What is This Thing?

Part 1: “The most common meaning of technology in popular usage conceives technologies as things that are useful; that is, as things that have, as the dictionary puts it, some ‘practical application.’” I have chosen a CD for a piece of old communication technology that I do not want anymore.

Part 2: While walking outside in a parking lot, I find this odd object pictured above. The object is circular and flat with a diameter of about 4.25”. The thickness is about one-eighth of an inch. One side of the object is very shiny while the other is quite matte. The center of the object has a hole that is about half an inch in diameter. From my experience, I believe that that object is used for some sort of game.

Part 3: I have decided that this object was used for entertainment within the civilization that invented it. With this object, people would play catch or another game in which partners would take turns spinning the object on its very thin rim. At first, the object reminded me of an object I am familiar with, the Frisbee. By looking at the picture of the mysterious object, it is similar to a Frisbee in the sense that it is round and aerodynamic. Also, when I tried to break the object, it was tough. This shows that the device would be suitable for the outdoors and rough playing. Rogers identifies the five factors that define how quickly innovations spread in the Berkun reading, “People Love New Ideas”. These five factors are relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observeability. Although this object resembles a Frisbee, it is obvious, using the five factors that explain innovation, that the Frisbee is a superior choice. The Frisbee is cheaper to produce, easily obtained (sometimes even given out for free), and the same to use as the object I found. I am not surprised to see that the Frisbee technology spread.

Slack, Jennifer D., and J. M. Wise. Culture and Technology. Peter Lang, 2007.