Whose Job Is It? Technological Literacy In Society

This research explores the effects of technology on society, especially the technologically illiterate, who struggle under the surge of modern consumer technologies that penetrate the market. Whose responsibility is it to educate the average American? Who should train them to control the technologies they deal with every day? Who should show them how to access technology in order to enable them to protect and educate themselves? Is it the role of engineers, the creators and developers of new technology, to teach society to understand that technology? Should educators conduct outreach programs to train the communities in which they reside? Is it the government’s responsibility to provide the information needed for citizens to effectively manage and utilize the ongoing influx of new and improved technology? Should the responsibility be left to parents to be self-educated and to teach their children? In this age of diverse methods of communication and dissemination of information, we have access to so much more than our forbearers imagined possible. It is important for people to understand technology and to be competent users. With so much innovation some get lost in the flow of new technology and can not seem to manage the information entering their environment. Some lose control of their privacy and become victims of theft because of ignorance. Many adopt a fatalistic mentality and simply accept their ignorance because they feel overwhelmed or afraid of the dangers of technology. Conversely, education spawns feelings of safety and security because knowledge empowers the individual. Whose role is it to promote educated, communicative, and innovative users? This research explores the complex issues dealing with society’s interaction with technology and provides clarity regarding these issues.