Assignment 21 - Reading Reflection #2

Assignment 21A

Cognitive Surplus: Clay Shirky

1)    What was the general theme or argument of the book?

The general argument in the book is the increase in technology of time passes will change the social constructs associated with the different technology, and society should adjust for these future differences.

2)    How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

This book, through its exploration of how new technologies changed social perceptions and circumstances, enhanced my appreciation for how technologies can help define a marketplace and opportunity with understanding your outside circumstances and limitations.

3)    If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

I would design an exercise that involves comparing the impact of modern day technologies to pre-modern advances, such as AOL and Napster. In addition, they would then need to create a business idea using modern day technology and how its improved using modern-day technology versus pre-modern technology.

4)    What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

My biggest surprise came from understanding his comparison between the gin craze in 18^th Century London. By putting in rules to ban gin drinking only subsided drinking for a period and then an alternative was used to quench their thirst. In a similar manner, Shriky explains how the shelf life of technology is outdone by increasing methods, but the passion for the technology will continue far into the future. This altered my view of current technology and now understand that future methods will replace certain aspects of tech I don’t agree with.