IB Theory of Knowledge Topic 2.1.1 How Tech Changes What We Know Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Theory of Knowledge Topic 2.1.1 How Tech Changes What We Know Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Technology Changes What Counts as Knowledge

You probably think you're using technology to access information that already exists but that's not what's actually happening.
Let me give you a concrete example.
Your grandmother learned to cook by watching. She tasted failed attempts, developing muscle memory.
This created a particular type of knowledge, something embodied, intuitive, and learned through repetition and failure.
You on the other hand, learn to cook by watching YouTube videos, reading recipe reviews, following step-by-step instructions optimized by thousands of users.

Tip

Example

This is the same goal, but you're developing a completely different type of knowledge.
Something curated, optimized, crowd-sourced.

Quantification Changes What We Think We Know

Before fitness trackers existed, walking was just moving your body from one place to another.
Now walking is data: steps, pace, heart rate, calories burned, route optimization, sleep quality impact.
The activity hasn't changed, but what we think we know about walking has been completely transformed.

Example

Your grandmother might say "I feel energized after my morning walk."
You say "I still haven't hit my 10k steps today and the 3.2 mph elevated my heart rate to the fat-burning zone for only 23 minutes."

Note

This is happening everywhere.
Mental health apps quantify mood through daily check-ins and behavioral patterns.
Relationships get evaluated through social media interaction metrics.

Prediction Becomes a New Category of Knowledge

Instead of just knowing what is, we now have systems that claim to know what will be.
Think about it: Netflix doesn't tell you what you like.
It tells you what you will like based on algorithmic predictions.
This creates an entirely new category of knowledge: probabilistic preference knowledge.

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Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Technology Changes What Counts as Knowledge

You probably think you're using technology to access information that already exists but that's not what's actually happening.
Let me give you a concrete example.
Your grandmother learned to cook by watching. She tasted failed attempts, developing muscle memory.
This created a particular type of knowledge, something embodied, intuitive, and learned through repetition and failure.
You on the other hand, learn to cook by watching YouTube videos, reading recipe reviews, following step-by-step instructions optimized by thousands of users.

Tip

Example

This is the same goal, but you're developing a completely different type of knowledge.
Something curated, optimized, crowd-sourced.

Quantification Changes What We Think We Know

Before fitness trackers existed, walking was just moving your body from one place to another.
Now walking is data: steps, pace, heart rate, calories burned, route optimization, sleep quality impact.
The activity hasn't changed, but what we think we know about walking has been completely transformed.

Example

Your grandmother might say "I feel energized after my morning walk."
You say "I still haven't hit my 10k steps today and the 3.2 mph elevated my heart rate to the fat-burning zone for only 23 minutes."

Note

This is happening everywhere.
Mental health apps quantify mood through daily check-ins and behavioral patterns.
Relationships get evaluated through social media interaction metrics.

Prediction Becomes a New Category of Knowledge

Instead of just knowing what is, we now have systems that claim to know what will be.
Think about it: Netflix doesn't tell you what you like.
It tells you what you will like based on algorithmic predictions.
This creates an entirely new category of knowledge: probabilistic preference knowledge.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

1. Core Theme: Knowledge and the Knower2 subtopics

2. Optional Themes5 subtopics

3. Areas of Knowledge5 subtopics

4. TOK Assessments2 subtopics

6. Nov 2026 TOK Titles7 subtopics

IB Theory of Knowledge 2.1.1 How Tech Changes What We Know Notes

1. Core Theme: Knowledge and the Knower2 subtopics

2. Optional Themes5 subtopics

3. Areas of Knowledge5 subtopics

4. TOK Assessments2 subtopics

6. Nov 2026 TOK Titles7 subtopics

Technology Changes What Counts as Knowledge

Quantification Changes What We Think We Know

Prediction Becomes a New Category of Knowledge

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Technology Changes What Counts as Knowledge

Quantification Changes What We Think We Know

Prediction Becomes a New Category of Knowledge

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account