More Technopoly
Continued from previous entry...
This is a picture of the area of affect of an EMP over the united states. This relates to the technopoly associated with electricity and electronic information systems. An EMP is an electromagnetic pulse that disables unprotected or unsheilded electronic systems. EMPs are generated by nuclear blasts. As shown in this picture, a nuclear blast at a certain altitude could disable nearly all the electronic systems in the continental united states. Because many people aren't prepared to deal with the long term changes associated with the lack of electricity, there would be casualties and tremendous after effects. This is the same as a rapid climate change in an ecosystem. Some organisms will absolutely not be able to adapt.
Another example of a technopoly might be the mass production of foods. Processed foods are especially noteworthy. Processed foods are made very quickly and in large quantities. Traditionally, people would grown their own food or buy it from someone they knew. The technology to produce foods quickly, cheaply, and seperately from the consumer is a technopoly. People don't often know where their food comes from or how it is made. This is a very dangerous way to live. If we think of the concept of eating things that we don't know anything about, it's very scary.
