Part One

On page 215, Carr states that “Technology is as crucial; to the work of knowing as it is to the work of production. The human body, it its native, unadorned state, is a feeble thing. [ . . . ] Technology isn’t what makes us ‘posthuman’ or ‘transhuman'[. . .] It’s what makes us human. (Carr, 215)”

While Carr later goes on to argue that modern technology and automation is a corruption of this idea and is causing more harm than good, I disagree and believe that the benefits outweigh the sacrifices. This is just the evolution of mankind and instead of fighting it, we need to work to embrace it and understand it so that we can be the masters of our tools.

One way we can make sure we’re the ones in control would be to encourage designers to be more transparent in their designs of newer tech and allow for the user to have greater access to make changes. For example, Apple is extremely bad about designing a ‘magic box’ that just works. They don’t like the consumer digging around in the files or repairing the device on their own. In contrast, producers of Android phones are much more transparent and allow me to make changes. I can install any app I want, even if the Play Store doesn’t have it. I can also easily open my phone to perform maintenance. Unlike the time I had an iPhone, I am not shackled by my Android.

Part Two:

At the turn of the millennia, NC State started to spread outwards from Main Campus as it grew in technological advancement and need. The College of Engineering at State grew the most during this time with the construction of Engineering Buildings (EB) I and II. With that growth came new automation technologies for the students. By having access to these new technologies, NC State is helping future engineers understand how their tools work and help avoid technology being, as Licklider states, an “implacable, alien force that lies beyond our control and influence (qtd. in Carr 223)