Posner

In Posner's 'Postmodern Virtualities' he gives the historical analogy "the technically advanced societies are at a point in their history similar to that of the emergence f an urban, merchant culture in the midst of feudal society in the Middle Ages" (533-534). This notion ties into Marx and how he conceptualized that inorder for society to expand it required science and to encompass scientific advancement required new moral and social norms to allow cultural advancement. Posner goes on to talk about the communication system of messaging through mail message/post to phones, emails and our current state. Using Marx these advances in technology must be accompanied by a revision in cultural norms to ensure that society progresses as a whole. The science cannot advance without the moral grounds to keep it successful and implement it. The Middle Ages analogy also incorporates Howson's coverage on the civilizing process of Britain from socially grotesque to civilized through scientific advancement - easiest example they pooped in the street then plumbing and toilets were invented and cultural norms structured around them making defecation a private matter. Posner states that Elmer-Dewitt contined "... the new technology will force the merger of television, telecommunications, computers, consumer electronics, publishing and information services into a single interactive information industry" (536). Through Marx these advances must come with socio-cultural norms to complement them - a recent study (whose title I cant remember) stated that technological advances like these interconnected media web of cell phones and internet with social networking has led the next generation of Americans to be deficient in soft skills - they dont know how to talk to people face to face because they are so used to instant electronic connectivity. This is a bad sign for society and if not reconciled will make the progression of socio-cultural norms of communication less face to face and more electronic negatively impacting society.