My example of a technology that represents a rhyme of history is the tablet. Some examples of tablets are the Apple iPad, the Microsoft HP Slate, the Dell Streak, and others. Tablets have the capability of replacing all materials that are needed by each student, during a school day. When schools first began, students used materials such as small portable chalkboards, pens, ink, and books. These materials continue to be the main types of materials that are required in a classroom, however, this is beginning to change in some schools. The iPad can replace the need for a notebook, paper, pens, textbooks, lecture notes, library books, and it is easy to keep everything organized (Pauff, 2010).
Pauff, S. (2010). Computer tablets replace paper, books for Broostone freshmen. Retrieved from http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2010/10/07/1297243/computer-tablets-replace-paper.html
I believe that Kelly's concepts of embodiment, restructuring, and codependency on the Web are examples of the rhymes of history by the way they continue to reorganize and go through the same process again, for all new technologies. There is always going to be something, a tangible object. Everything needs to be restructured at least in the beginning, in order to make something work the way it is supposed to work. Finally, if the two are not able to work together, there will be no need for the technology. The goal of technology is to make things easier or to come up with better, more efficient ways of doing things, routines, that we have been doing for many years and will continue to do for many more years.
Kelly, K. (2007). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the web. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html
