As I was getting ready to close out this for the night, I realized that I had not posted anything to answer the question “How does access (or lack of access) to digital technology effect a culture?” First let me define culture again to refresh my memory (yes, I have short-term memory loss)
Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning “to cultivate,”) generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance and importance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture
Today’s American students or teenagers have more technology than anyone has ever had before. While there are some that still do not have access, they might at least know how to gain access (ex: while at a friend’s house) Some teens today define themselves by having the latest cell phone or computer. Some do not so there is a division among the ranks. There are other ways that digital technology and access or lack of effect a culture that I had not thought about, but luckily someone else did. I was really enlightened after reading Jeff’s blog on this topic.
Governments that control access to digital technology have greater control over the way their people think. By supressing the flow of information, it becomes much more difficult for new ideas to take hold and for groups with common interests to be formed. Many countries regulate technology in the name of religion, but for the most part it is simply a measure of control over a group of people.
Now, while I don’t understand the whole Cuba sheltering that Fidel Castro imparted on them so many years ago, I am afraid that things may not change for them simply because he has finally stepped down. I don’t know if they are/were completely sheltered from the rest of the world’s media outlets like Iraq used to be and some other countries still are, but these are the types of government that don’t want their people knowing too much at one time. That would cause a revolt. So this is definitely a way that it effects a culture.
