In the introduction to his book Program or be Programmed, Douglas Rushkoff discusses the effects of technology on modern society. His introduction focuses primarily on the idea that with the rise of computer use, we are in the midst of a media revolution. Previous media revolutions (language, alphabet, printing, etc.) have offered people, “an entirely new perspective through which to relate to their world” (12). Rushkoff asserts that many of those revolutions fell short of their potential. According to Rushkoff, in order for the computer-age media revolution to really live up to its potential, we must learn not just how to use computers, but how they use us.
Instead of merely consuming this new medium, users need to be aware of how computers work and how to program them. Right now, users have a tendency to use computers and other pieces of technology with the idea that they control the medium – it does (and only does) what they command it to do. While computers have given us access to a new toolkit to go about our lives with more comfort and ease, it’s crucial for users to understand that that comfort and ease comes at a price. Rushkoff states, “instead of optimizing our machines for humanity… we are optimizing humans for machinery” (15). Without an understanding of how computers process information and “think”, and without understanding how we as users can program how and what information computers process, users risk becoming slaves of this new digital medium. It is from here that we get the title of the book; we need to learn how to program computers or we run the risk of being programmed by them.
At first, I took Rushkoff’s tone to be somewhat dramatic, exaggerated, and perhaps even apocalyptic. However, after stepping back and considering the contextual evidence he outlined, I realized that he found a way to pull together many of the concerns I’ve been developing over the past 5 years or so that have led me to the academic and career path I’ve chosen. Instead of accepting technology as it comes, I’d rather have a hand in its creation. I think this is what Rushkoff hopes (or implores) of us as a modern society. We need to stop using technology as an excuse not to better ourselves. Technology should be viewed as a tool to be used for more advanced learning, not a crutch.