Caroline+Tucker++inquiry

A topic I'd really love to delve into is an inquiry on the Aborigines of Australia. This would tie in nicely with the Australia unit studied in 7th grade Social Studies. I'm so fascinated by these people and how they've survived with virtually no contact with the outside world and no technology. It would be interesting to compare with the progress-crazed lifestyles we've created in the United States. I also don't know as much as I'd like about the history and culture of Australia. I would enjoy learning about the continent's political, social, and economic background. More specifically, I could investigate the foundation and development of the continent so I could understand how and why things are the way they are today.

With technology on the upswing in nearly every corner of the globe, how have the Aborigines of Australia not only avoided technology, but also survive without it?

What advantages do the Aborigines of Australia hold due to their lack of communication with the outside world?

Or...should I look into uncontacted tribes in South America? A couple years ago, pictures were captured of one of these tribes and I still recall the images of these people painted blue and orange firing arrows at the airplane overhead. This relates to my previous idea of exploring people whose lifestyles don't require technology or communication when, in the US we are so dependent on both.

After speaking with Dr. Lee, I have narrowed my search and ideas. I'd like to research groups and countries that don't utilize technology and compare consequences and resulting perceptions due to this decision or condition. There are several categories: 1. Infrastructure doesn't exist (ie Eskimos) 2. Have access to technology, reject it (Amish) 3. Are unaware of technology (Uncontacted tribes of South America, indigenous tribes of Australia) 4. Very poor, cannot afford technological updates (Port au Prince; India) 5. Dictatorship/communism (North Korea doesn't allow internet)

These could also be grouped into categories such as political, religious/cultural/social, economic, geographical reasons for not using technology.

I'm not sure if I will include all of these. I will need to begin by defining "technology." I will conduct interviews for primary sources, such as my grandparents or their Amish neighbors. I can also speak to my mother who traveled to India a couple summers ago and witnessed the slums firsthand. I will then supplement these narratives with secondary sources, such as scholarly articles.

//Possible question: Technology is ever-evolving and constantly growing. Or is it? Squeezed in between the areas of overwhelming change are pockets of people and groups who do not use the technology with which many of us are so familiar. How did this decision or condition affect groups around the globe and what are the resulting perceptions?//


 * 1st person resources:**

Mom Grandparents Uncle or cousin- lived in South Korea


 * 2nd person resources:**

Amish: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org.www.lib.ncsu.edu:2048/xpls/abs_all.jsp?arnumber=4233104&tag=1 http://web.ebscohost.com.www.lib.ncsu.edu:2048/ehost/detail?vid=2&hid=107&sid=57d54594-316c-445b-b822-c3372aae7ab2%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=9602161008 http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=bqXBoC4kjKgC&oi=fnd&pg=PA183&dq=amish+technology&ots=e8MQmm0tmf&sig=ll1tAUvGPnR39juNlgNhJY6y38s#v=onepage&q=amish%20technology&f=false

North Korea: []

Rough Drafts:



Final Products: media type="youtube" key="8Vbd8DP8Or8?fs=1" height="385" width="480"