“Dick Tracy Never Had It This Good” v. “You Call This Progre

In Joe Saltzman’s article “Dick Tracy Never Had It This Good”, he recalls how when he was young his friends and he could only dream of having the kind of technology, such as a miniature two-way radio watch, that Dick Tracy had. He then goes on to give example of the way technology today has way surpassed what even Dick Tracy had. Dick Tracy could only dream about the things you can do today through the uses of cellular phones, palm pilots, Global Positioning System watches, and in home theater systems.

Continuing he makes reference to “those who still long for purple carbon paper, manual typewriters, and rotary telephones” (451), and those who believe that technology is leading to “a world of self-satisfied ignoramuses” (452). He states his opinion that people who are against such advances in technology are “pessimists who have complained about every new invention that has become popular” (452). In conclusion to his article he optimistically points out the much more relevant advantages that technology has brought to society.

“The real question is:” as Saltzman states, “How do all of these 21st-century gizmos improve a life?” (451). Well, you can take the opinion that Shostak has and bring up all of the bad things that a piece of technology has, but you must also remember all of the good things that come along with it. Such as email may be a nuisance when the message in your inbox are piling up, but if you need to ask someone several questions and need some quick answers, email sure beats the heck out of waiting for

Some topics in this essay:
Call Progress”, Positioning System, , Dick Tracy, Tracy Good”, Seth Shostak, Joe Saltzman’s, dick tracy,