Critical Annotated Webliography

3. Frankenstein continues to occupy the popular imagination as a monstrous scientist. Analyse some of the ways in which Frankenstein continues to haunt discussions of recent technologies.

Recently, technology is a tool for people to improve their living standard. Therefore, the relationship between human and technology intersect with each other. As a result, many people rely on the technology very much. Due to the production of Frankenstein, many scientists tried to clone different animals including human. Some people realized that robot or Frankenstein may have the great influence on people. This will bring the bad effect if we rely so much on the technology. Then I start searching in the search engine ‘Google’. In the following, I will find the sources that related the negative effect of the technology.

[1] Trapped in the Net: The Unanticipated Consequences of Computerization
In this article, Rochlin said that compact electronic digital computers have moved more rapidly through the stages of development, deployment and social incorporation than any major technological innovation in history. He also wondered that are the computer really taking over the conduct of human affairs. Besides, Rochlin divided the ‘computer trap’ into four parts which are the lure, the snare, the costs and the long-term consequences. The lure is simply a powerful and adaptable tool with more human-centered interfaces. The snare is what usually followed. Once heavily invested in the use of computers to perform central tasks, or ganizations and individuals alike become heavily invested in and irreversibly committed to the new capacities and potentials. Then, the costs are varied. Computerization creates a new set of institutional dependencies, including a dependency on the manufacturers of hardware and software. This book is mainly discussing the recent technologies. Actually, computer developed very fast. When it can be more humanize for the future, we begin to fear about the computer.

[2] How the breakout of technology threatens human sovereignty
This article argued that our technology abilities are soon transform the basic conditions of human life. Due mainly to advances in computing, a number of technologies are combining so that it could be termed a ‘technology breakout’. The impact of technology on modern life is very serious. As the extraordinary capabilities generated by the information technologies developed over many years, all of our technological capacities are being enhanced. Besides, some theorists argue that the technology becomes completely unpredictable and out of control. As technology grows very fast and it can change the world, there should have two basic concepts which have leaded over all the others. Those are economic efficiency and national security. Besides, it pointed out the technological juggernaut is not an automatic development. It needs to take many resources such as people, money and materials to generate the new technologies. The most important thing is we need to think of the basic modes of social, economic and environmental practice, otherwise the technology will control us. As we can see, Frankenstein continues to haunt discussions of recent technologies.

[3] The New Politics of Technology
Eric Cohen stated that the problems of the new technologies. The problem is so vast and complicated. In this article, it mostly talked about the burdens of modern technology in our national politics and our everyday life. The problem of technology cannot be separated from the character of human life as a whole. If we want to have a well living standard, it often requires developing new and better technologies. In fact, many aspects of our lives are based on the new technologies. Besides, advances in technology will shape the character of human life in the years ahead including the possibility of fear of destruction and dehumanization. It noted that human fear about the technology.

[4] Microchip Implants, Mind Control, and Cybernetics
This article is mainly talking about the cybernetic technology. This technology links the brains of people via the implanted microchips which are controlled by the computer. In 1950s and 60s, electrical implants were inserted into the brains of animals and humans. This was used to change human behaviour and attitudes. Their brain functions can be monitored by computers. Besides, nowadays, with the help of the satellites, the implanted person can be tracked anywhere on the globe. This technique was testing a number of times and used on the military. Every thought, reaction, and observation causes a pattern in the brain and its electromagnetic fields which can be decoded into thoughts, pictures and voices. Therefore, electromagnetic stimulation can change a person’s brainwaves and affect muscular activity and causing painful muscular cramps experienced as torture. However, this technology may lead a large effect on humanity. There should have such kind of problems appeared. We can’t imagine that the robot could replace our daily lives. As we can see, recent technologies still threaten us.

[5] The probable future world forecasted in Mary Shelly’s ‘Frankenstein’ and H.G. Wells’ ‘The Time Machine
In this article, Kai Li Liu is mainly focused about the idea of Frankenstein. Firstly it analyze what is the story of Frankenstein. Frankenstein is a Science-fiction novel. However, Kai Li Liu stated that the story was not only a science fiction. We needed to be considered more about the purpose of science fiction. We can think about the impact of new technology on our future life. Frankenstein complex indicates that people’s fear of uncontrollable situation resulted from applying advanced technology to human beings such as cloning. The writer thought that the aim of technology is to benefit human beings, not to lead to a catastrophe. The people need to know how to apply the technology, so that the advanced technology won’t have the destructive effects on people. On the other hands, he thought that if human beings and science try to break the natural system, the imbalance between human and nature will increase finally. There is no possible existence of one without the other. That means, human can live with technology. However, we can’t rely so much on the technologies. Otherwise there should have many technological sides effects.

[6] How Does Technology Affect You?
From this article, the writer said that technology is affecting us everyday. It affects our work. It affects our lives. He pointed out that Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corporation (NT&T), Japan’s largest telephone company, have developed some startling new technology which turns humans into remote controlled automations. NT&T researchers discovered a way to control the human brain based on the electrical impulses. The new technology is so called ‘Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation’ (GVS). Through this new technology, we can order some commends. After that, by tapping into the electrical impulses of the brain, it might develop a virtual reality program that controls every sense of the user such as sight, sound and taste. GVS seems has many beneficial purposes. It is because it can be used for many purposes. However, this new technology is very danger as it can control the mind of the human. Especially in Japan, the scientists liked to investigate more about new technologies such as robot. Frankenstein still continues to haunt discussions of recent technologies. From this article, we can see that the new technology dominant our daily of lives.

Conclusion
Frankenstein continues to occupy the popular imagination as a monstrous scientist. However, Frankenstein was created by human. After studying those sources, I found that most of the people seem fear about the new technology. Technology is so powerful. They fear that the robot will control the human in one day. To avoid this result happen, we should learn how to use the technology correctly. We try to don’t rely so much on the technology!

[1] Gene I. Rochlin. Trapped in the Net: The Unanticipated Consequences of Computerization, (1997)http://books.google.com/books?hl=zh-TW&lr=&id=GzzttDF1spcC&oi=fnd&pg=PP13&ots=F9JcAcQnxm&sig=2qBf_3TKFqKS9379b1kR34gkmGo#PPP13,M1
(accessed 29 March 2008)

[2] McMahon, P. “How the breakout of technology threatens human sovereignty.” The National Forum. 16 Mar. 2004.http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2071 (accessed on 29 Mar. 2008).

[3] Eric Cohen. ‘The New Politics of Technology’, The New Atlantis A journal of Technology & Society (spring 2003)http://www.thenewatlantis.com/archive/1/editorial.htm (accessed 30 March 2008)

[4] Rauni-Leena Luukanen-Kilde, Microchip Implants, Mind Control, and Cybernetics. 6 Dec. 2000.
http://www.conspiracyarchive.com/NWO/microchip_implants_mind_control.htm (accessed 30 March 2008)

[5] Kai Li, Liu, “The probable future world forecasted in Mary Shelly’s ‘Frankenstein’ and H.G. Wells’ ‘The Time Machine’”<http://209.85.175.104/search?q=cache:P9XjcT6HH-YJ:www.knu.edu.tw/knu1/web/teach/IGECC/%E4%B8%AD%E5%BF%83%E5%AD%B8%E5%A0%B1/03/Frankenstein%2520and%2520The%2520Time%2520Machine.doc+The+probable+future+world+forecasted+in+Mary+Shelly&hl=zh-TW&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=hk>, June 2003,
(accessed 30 March 2008)

[6] John J. Fanning, How Does Technology Affect You?http://www.chiefengineer.org/content/content_display.cfm/seqnumber_content/2325.htm (accessed 30 March 2008)