Technopoly
As I see a technopoly, it is a civilization formed around some piece of technology. Before this technology came to be, the civilization was different. Upon the discovery or creation of this technology, there is an abrupt change in the civilization. Everything becomes based on the technology. As for Lance Lavine's view of technology as an order of nature, many technologies fit into this category, as well as that of forming a technopoly. As an order of nature, technology exists naturally and awaits discovery and harnessing by man. The most obvious technopolies I can know of are time (and ways of measuring it) and mangetism. As we have discussed time in class, I will discuss magnetism.
As an order of nature, magnetism is a natural phenomenon. The planet Earth acts as a gigantic magnet, with two differently charged poles.
http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/science/astronomy/cbrown/aurora/earthMagnetWeb.jpg
Man discovered and researched magnetism at least as early as 600 BC in Greece. After magnetic properties were realized, it dawned upon man that these magnets could be used for orientation on the Earth.
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1013007/2/istockphoto_1013007_vector_compass.jpg
Using a compass and a map, a person can find their way to any other location. After magnetism was discovered for orienteering, men could more easily navigate the world and travel to discover unknown areas became safer. Nowadays, streets are oriented along lines defined by the compass.
Although the compass, through magnetism, changed the world into a technopoly based upon itself, magnetism has other uses. One practical use of magnetism is for security. Powerful man-made electromagnets can keep doors and windows secured more strongly than any other sort of lock. Other uses of magnetism include electric motors and generators (two more technopolies), telephones (a technopoly), and computers (yet another technopoly). Magnetism is the ultimate order of nature which, after discovery, changed the world with many technopolies and continues to do so to this day.