What technology wants

This provocative book introduces a brand-new view of technology. It suggests that technology as a whole is not a jumble of wires and metal but a living, evolving organism that has its own unconscious needs and tendencies. Kevin Kelly looks out through the eyes of this global technological system to discover "what it wants." He uses vivid examples from the past to trace technology's long course and then follows a dozen trajectories of technology into the near future to project where technology is headed. This new theory of technology offers three practical lessons: By listening to what technology wants we can better prepare ourselves and our children for the inevitable technologies to come. By adopting the principles of pro-action and engagement, we can steer technologies into their best roles. And by aligning ourselves with the long-term imperatives of this near-living system, we can capture its full gifts. Written in intelligent and accessible language, this is a fascinating, innovative, and optimistic look at how humanity and technology join to produce increasing opportunities in the world and how technology can give our lives greater meaning

My Question p. 1 Origins Inventing Ourselves p. 21 History of the Seventh Kingdom p. 43 The Rise of Exotropy p. 57 Imperatives Deep Progress p. 73 Ordained Becoming p. 103 Convergence p. 131 Listen to the Technology p. 157 Choosing the Inevitable p. 175 Choices The Unabomber Was Right p. 191 Lessons of Amish Hackers p. 217 Seeking Conviviality p. 239 Directions Technology's Trajectories p. 269 Playing the Infinite Game p. 347 Acknowledgments p. 361 Annotated Reading List p. 363 Source Notes p. 367