Final answer:
Susan Hamly's use of irony likely suggests a critical view of technology, which can highlight disparities and alienation despite its potential benefits. Technology is portrayed as both a symbol of progress for technophiles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of irony by authors like Susan Hamly often suggests a cautious or critical attitude towards technology. Irony can be seen as a way to emphasize the potential pitfalls of technological advancements, such as the alienation or social inequality that might result from uneven access to technology. This technique might be used to highlight the contrast between the promise of technology to enhance life and the potential for it to contribute to greater social division or a sense of isolation.
Indeed, in the texts that discuss the use of technology, there is often a theme that access to technology can lead to greater opportunities. This is seen in the positive portrayal of technophiles who embrace technology for a brighter future. Conversely, the presence of Neo-Luddites indicates a significant group that resists technology due to the negative aspects it symbolizes.
Furthermore, the social implications of technology, as expressed in the symbolic interactionism theory, reflect on how technology is seen as a status symbol or, in some cases, a sign of alienation. These contrasting views contribute to the nuanced discussion about the role of technology in modern life and help shape the messages that writers like Hamly convey through their use of irony.