Can Useless Technology Save the World? | Tracks | ARTE.tv Documentary

Summary

This video script explores the darker side of technology and its impact on society. It questions the belief that technology can solve all problems and highlights the environmental costs, from data centers to the extraction of raw materials for tech devices. The script features artists who challenge the role of high-tech in our lives, suggesting that our dependence on technology may be reducing our autonomy. It also discusses the importance of traditional knowledge and repair skills, which can help address environmental challenges, and encourages a reevaluation of our relationship with technology.

Takeaways

• 🤖 The script discusses the belief in 'technocapitalism' and 'techno-solutionism', suggesting that technology can solve all problems and improve life, but also highlights the risks of surveillance, addiction to screens, and environmental pollution from tech industry practices.
• 🎨 The work of a Belgian artist is mentioned, who explores the dark side of social networks by intercepting surveillance camera images and using facial recognition technology to create unsettling art pieces.
• 🚦 An interactive installation by the artist allows visitors to monitor real-time footage of pedestrians crossing streets worldwide, with the option to sound an alarm if someone crosses a red light, raising questions about our relationship with surveillance and the ease of reporting misconduct.
• 🔍 The narrative delves into the origins of the belief that technology can solve all issues, tracing back to the 1960s and 70s counterculture and the 'Californian ideology' that blends the independence of the counterculture with the entrepreneurial spirit of tech startups.
• 📺 The script critiques the portrayal of consumer technology as sleek, closed systems, using a humorous example of an artist, Dan, who modifies connected devices to interact with them in intimate and absurd ways.
• 📱 It's suggested that smartphones and other devices disconnect us from the real world, with artist Greenman Mouembillo collaborating with Dan to use iPhones to reproduce a Kenyan ancestral musical tradition, transforming the devices into traditional instruments.
• 🌐 The script touches on the environmental impact of technology, such as the energy consumption of data centers, undersea and terrestrial internet cables, and the extraction of raw materials for smartphones, often involving child labor.
• 🛠 The importance of maintenance and care for objects is underscored, with a focus on traditional repair skills and the knowledge of people from the global south, who are often more adept at these practices.
• 🌍 The potential of using ancient solutions and repair knowledge to address environmental challenges in Europe is highlighted, with examples of solar cookers and manual washing machines.
• 💡 The script concludes by questioning the role of high-tech in our lives and whether the pursuit of comfort and convenience is leading to a loss of autonomy and an over-reliance on technology, ultimately asking if we are using the tools or if they are using us.

Q & A

What is the main idea presented in the script about technology and its impact on our lives?

The script discusses the belief in 'technocapitalism' and 'techno-solutionism', which is the idea that technology can solve all our problems, and as a result, we should buy more technological products and services to improve our lives. However, it also raises concerns about the risks of surveillance, screen addiction, and the environmental impact of tech industry practices.

What role does surveillance play in the script's discussion of technology?

Surveillance is highlighted as a significant risk associated with technology, where the script mentions an artist's work that involves intercepting surveillance images using facial recognition technology, questioning our relationship with surveillance and the implications of such practices.

What does the script suggest about the environmental impact of the tech industry?

The script points out that the tech industry contributes to environmental pollution through the extraction of raw materials for manufacturing and the consumption of electricity by the internet, apps, cryptocurrencies, and connected devices.

How does the script relate the 1960s and 70s counterculture movement to the tech industry today?

The script suggests that part of the counterculture movement during the 1960s and 70s was enthusiastic about technology, believing it could enable a freer life away from societal norms and government rules. This sentiment has parallels with the 'Californian ideology' of today's tech companies, which mixes the independence of counterculture with the entrepreneurial spirit of tech startups.

What is the script's view on the concept of the 'Metaverse'?

The script does not explicitly define the 'Metaverse' but implies that it is presented as an immersive experience that is not just about spending more time on screens but about making the time we already spend better, challenging the idea that it is an independent harbinger of good.

How does the script address the issue of dependency on technology?

The script raises the issue of dependency by pointing out that the convenience provided by technology also means we are reliant on the constant availability of the internet and electricity, suggesting a loss of autonomy as we become more dependent on technology.

What does the script say about the role of smartphones in our lives?

The script suggests that smartphones and other devices can prevent us from being connected to the real world. It mentions an artist who proposes using smartphones differently, creating an application that reduces phone capabilities and turns it into a traditional musical instrument.

What is the script's perspective on the environmental cost of high-tech products?

The script highlights the environmental cost of high-tech products, such as the energy consumption of data centers, the extensive network of undersea and terrestrial cables, and the extraction of raw materials for smartphones, often involving child labor in African mines.

How does the script discuss the importance of traditional knowledge and repair skills?

The script emphasizes the value of traditional knowledge and repair skills, especially those possessed by people in exile, who can use their expertise to address environmental challenges in Europe. It mentions a solar-powered cooker and a manual washing machine as examples of traditional solutions that can be implemented.

What message does the script convey about the relationship between high technology and progress?

The script conveys a critical message that the relentless pursuit of comfort through high technology can lead to a loss of autonomy. It suggests that we should reflect on the omnipresence of tech tools in our lives and question whether we are using them or they are using us.

How does the script use the term 'Californian ideology' in the context of technology?

The 'Californian ideology' is used in the script to describe a blend of the independence of the counterculture movement with the entrepreneurial spirit of computer startups, which has influenced the way tech companies view and promote technology.