. I cannot imagine studying without a computer. So instead of fearing or worrying about it, we should embrace and harness computers it for the improvement of our lives and our society. Works Cited Bronner, Ethan. Computers Help Math Learning, Study Finds. September 30, 1998. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/30/us/computers-help-math-learning-study-finds.html?src=pm McLuhan, Marshall. Marshall McLuhan Foresees The Global Village. 2012. Retrieved from http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ii_mcluhan.htm. Read More