Determinisms are about the 'cause and effect' relationship between different things. In our context, we're talking about technology and society. The big question here is, who's the boss - technology or society?

Technology Rules! : This perspective is like saying that technology is the head chef, stirring up the soup of history. The ingredients - culture, social structures, and history itself - are all shaped by the chief, Technology. This belief was popular with a bigwig thinker called Karl Marx. He said, “The hand-mill gives you society with the feudal lord, the steam-mill, society with the industrial capitalist.” Basically, the kind of technology we use defines the kind of society we live in. This is known as technological determinism.

Real-World Example: Let's think about our smartphones. These magical devices have transformed how we communicate, work, and even live our lives. They've shaped societies to be more connected, creating a global village where everyone's pretty much a swipe away!

Society's Got the Power! : Now, let's flip the pancake. In this view, society decides what technology will exist. It's like a bunch of people deciding on the menu for dinner. They won't choose something they don't like or need, right?

Real-World Example: Electric cars are becoming more popular as societies become more concerned about climate change. We want cleaner energy, so we create technologies that reflect this desire.