In reading Chapter 2 of Clifford Stolls’ High Tech Heretic, I find he has pointed out that so often throughout history, people have believed that this or that technological advance would somehow change the world and we’d all live as one…..quite a pipe dream isn’t it? 

Stoll cites many times where the propaganda surround a new technology made it sound like the end of all wars, hunger and the key to global bliss.  For example, he states that some believe that the miseries of many third world nations would end when the internet and other technologies prolifereated into their backyard.  Not the case.  Technology is a tool that can be used to solve problems, but is is not the solution in and of itself.

I like Stoll’s view that technology is not some kind of celestial cynosure that will unite all in peace and harmony.  He goes on to examine the view that technology has not shrunk the world, but rather Americans’ view of the world…..we still expect everything to be presented in English, North America pretty much drives the web, and we really don’t invest a lot of time in learning about other cultures different from our own.

In all, while he might be labeled a herestic by some, I believe his views are quite realistic on many issue surrounding modern technology…..the rest of the book should continue to prove interesting!