OnStar

Part One:

The communication technology I chose is OnStar.  OnStar was invented for the purpose of being helpful to drivers while on the road.  If you lock your keys in the car, OnStar can help unlock it or if you get into a car accident OnStar can notify for help.  While all these things are beneficial to our lives and could help us out in a crisis, OnStar is overall a negative communication technology.  It could lead to a dystopian society.  OnStar has the ability to know where you are at all times.  With OnStar in your car, you are always track able.  This is dangerous because if the government wanted to find someone they could.  It is not fair that the government, or let alone people who work for OnStar can find out where you are at any time.  This is an invasion of privacy and personal information. 

Part Two:

This communication technology is very similar to the communication technology, the telescreen, used in 1984.  The telescreen is similar to the modern television we all know today.  Everyone in the novel has one in their living rooms and they are also placed on street corners.  The telescreen differs from the television because the telescreen is capable of seeing what people do in their own homes.  At any time, the thought police could be watching you and listening to what you say.  At the end of part two, Winston and Julia are eventually caught by the thoughtpolice because of a hidden telescreen.  The telescreen was hidden by a picture, but was able to catch the two of them in their disobedience to the party (p, 227-230).  The telescreen controls its citizens through surveillance.  It is on at all times and is used to communicate with all people in their homes.  Different government officials come on at different times to speak, or music will play.  It can even be used as an alarm clock to wake up workers. 

Part Three:

Overall I think there are no communication technologies that are completely used for dystopian purposes.  I think that plenty of technologies can have dystopian or negative uses, but for the most part they all provide more benefits.  OnStar is a good technology because it can save lives when someone gets in an accident.  Surveillance or security cameras have the same idea to them as the telescreen.  While this could be viewed as an invasion of privacy and the government gaining too much control, the safety and security these appliances provide us outweigh those negatives.  Almost all communication technologies could have some dystopian uses, but it is up to society to make sure they are used for their positive benefits and not their negative ones.

Orwell, George. 1984. New York: Plume, 2003.