Technology Bites Back

Peter Edman

Graeme Philipson has an interesting article on technology in the Sydney Morning Herald.

book cover imageHe references Why Things Bite Back by Edward Tenner.

“Technology bites back,” Sydney Morning Herald, April 9, 2005:

We surround ourselves with so much digital paraphernalia and technological impedimenta that half the time we forget why we’re here. Perhaps the machines are doing us a favour when they bite us back. They remind us that technology is not infallible and very often not even necessary. It can be fun, but so can walking on the beach or playing with the dog.

Gleanings, Science and Technology, Wed 20 Jul 2005

Examine the records of history, recollect what has happened within the circle of your own experience, consider with attention what has been the conduct of almost all the greatly unfortunate, either in private or public life, whom you may have either read of, or hear of, or remember, and you will find that the misfortunes of by far the greater part of them have arisen from their not knowing when they were well, when it was proper for them to set still and to be contented.

Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, p. 252