eChunks 5

"… It is really want rather then need that drives the process of technological evolution. Thus we may need air and water, but generally we do not require air conditioning or ice water in any fundamental way. We may find food indispensable, but it is not necessary to eat it with a fork. Luxury, rather than necessity, is the mother of invention. Every artifact is somewhat wanting in its function, and this is what drives its evolution. "

       This quote is correct in the way the luxury drives the evolution of artifacts, but it is because of this that a luxury artifact becomes a need.  As humans once we are accustomed to something it is hard to let go, we must continue or else we experience withdrawal.  This is most commonly seen with drugs as it affects the basis of our body the nerves.  However, this is also true with luxury items, such as the cell phone and Internet.   Decades ago, these artifacts were indeed luxury items only rich could afford.  Now being a common item that everyone can access, it has evolved into being a form of life for us.  Nearly everyone will access the Internet or use the cell phone daily to communicate and search for information.  When there is something we need or something we need to communicate it is now the Internet and cell phone we turn to. 

       Many items that exist today are simply wants not needs, as mentioned above such as the Internet and cell phones.  These things we use on a daily basis, but for the most part they are not a need.  Using the cell phone as an example, this luxury item is very common; nearly everyone uses it on a daily basis.  However, the cell phone is not a need, this is just a want that makes our life easier but enhancing how we are able to communicate.  Some people may say it is a need, but this is only because we have made it into something we must have, simply because we are so accustomed to it.  If we think back, a decade ago the cell phone did not exist and everyone still lived perfectly fine with the basic communication abilities then.  The cell phone was invented as a mobile communication device to make communicating faster and easier while on the go.  This demonstrates the point of the above quote that it is luxury rather than necessity that drives invention.  As with food, communication is a need and fact of society, however, to communicate a cell phone is not required to do so, nor email or Internet.  All these artifacts are simply a luxury for us, and as evidence shows, it is the luxury we want that drives invention and evolution.  Paper and pen to emails, landlines to cell phone and of course the evolution of the internet are all driving by our want.  All these artifacts are luxury items, but we have simply made it into a need as we are now accustomed to having it in our daily life. 

       This quote simply summarizes a key part of our society’s evolution basis, which is wants.  It is because of wants, that our society moves forward.  Luxury is created through this, which in turn drives the evolution of the society.  A need creates a want which drives invention and evolution, and that artifact that results eventually with time becomes a false need and again drives more wants and evolution, it is a cycle that keeps our society evolving.