Chapter 3 Post

            Fouche describes the fourth era as the most recent one technology and race. He describes it as nostalgic within the digital devices that we use today. The first reference that he uses is within the digital cameras that are used today the sound effects mirror the old cameras giving them a nostalgic sort of feeling when being used like one is using an old camera. Another main example is the One Laptop Per Child program that happened. This fits into his theory of “nostalgia of in-need others to be saved” (Fouche 62) Nicholas Negroponte is the founder of OLPC. Some would say the ignorance of his wealthy upbringing in America could have caused the digital divide in his this corporation. America has a hard time getting away from biological race, and looks past what is important within cultures and communities.

            OLPC was seen to be the beginning of this fourth era making it the “rebirth of race”. The problem with this corporation is the way it was utilized and promoted. The idea could have done great things. Yet the founder thought giving “poor kids” a laptop will help all their worries and save them somehow. Yes they might have learned and taught themselves the technology because we live in a technological era and according to Negroponte everyone should know technology. This is kind of a blinded thought to saving others with nostalgia. In the sense of nostalgic thoughts, the children receiving the laptops probably did not get that sense of feeling. Instead with round two of OLPC and it’s fixes people of America giving the money to support the corporation could be feeling it.

            At the same time the Human Genome Project started up and this causes a digital divide in race again though science. Studying different races and the genes of people causes a divide as well. If I was under the project and so was my best friend would they find different gene sequences because she is Sri Lankan and I am American? This happens as soon as you walk into the doctor’s office and fill out a form. One of the first questions is what is your ethnicity. I never really thought about why they need to know that, wondering to myself why would it matter my race if I am sick and the person next to me has the same cold but of a different race. I still do not fully understand, but with this new era the divide in race is cause by the digital world.

            Focus’s on OLPC and programs like the Human Genome Project are forms that teach us what to fix in these situations. People are aware of the digital divide in race that is caused through this era of “saving people”. Questions arise and problems are caused and arise. Since we live in such a highly digital world that is soon and pretty much already taken over digitally the thoughts of spreading it around the world to everyone is seen as helpful. Yet still causes problems.