The sociotechnical account coined by Bijker (1992) describes this relationship as a seamless web whereby humans and technology continuously impact each other, as technology is socially inclined and society is technically inclined (Bijker 1995, p. 288). Alternatively, Heylighen (2002, p. 2) proposes the global brain theory, which describes technology as a central nervous system for humanity, and as an intelligent network that is formed by people, computers, knowledge bases, and communication mediums. These perspectives on how humans and technology interact with each other change the way that learning, and more specifically how knowledge is viewed and experienced. Through embracing this relationship, new and expanding knowledge can be more readily created, and dictate a multitude of potential benefits in tackling everyday problems as well as increasing task efficiency (Heylighen 2002, p. 5). Technology and the obtainment of knowledge are major driving forces behind modern society, and the intertwinement of the two hold great potential to positively influence the role of the individual in thinking, learning, and creating …show more content…
While a consequence of this is the separation of knowledge from daily life and experiences, it has also resulted in the promotion of education and knowledge being democratised, and more freely available. The technological revolution has led to various deficits in our cognitive ability and development, predominantly regarding how we process information, as knowledge saturation increases and the amount of irrelevant information available becomes overwhelming. With the relationship between humans and technology becoming increasingly complex, and many individuals choosing sides for or against this relationship, the role of the individual in thinking and creating knowledge has been strongly altered. As for the question of whether digital knowledge will open new horizons, the general consensus is that it already has, and will continue to do so for as long as people are willing to create new knowledge and evolve new