A History of Media Technology Scares

jamesswift writes "Vaughan Bell at Slate has written an interesting article on the centuries old phenomenon of hysterical suspicion surrounding new media and the technologies that enable them. 'A respected Swiss scientist, Conrad Gessner, might have been the first to raise the alarm about the effects of information overload. In a landmark book, he described how the modern world overwhelmed people with data and that this overabundance was both "confusing and harmful" to the mind. The media now echo his concerns with reports on the unprecedented risks of living in an "always on" digital environment. It's worth noting that Gessner, for his part, never once used e-mail and was completely ignorant about computers. That's not because he was a technophobe but because he died in 1565.' The best line comes near then end: 'The writer Douglas Adams observed how technology that existed when we were born seems normal, anything that is developed before we turn 35 is exciting, and whatever comes after that is treated with suspicion.'"

Comments

Re:Enjoyed the Marijuana Story

[sakdoctor]

You get a double whammy if you use wireless; what with all those large email attachments flying though the air, and some of them getting lodged in your brain.

Gessner's Book Arguing Against Books?

[eldavojohn]

From the article:

A respected Swiss scientist, Conrad Gessner, might have been the first to raise the alarm about the effects of information overload. In a landmark book, he described how the modern world overwhelmed people with data ... His warnings referred to the seemingly unmanageable flood of information unleashed by the printing press.

So he chose to release his findings in the exact form of what was 'overloading people with information'? A printed book?

Boy I'd like to design that back cover:

"Find out how things like this very book you hold in your hands right now is destroying your mind and plaguing you with confusing and harmful thoughts ..."

"You'll pick it up, read it, burn it and never read another book again!"

"Tell your neighbors to buy this book so you can outsmart them and take their cattle!"

"Your feudal lord's new tool of oppression: Printed word?"