B1 Non-refereed journal articles
The axes of the modern age (2020)

Jouhki, J. (2020). The axes of the modern age. Human Technology, 16(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.17011/ht/urn.202002242160

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Jouhki, Jukka

Journal or series: Human Technology

ISSN: 1795-6889

eISSN: 1795-6889

Publication year: 2020

Volume: 16

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 1-5

Publisher: Jyväskylän Yliopisto

Place of Publication: Jyväskylä

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17011/ht/urn.202002242160

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/68083

Abstract

Adapting to new technologies often is a challenge to the hegemony of the experts mastered in the related older technology. In this editorial, the challenge that the smartphone and social media bring to an older and more prestigious technology—the book—and the literati is discussed. Recent technological changes and the associated social consequences are compared to a classical anthropological study about how the steel ax challenged and succeeded the stone ax but, in the process, changed the power balance and social norms in the Yir Yoront society, a hunter-gatherer aboriginal group in Australia.

Keywords: technology; adoption (cognition); social media; smartphones; books

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2020