Self-growth
Business & Career
Success
Communication
Healing
Relationships
Psychology
HappinessYou’ll learn
- How technology influenced our society
- About the damage of technology
- How the digital world undermines our privacy
- About technological impacts on climate change
Table of contents
first KEY POINT
The advancement in technology is more frightening than it looks
Across the globe, technology is associated with the challenges we face today. It widens the gap between the rich and the poor, sparks ethnic conflict, and creates a social division that threatens us all.We must understand how complex technologies function if we must reverse this trend. This knowledge should not be reserved for the selfish elites and inhuman corporations alone. Otherwise, they will continue to use these tools in exploitative ways.Our world is fast becoming a planet of digital addicts, and the way it is happening is so subtle that it is often too late before we realize how enmeshed in it we have become.
Since this interconnected world has become an inseparable part of the physical world, we must investigate its origins and function intentionally.
We cannot be content with the practicality of digital tools. The fact that your phone reminds you of birthdays does not mean you should not try to understand how it fetches the information. Instead of just being grateful for the reminder, ask yourself: What is in its programming line, and is it capable of adapting itself to do some other things that are not in its manual? To ask these questions, we must understand the digital language to be specific about what we want to know.Make no mistake. This literacy is not about each person learning to write lines of code or becoming a programmer. A person may know how to code but may not be able to see what’s behind the code. Writing code is like being a factory-line worker. You are a part of a production process that’s much bigger than you. Even if you can explain the entire process, that does not mean you know the secret ingredient that makes your product stick in the marketplace.Being open to new ways of thinking about emerging technologies while still maintaining a critical stance is crucial to actively influencing and guiding the advancements.This summary sets out to provide awareness about the damaging effects of technology on society. The goal is to encourage everyone to ask the right questions to hold the digital age judges accountable and prod them to act responsibly.
second KEY POINT
Technology is not just about making new tools and using them
Generally, people believe technology has made the world more efficient by reducing difficulties and providing solutions to problems in record time. Is this the whole truth? The history of computers, for example, reveals that it concentrates power in the hands of fewer persons. Take computation as an example. Calculations that required the contribution of several mathematicians can now be done at the touch of a button. Thus, a single person could come up with a scheme from start to finish in their cubicle without getting the perspective of others on the project. This narrow domain of experience leaves us with many blind spots. If others were involved, someone might have raised some sociological or ethical questions that will hold the creator of this product to account.Not just that. The computational power of these devices allows them to process large amounts of data and return results that are used to manipulate people. Some things are doable but should not happen because they negatively affect our behavior and social norms.
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first KEY POINT
The catastrophic effects of climate change may begin to create connectivity concerns
second KEY POINT
While the world is getting more prosperous due to technology, wealth is not equitably distributed
third KEY POINT
It is difficult to take a position on surveillance because of the mixture of benefits and challenges
fourth KEY POINT
We have to deal with the ills of fake news in the new dark age as an inevitable consequence of our creation
fifth KEY POINT
Conclusion
Related summaries
Frequently asked questions
What is New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future about?
New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future, authored by James Bridle, explores the intersections of technology, society, and the future, highlighting how digital advancements can lead to societal decline and loss of knowledge. It critically examines how our reliance on technology may lead to a 'dark age' where important insights and histories are obscured.
What are the key takeaways from New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future?
Key takeaways from New Dark Age include the idea that while technology promises progress, it can also perpetuate misinformation and social divides. Bridle emphasizes the need for critical engagement with technology to ensure it serves humanity positively rather than creating barriers.
Is New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future worth reading?
Yes, New Dark Age is worth reading because it offers profound insights into our modern digital landscape and challenges readers to rethink their relationship with technology. Bridle’s thought-provoking analysis encourages critical thinking about the future we are building.
How many pages is New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future and when was it published?
New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future is 256 pages long and was published on August 20, 2018. This provides a comprehensive overview that is both accessible and engaging for readers.
What themes does New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future explore?
The book delves into themes of technological dependency, the erosion of knowledge, and the societal impacts of digital communication. By examining these issues, Bridle encourages readers to consider the broader implications of our technological choices.