Deconstruction embodies a philosophy of determining the core of something by chipping away facades and superficial, extraneous elements to arrive at its essence. Though the definitions of this are ambiguous and the interpretations varied, the word itself is fairly straightforward: to de-construct is to un-construct, or to take apart. Some people interpret this as synonymous with "destroy" or destruction. This is not entirely correct; after all, taking something apart is a great way of understanding how it works -- this is the crux of "reverse engineering." However, there are times when taking something apart will, in fact, destroy it by shattering the illusion of what it is purported to be. If something is actually all fluff and no substance, then shredding that gossamer veil may reveal the ugly truth beneath: it is smoke and mirrors, all sales pitch or rhetoric without any actual substantive value. Unlike destruction, however, something beneficial has actually been created: the opening of eyes to see reality. In other words, a revelation of truth.
This approach to deconstruction will be the basis for my evaluation and critique of technologies, especially in the realm of popular electronics. In these analyses, the inevitable goal is to flush mere hype down the drain, to remove the marketing wool from your eyes, to strip away the layers of sparkle and flash until we are left with only the naked core of the matter... its nucleus... its soul.
I have no doubt that such an approach may come across as abrasive or acerbic. I predict I will sometimes be perceived as a killjoy, pessimist, perfectionist, or even a nihilist. But, in the end, the ugly must be brought to light if we are to find the beauty. The purposes of the criticisms in this blog are to: (a) allow people to make better decisions; (b) reduce the ills and burdens imposed on society by ineffective policies and widespread misconceptions of technology; (c) inspire people to innovate and improve upon these technologies.
To sum up: We will deconstruct the present in order to construct a better future.
