Information Ecologies: Using Technology with Heart

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Summary: Unique Perspectives on our Technological Society
Review: In Information Ecologies, Nardi and O'DAy offer their perspectives on how technology is affecting our society in both an anthropological as well as a sociological view. This is a unique book because it is written, firstly, by two people who have spent time working in the technology industry, as well as studying it intensively. The case studies they offer in the second half of the book are fascinating and objective.

For a reader who may be looking for objective facts and the technical aspects of technology, this book may not prove useful. However, for a reader interested in different opinions and willing to read with an open mind, knowing that Nardi and O'DAy offer their opinions based on their experiences and beliefs, this is a wonderful book. It not only gives enough concrete knowledge of how technology evolved, became important to humankind, and how it is affecting our society today, it offers it in a anthropological manner, which I enjoyed very much.

Although I realise that the examples they used seem exaggerated at times in order to punctuate their argument, I believe that they succeeded in their objective with this book. They both clearly have great experience and knowledge in the world of technology, and they have both attempted to take a step back from that world to look at how it is affecting us as people. I especially found their case studies to be fascinating and very relevant to their argument and style. They made the book stand out as a very informational book which has set my mind to thinking in different ways. It has made me more reflective on simple things we now take for granted, such as email. How is email as my form of communication affecting the quality of my communication, I have asked myself recently. Books such as these can engage many controversial conversations which are necessary. We must realise that our actions have consequences, no matter how insignificant they may seem. I believe that this is one of the things they were stressing in terms of technological advancement.

As an admirer of anthropology, and a student of technology, I found the mixture of the two in this book to be a perfect informational and educational read.

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Summary: Going beyond the technology
Review: Information Ecologies:Using Technology with Heart is a good book that caters to both technical and non-technical individuals. The authors try to sway readers into believing that technology is more than just a physical structure. Technology affects how people react at home, school, work, etc. The authors try to prove this point through interviews, field research, past theories, and even the movie Metropolis.

Since we are heading into a total technical dominated world, I think it is very important that we not only know "how" to use a certain technology, but "why" we use a certain technology. By trying to understanding technology this way, we will then be to communicate our thoughts to others and find ways to use technology a lot more effectively.

The book shows that no matter what work you do or what your age is. Technology will have an impact on our lives. With technology such as e-mail and the internet being used by almost the entire world, a book such as Information Ecologies is a good first step to critically think about "why" we are using these technologies.

Rating:
Summary: Going beyond the technology
Review: Information Ecologies:Using Technology with Heart is a good book that caters to both technical and non-technical individuals. The authors try to sway readers into believing that technology is more than just a physical structure. Technology affects how people react at home, school, work, etc. The authors try to prove this point through interviews, field research, past theories, and even the movie Metropolis.

Since we are heading into a total technical dominated world, I think it is very important that we not only know "how" to use a certain technology, but "why" we use a certain technology. By trying to understanding technology this way, we will then be to communicate our thoughts to others and find ways to use technology a lot more effectively.

The book shows that no matter what work you do or what your age is. Technology will have an impact on our lives. With technology such as e-mail and the internet being used by almost the entire world, a book such as Information Ecologies is a good first step to critically think about "why" we are using these technologies.

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Summary: A call for engagement with technology at the local level
Review: One of the most important human stories of the twentieth century is the impact of technology on the way we live, die, work, and play. This will continue into the twenty-first century. The common rhetoric about technolgy falls into two extreme categories: uncritical acceptance or blanket rejection. These two positions leave us with poor choices for action. They encourage us to accept as inevitable whatever technological changes come along. Claiming a middle ground, Bonnie Nardi and Vicki L. O'Day call for responsible, informed engagement with technology in local settings, which they call information ecologies. Their goal is to change the way people look at information technology. An information ecology is a system of people, practices, technolgies, and values in a local environment. Like their biological counterparts, information ecologies are diverse, continually evolving and complex. Nardi and O'Day encourage the reader to become more aware of the ways people and technology are interrelated. A key to thoughtful action, they say, is to ask more "know-why" questions, before jumping to the more straightforward "know-how" questions. They talk about practical ways to have more "know-why" conversations, to dig deeper and reflect more on how we use technology.

Nardi and O'Day draw on their empirical research in offices, libraries, schools, and hospitals to show how people can engage their own values and commitments while using technology. These case studies show new and fruitful avenues for participation and engagement with technology.

Bonnie Nardi, a researcher at AT&T Labs-Research, is the author of A SMALL MATTER OF PROGRAMMING (MIT Press, 1993) and editor of CONTEXT AND CONSCIOUSNESS (MIT Press, 1996). Vicki O'Day formerly a researcher at the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center, is a graduate student of anthropology at the University of California at Santa Cruz.

"INFORMATION ECOLOGIES shows everyday people shaping new technology to their own needs, moving beyond the idea that socially destructive patterns in the new media are 'inevitable.' This deeply humane and thoughtful book illustrates ways in which local, democratic control is crucial in building an agreeable technological culture."

-Langdon winner, Professor of Political Science, Department of Science and Technolgy Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and author of AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY

Rating:
Summary: I would opt for the paperback version.
Review: Online review of Information Ecologies. With the importance of technology today, we must also look at the societies that these technologies create. Nardi and O'Day in Information Ecologies, Using Technology With Heart, take a deep look at these "niches" an information ecology as the authors refer. Nardi and O'Day stress the importance of Information Ecologies because of the values and commitment that we have towards technologies. The book is not an easy read by any means. It covers deep metaphors dealing with technology and how human interaction and theologies play an important factor. Having a vast background in technology and anthropology, the authors go extensively in to examining the niches that are created by these technologies. They have completed extensive case studies in evaluating these niches and showing how people can use technology to their advantage by engaging their own personal humanvalues. Nardi and O'Day not only examine well-evolved ecologies but also examine dysfunctional ecologies that are created by the technology and the society surrounding it. Nardi and O'Day capture and explain the social factor with information ecologies in a deep and profound way. The metaphors and reference to Fritz Lang's film Metropolis gives the reader a visual example of the meaning that the authors are trying to capture and express to the reader. Though this book needs to be glazed over a few times, it is a good book that explains the humanizing effects that technology as on society. Nardi and O'Day express the important human element that lay within technology and the fact that we must influence others when using technology with Heart.

Rating:
Summary: Emphasizes human interaction that is needed in tech. today.
Review: Online review of Information Ecologies. With the importance of technology today, we must also look at the societies that these technologies create. Nardi and O'Day in Information Ecologies, Using Technology With Heart, take a deep look at these "niches" an information ecology as the authors refer. Nardi and O'Day stress the importance of Information Ecologies because of the values and commitment that we have towards technologies. The book is not an easy read by any means. It covers deep metaphors dealing with technology and how human interaction and theologies play an important factor. Having a vast background in technology and anthropology, the authors go extensively in to examining the niches that are created by these technologies. They have completed extensive case studies in evaluating these niches and showing how people can use technology to their advantage by engaging their own personal humanvalues. Nardi and O'Day not only examine well-evolved ecologies but also examine dysfunctional ecologies that are created by the technology and the society surrounding it. Nardi and O'Day capture and explain the social factor with information ecologies in a deep and profound way. The metaphors and reference to Fritz Lang's film Metropolis gives the reader a visual example of the meaning that the authors are trying to capture and express to the reader. Though this book needs to be glazed over a few times, it is a good book that explains the humanizing effects that technology as on society. Nardi and O'Day express the important human element that lay within technology and the fact that we must influence others when using technology with Heart.

Rating:
Summary: Great title, but dissapointing content
Review: The book grabs the reader with an interesting title then immediately starts off with a look at a boring movie and then reviews of even more boring competing therories. Finally the authors reveal the information ecology therory. Unfortuanately, the don't offer much to back up their view and paint a picture of it being another feel good PC therory. Too bad since they have a valid point that will sadly be lost as another PC mistake...

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Summary: Great book that explores online communities
Review: This book is a great read for you to explore the different info ecologies, I found the library ecologies as well as the online communities and the Digital Photography case scenarios to be most interesting and relevant. Each case study examines how new technologies are being used (for example the WWW as a searching tool in the librarires, digital photography and programs such as PhotoShop for photo editing)

If you are curious about Digital Convergence and you want to read a positive outlook of it and how technology and computers are a growing part of everyone's everyday lives, you should check this book out.

Rating:
Summary: I would opt for the paperback version.
Review: Well the book Information Ecologies: Using Technology with Heart by Bonnie Nardi and Vicki O'day was a good book. It is really easy to read and the points are brought out fairly well. The key points of users finding "healthy information ecologies" are fairly laid out.

I really felt that this book tries "to change the way people look at information technology." The instances/studies they refer to, claim that technology pushes for diversity, better education, better jobs, etc. The book is easy to read and friendly to both the computer literate and illiterate. The second half of the book mainly states case studies and how others have found their information ecology. I guess the authors try to make us realize that acceptance and assimilation into the technological world can be beneficial in a myriad of ways. Although, I failed to find the answer to the question "Is technology built for the need, or does technology build the need?"

It is a good book because of its references and its clear concepts it gets across to the reader. But I do find that their happy medium of living in information ecologies was anticlimactic for me. Since, I already encompass technology from having & obtaining this book (buying it on amazon.com, having it sent via US Postal-bar-coding, writing the review with my word processor, and then posting it online). The only non-technical thing about me using the book was actually reading it. Thus, I am biased towards the use and importance of technology, prior to reading this book.