Search results for ""Author John R Cook""

This book refutes the 21st-century zeitgeist that views advancing technology as an unambiguous social good, and examines the effects of this uncritical acceptance and dependence. It argues that technology has become the new religion for the digital age, and that elevating technology to the status of deity serves as a mechanism to allow for the denial of problems created by reliance upon machines. From the release of toxins into the environment to the unsustainable energy demands of the modern era, technological dependence and overreach are driving humanity to the brink of extinction. Despite these problems, existential issues such as artificial intelligence, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons, there is an unwavering belief in the ability of technology, particularly any device labeled "smart," to create a perfect future while denying the history of unmet promises and unintended consequences of technological innovation.In this book, the psychological underpinnings of these beliefs are explored from both a clinical and cognitive perspective. In addition, it critiques the social and economic forces that maintain our reliance on, or addiction to, technology, and examines the ethical and security issues associated with the control of advanced technology.

Read more less

From "Doctor Who" to "Red Dwarf", "Thunderbirds" to "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", British science fiction shows have delighted audiences worldwide with their distinctive visions of the future. This pioneering book, written by leading writers in the field, gives for the first time a detailed national survey of this well-loved British TV genre. It provides in-depth analyses of these shows, as well as others including "Blake's 7", "The Prisoner and Threads", showing too their value in illuminating wider aspects of our recent social and cultural history. It also features a contribution by the biographer of the late Douglas Adams, author of "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", as well as an exclusive published interview with "Thunderbirds" creator Gerry Anderson. Designed to appeal to students and fans alike, "British Science Fiction Television" offers a thought-provoking and accessible read for those interested in science fiction, television history and their respective relationships to wider media, culture and society.

Read more less