Reblogged from Sun in Gemini:

The Open University (OU) is a wonderful institution. I have watched its progress for decades, and it’s a fine example of the power of education and broadcasting, combined. Last night we happened to watch a BBC Two documentary produced as part of the OU series: ‘Secrets of Silicon Valley‘ by Jonathan Bartlett.

Its premise was that Silicon Valley (referred to as the Tech world) has a dark side; dark in the sense that it is changing society at such a fast rate that our social, political and legal structures are failing to keep up. The Tech companies view this as a good thing, and there is the collective vision – incredibly well-funded in its PR – that this is productive for us all and that the inevitable result, like the industrial revolution before it, will be that we’ll all have richer and better lives. TheTech define their own role in this vision as that of ‘The Disruptor’.

Anyone remember the ‘Tomorrow’s World’ type programs of the 60s and 70s? They were great television and offered a bright and optimistic vision of how technology was a boon and would result in a world where our biggest problem would be how to spend our free time.

You’ll forgive the sound of hysterical laughter from here…

Continue reading: What value the human? – Sun in Gemini