Response to Castells Readings

What I took the most from both of Castells’ readings was the importance of the network society in the information age and how information technology can influence networking. In an era of increasing information technology and digital communication, the idea of networking has changed significantly. We used to think of networking as physically going out to meet people in events and such; however, with the advent of digital communication, it is now possible to network via the worldwide web. Networking is then considered horizontal, where communication and information flow in a horizontal fashion, instead of in a vertical, hierarchical fashion as before.

Networking is especially important in companies and businesses. Businesses are built upon networks and they function via networks. A business cannot function without the proper connections. Networks bolster a company to its true potential. These days, companies use the worldwide web to research and recruit the necessary partners to aid them in their journey towards success and profit.

He also addresses the unfortunate byproduct of the growing digital communication and technology growth—that it directly increases poverty and unemployment. He claims that technological advancements shape society and that if you understand and know how to use these advancements, you will help society progress. However, in order to use these technological advancements, one must be well-versed in the technology field. This is not to say that every person needs to be a computer engineer; but individuals need to know the basics of the new technological age. However, what happens to those people in regions where technology has not reached them? Society progresses when the whole society can participate in its progression. In this way, there is a divide between those are technological-savvy and those who are not. It is metaphorical to the phrase, “the rich are getting richer and the poor and becoming poorer”. The individuals who are knowledgeable about growing technology will have more opportunities than those who are not knowledgeable.

Apart from a digital divide, if you will, the public sector needs to integrate these technologies into their daily practices, Castells states. Growing technology and modern advancements should not increase unemployment. In fact, it should create more jobs. Upon integration of these newer technologies, the public sector can help society progress, while also creating more jobs. If necessary, the public sector can hold training sessions for those not well-versed in the ideas of growing technological advancements. Many think that technology creates unemployment because it can do many tasks at once, whereas it takes an individual person takes to perform those tasks. While that may be true, a person needs to operate the computer or machine, and to keep the computer in check. Computers can fail and can make mistakes and people are the best enforcers of accuracy.

Along with the public sector, technology needs to be integrated in the classrooms as well. Castells postulates that the integration of technology in education can foster creativity and innovation.
I find Castells articles interesting and somewhat relatable. As a college student, I am exposed to new media technology everyday. I walk into the library and there are computers, printers, scanners, wide-screen televisions, stereo systems, headphones, website design programs, and the list can go on forever. While we do not have the most updated technology, we do have the necessary technologies to provide us with a basic understanding of technology in general. We assume that everybody has an email address and that we can text a classmate instead of calling. However, I realize that those that I call “everybody” only constitute and represent a minority of the world’s population. Many regions in the world do not even own a telephone, a technology that was invented a century or so ago. We are separated by an economic-technological divide.

I find myself reading this article and relating some of its contents to some aspects of my life. For example, there is a technological divide between my parents and myself. It’s a subtle example, but one that strikes an individual level. I was born into a technologically-savvy generation, where text messages, emailing, and online chatting are the norm. Until a couple months ago, my parents did not know how to use email or text. Now, my dad uses his email everyday. His clients and colleagues are very happy that he has finally learned how to use email efficiently. Communication with his clients has changed dramatically, in a good way. He feels that his knowledge in email and the interest in general has helped him in establishing more and more network connections.

With regards to updating the public sector, Guam is an excellent example of this. As a Guamanian, I have a first-person account of this. Guam is a United States territory but has its own government (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Legislature). While the rest of the United States pays their power, water, and garbage bills online, Guam still has its residents travel to the government offices to pay. As the United States furthers its progression towards full electronic payments, Guam is lagging behind. The government has yet to try and integrate electronic advancements. Guam residents are still burdened with having to wait in long lines to pay a simple bill.

In addition, Guam’s public schools are far behind even the worst of the United States schools. Most of the public schools in Guam do not have computer centers. On one hand, the school cannot pay for the computer centers. On the other hand, even if they could afford such a center, they would have trouble finding a qualified technology teacher, as the island itself is lagging behind in keeping up with technological advancements. That is not to say everybody is lagging. Like Castells says, the whole society must participate in order for progress to occur. Recently, there have been individuals from the United States mainland that have donated money to Guam’s public schools to help in their journey towards integrating technology in the classroom.

Castells does a good job in outlining what is necessary for the progression of society with technology and digital communication. What is left is for a society or community to find ways to slowly integrate the necessary technologies into its culture and its people. A fully technologically-cultured society can open employment opportunities and networking foundations.