A Man Called Coyote by Marc Savin

A Man Called Coyote by Marc Savin

Digital Universe traces the evolution of digital information and communication tools used worldwide, from the invention of the telegraph to the emergence of mobile phones as personal computers, and their seismic effects on global societies. Critical perspectives on the diffusion of these technologies are explored, including the dark side of the internet - invisible surveillance, privacy infringement, and digital divides based on geography, race, and income. New communication technology applications such as augmented reality and artificial intelligence are also examined.

The text introduces an original concept called the Tao of Technology to describe a future where the positive attributes of digitally-augmented human intelligence must be weighed against the dystopian effects of increased surveillance (e.g. via face recognition), and diminished personal privacy. New communication technologies are marketed to global societies using their positive attributes -- only after their wide adoption do we observe their negative effects.

This illuminating text introduces readers to important inventors, scientists, artists, and critics, offering a unique blend in its discussion of the history and socio-cultural effects of technology, and its examination of the human face of invention and criticism. This is more than a primer on information and communication technologies; it is an empowering tour of the global digital universe offering critical observations and new perspectives on mediated human communication and digitally augmented human intelligence.