Techno-optimism is pervasive

Techno- Optimism Technological development, innovations and inventionshave been a common phenomenon in the world. Its benefits have been crucial in improving living standards and easing human life thereby making life more bearable (Harrington, 2009, p 26). The benefits have resulted in a techno- pervasive notion in society whereby, many believe that a more efficient technology will clear various problems in the world. However, technology advancements is not a bad, but being too much assured of its success in solving world problems is similar to living in an ideal world (Top 10 Failures, 2015, p 1). Techno – optimism is universal despite presence of numerous and serious shortcomings as well as consequences of past technologies.
For instance, the introduction of computers has been instrumental in transforming the world and easing various computer related processes thereby, increasing production and improving human life. However, the 1956 project by IBM to design the world’s supercomputer IBM 7030 was a big failure (ITs biggest project failures, 2015, p 1). The computer also known as Stretch, could handle half million instructions every second, and was thus regarded as the fastest.
This technology was a failure since it could only reach 30- 40 times faster than the system it was intended to replace. Therefore, Stretch could not meet its intended target of being 100 times faster than the target system. Due to the failure, IBM was forced to lower the value of Stretch from the initially planned value of $ 13. 5million to $7. 8million (ITs biggest project failures, 2015, p 1). This selling price was below total production cost thus, forcing the company to halt production of Stretch with only nine having been built.
Despite the failure, society is still optimistic with the invention and believes that additional or more advanced technology will in future offer satisfactory solutions. For instance, one of the Stretch team members; Fran Allen acknowledged that the entire process led to development of various technologies which, have assisted in shaping of the computer building industry (ITs biggest project failures, 2015, p 1). However, this is in disregard to the production loses incurred as well as the time and energy used in the entire process.
Therefore, I believe that the idea of technology advancement is a noble notion which, is critical in shaping and making life relatively easier and stress free on earth. However, being too much optimistic is dangerous since it comes with severe consequences and shortcomings. These include loss of capital, destruction of property, injury and even death.
References
HARRINGTON, J. L. (2009). Technology and society. Sudbury, Mass, Jones and Bartlett
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ITs biggest project failures — and what we can learn from them | Computerworld. 2015. ITs
biggest project failures — and what we can learn from them | Computerworld. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www. computerworld. com/article/2533563/it-project-management/it-s-biggest-project-failures—-and-what-we-can-learn-from-them. html. [Accessed 10 May 2015].
Top 10 Failures of Modern Science – Listverse. 2015. Top 10 Failures of Modern Science –
Listverse. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www. listverse. com/2012/07/26/top-10-failures-of-modern-science/. [Accessed 10 May 2015].