INTEGRATED CULTURE What the Merging Dynamics of Human and Internet Mean for our Global Future

Michael J. Savoie, Ph.D. G. Brint Ryan College of Business University of North Texas

ABSTRACT system that was synergistically better than either a man or machine system alone could Researchers have often treated modularity and create. This concept, applied to business, integration as mutually-exclusive. A module became known as “The Four Principles of was defined as a stand-alone system, whereas Scientific Management”, as explained by integration required a single ecosystem. Today, Taylor in his paper and presentation at the First however, we recognize that ecosystems often Conference on Scientific Management at The contain independent modules that are Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College, interrelated to create the system. Much like October 1911 (See Classic Readings in land, sea and air combine to create a livable Operations Management, pp 23-46, 1995). planet, we are seeing a similar symbiosis occur

between man and machine, with the internet as As early as 1928, Ludwig von the connector of the independent human Bertalanffy posited the idea of General Systems modules. Technology has become such an Theory, based on the concept of open systems integral part of our daily lives that our culture – (von Bertalanffy, 1967, 1972; Principia who we are as individuals and a society - is Cybernetica Website accessed November 12, being affected. As we continue to create 2020). An open system is a system that has devices that blur the line between what is “us” external interactions, taking the form of and what is “the internet,” the idea of information, energy, or material transfers into symbiosis – the merging of human and internet or out of the system boundary, depending on - becomes more and more real. What we are the discipline which defines the concept. An witnessing today is the melding of human open system is contrasted with the concept of creativity with the common platform of the an isolated system (or modular system for internet protocol (IP) creating a unique global purposes of this paper) which exchanges culture. This new ecosystem of man and neither energy, matter, nor information with its machine is what is called Integrated Culture, environment. I think for the purposes of this and is the focus on this paper. paper, most would agree that the internet is an

open system.

1. INTRODUCTION Von Bertalanffy believed that all open systems,

however different had similar underlying In 1895, Frederick Taylor defined scientific organizing principles, and a unifying theory management and developed the “first man” would result in a richer understanding in these theory (Taylor 1895). Taylor believed that diverse areas. He wanted this way of looking at management (business) could be boiled down systems to extend to cover societies and to a single ecosystem with properly trained cultures as well. humans as “cogs” within the system. By

plugging the appropriately trained and In the 1960’s Kenneth Boulding expanded motivated human into a properly designed systems theory to include human, economic system, a symbiosis would occur, creating a

90 SYSTEMICS, CYBERNETICS AND INFORMATICS VOLUME 18 - NUMBER 7 - YEAR 2020 ISSN: 1690-4524 and other behavior embedded in a larger consequences – the ethical and moral questions interconnected system. Boulding identified raised by augmented humans. For instance: many diverse types of systems. Examples include:  Why is it okay for a MLB pitcher to have Tommy John’s surgery – where a  Star systems in the universe tendon from one part of the body is  Circulatory system in the body reattached to a shoulder, allowing a  Closed systems of computer pitcher to regain his earlier form (and programming often better performance) – but it is not  Open systems of living organisms okay for a pitcher to replace his “dead” arm with a bionic one? Boulding expanded his thesis to include a

system populated by post-humans - beings whose basic capacities so radically exceed  Why can’t an Olympic athlete utilize those of present humans as to be no longer artificial limbs that are significantly unambiguously human by the standards of the better than real human limbs to 1960s. (Boulding, 1956, 1964).1 compete? Post-humans in this definition could be a While these two examples may seem extreme, symbiosis of human and artificial intelligence, let’s look at two examples that have become or uploaded consciousnesses, or the result of commonplace in today’s society. making many smaller but cumulatively

profound technological augmentations to a biological human such as shown in the table  Smart calculators (and smartphones) below. connected to the web are used to solve math or statistics problems in high Table 1. Human Augmentations school and college classes around the world. Genetic Engineering Psychopharmacology Life Extension Neural Interfaces  Digital cameras and similar technology Therapies linked to smartphones gather Advanced Memory-enhancing Drugs information about images we see in Information Management Tools everyday life and provide meta-data on Wearable or Cognitive Techniques time, date, location, etc. Implanted Computers Unlike the nameless, faceless cog in the great machine concept popularized in science fiction As you can see from Table 1, this concept of (think Borg Collective from Star Trek™), integrated post-humanism is less science Integrated Culture defines a world in which fiction, and more a function of today’s each component is capable of independent biological and technical advances. However, action, but is also connected to a greater whole, we are just starting to deal with the cultural which makes available data, information, knowledge and/or wisdom to the individual module at the request of the module. (see 1 For more background on Boulding’s ideas, see Savoie, 2016 for more discussion) Boulding, Kenneth Ewart (1910-1993) in the Biographical Dictionary of American Economists, edited This concept goes far beyond the command and by Ross B. Emmett, London: Thoemmes, 2006, pp. 73- control structure so prevalent in today’s 79. Available online at http://www2.york.psu.edu/~dxl31/research/otherstuff/bo network and takes into the world of intelligent ulding2.html networks, where decisions are made throughout

ISSN: 1690-4524 SYSTEMICS, CYBERNETICS AND INFORMATICS VOLUME 18 - NUMBER 7 - YEAR 2020 91 the network and the human become another What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains. element (arguably the most important element) (Carr, 2011) in the system.

3. WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? 2. EXAMPLE OF INTEGRATED CULTURE Quite simply this means that a new framework The concept of Integrated Culture is a not new, – Integrated Culture – based on internet but has evolved and grown over time. Today’s standards and human creativity is needed. smartphone is a great example of an integrated Integrated Culture allows a wider and possibly culture device. As of today (and we recognize richer view of ourselves in the world. that this may soon change) your phone cannot If humans are now part of the system, rather drive your car. You, on the other hand, do not than the end user, what do we bring to the have the ability to map out a route in your head table? Rather than debating “artificial to a place you’ve never been. But combine the intelligence” and whether the internet is alive, phone with the human and if you want to go to maybe what we are really seeing is the melding an address you’ve never heard of, you simply of human creativity with the common platform type or talk the address into your phone and it of the internet – thus creating a new man- gives you a map or, if you want, turn by turn machine composite capable of significant navigation that takes you directly to the advances beyond what either could achieve location. You can even use apps that navigate alone. you around traffic accidents and road construction. This new integrated culture needs further exploration and understanding if it is to yield This is a great example of the merging of positive results, such as major advances in human and internet. The phone is not just a treatments of diseases and elimination of global connection between the internet and end user. problems such as poverty, starvation, and Instead it allows the capabilities of the internet pandemics. If we don’t gain this understanding (specifically GPS and traffic information) to of this new culture, the concern is the opposite. work symbiotically with us (as we drive the We may see a world increasing run by vehicle). Together, this ecosystem of human machines, with less freedom, less liberty, less and machine achieves a goal that neither access to food, water, and medicine. A global module (human or internet) alone could system that utilizes the digital divide to expand achieve. We – humans – are now part of the the differences between the “haves” and the network. “have nots”.

It is important to recognize that how humans While we like to say that the future is up to us, interact with technology has changed over the the definition of “us” is changing. By years. The issue is not that the internet has understanding the concept of Integrated Culture become our equal, but rather has the internet and recognizing how this symbiotic become such an integral part of our daily lives relationship is changing the world we live in, that our culture – who we are - is being affected we can direct our future more toward the by it and to what extent. As we continue to positive results of this new culture. create devices that blur the line between what is “us” and what is “the internet,” the idea of symbiosis – the merging of man and internet - becomes more and more real. A great read on the physiological effects of consistent internet use is Nicholas Carr’s book The Shallows:

92 SYSTEMICS, CYBERNETICS AND INFORMATICS VOLUME 18 - NUMBER 7 - YEAR 2020 ISSN: 1690-4524