First of all, thanks for all the responses. I'm glad that I'm not the only person that has these inklings that all is not well in the era of the techno-takeover... I like the ring of that, that term already taken Ted? Well anyways....
I'd like to start off with a quote from Neil Postman which i really believe sums up one aspect of my thoughts and maybe what Sarah and Jenna are alluding to--
"The uncontrolled growth of [communications] technology destroys the vital sources of our humanity. It creates a culture without moral foundation. It undermines certain mental processes and social relations that make human life worth living."
When the day comes- and it will unless some things change (like me being the supreme ruler of the galaxy!)- that people rely entirely upon digital technology for communication, when we absolutely ignore all those physically around us unless they are using the same technology.... will we still be considered humans?
Now this far-fetched (or not so far-fetched) idea of mine (and others) brings me to Ted's questions: "why is convenience bad? How does technology contribute to it? How, then, does technology promote conditions that support laziness? "
Convenience isn't bad per-se, but like everything else there is a balance:
Lets be honest here, if i didn't have a remote control for my TV, I would turn it on, find the first channel that appealed to me, sit my lazy ass down on the couch and watch that channel (stupid subway commercials and all) until I was bored of the TV, really wanted to change the channel, or that stupid subway monkey drove me homicidal. Thankfully i own a remote control, and i haven't killed anybody over my pathological hatred for the subway advertisers. But I digress......The advent of the remote control and other devices like it (any real-time comm. tech.), not only breeds the conception that switching our focus is as easy and convenient as the "flick of a switch" and requiring minimal physical manipulation, but this expectation also becomes a standard demand on all future technologies.
The advent of portable digital communication devices are the product of this. As we have discusses in class, all the lines that society has constructed are being blurred: you can be somewhere, but not physically there. Convenient huh? Sure it enables us to be more efficient and effective, but to what ends??? So we can create more technology that makes things more efficient and effective and convenient? So we can be efficient and effective while conversing with friends, so we can be efficient and effective while pondering our lives or the meaning of life itself? I don't even have time around all this digital saturation to ponder the meaning of life anymore... not to mention it has apparently already been answered: to be efficient and effective.... and convenient.
When McLuhan says "The medium is the message"... the message is that we value convenience over all else. And where is the balance to that?
Lazy expectations that everything should be easy, that everyone is always and readily available, and more frighteningly, a laize-farre approach to the direction that technology is leading us... as long as it makes life "easier" . And Jesse ( sorry to pick on you) when you say that, " I think it's another way to connect" I would have to disagree with you and say its just a way to disconnect from the things that are really important, and essential, in this world, and distracting all the while. We should start asking some questions before our porty-digi-tech has us completely distracted.
However, allow me to finish on a bright note, and another quote from the MC of the comm. world and say, "There is absolutely no inevitability as long as there is a willingness to contemplate what is happening."and contemplate i will... until heroes is on... or the canucks game... or.... you get the idea.
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3 comments:
There is no doubt that the borders of technology is breaching on elements of society we hold dear. As the lines begin to blur into a gray-zone, there is a real struggle in establishing order and hints to a battle between the real and the reproduced that has already begun.
Reproduction of reality. The translation of tasks into programmable silicon. Technology today enables us to video conference, when a proper shindig was also an option. No need to drive to the bank, getting there is no more than a tab away. Even away from the computer you can have your emails and Blackberries to go. It's true, this little cultural revolution is starting to get intrusive. Though one must say, growth since the first personal PC (SIMON in 1950) has been tremendous.
Despite tremendous growth and the assimilation of our world, it has offered us outlets for creativity unlike any other. If you can picture the internet has a giant qualitative survey of humanity you can begin to imagine what I'm trying to say.
Almost every nuance of human behavior has some form of representation on the internet (I guess that explains the porn). Even though the representations are transcribed onto a 2D interface, it is driven by a conscious force. So to answer your question, of us being considered human when are lives are entirely plugged in (Matrix?), is a most definite yes. Like Matrix, it is merely a displacement of our consciousness. However, there is no means as of now to completely reproduce the complexities of real human interaction. The emotions involved are almost beyond description. How can we algorithmically replicate a sense of occasion? It seems frugal to take the side of technophobia. Technology is going to happen no matter what; however, there is no inclination for it to replace face to face interaction in the near future.
I do not see Granville night-life ending anytime soon.
There is symbolic meaning when pictures are taken with other people. The idea of a shared moment in reality is becoming increasingly novel, as more of our social tasks mediated through wires. So maybe the return to orality may not be mediated on the internet, instead be guided by the shortcomings of the technological experience.
Immediate observable short comings of the internet include the raw amount of data available for people to view. There's way too much of it. So much data that much of it is wrong or incorrect. As informative as the internet is, not a lot of university/college level courses accept websites as legitimate sources. As data continues pouring freely onto the internet; without any regulating force our internet can very well become a junkyard for information. When that time comes, I'm sure a switch of momentum towards orality isn't out of the picture.
Technology is a cultural phenomenon that is very premature. You can say we are encountering the terrible two's where technology starts deciding everything is his (or her...) for the taking. I agree that we are becoming more disconnected, but it is inevitable it will stop at some point where balance is struck. Where definite lines will be drawn for what is acceptable for technological reproduction, and where reality must be maintained to uphold authenticity.
I have mild disagreement with Postman's view on the lack of moral foundation as a side-effect for uncontrolled growth. With the internet quickly becoming the norm (first world nations of course), there is an increase in maturity. The internet is a real tool, not just a place for belligerence. People use it day in and day out, and this results in the establishment of online ethics. Most forums are now monitored by server masters. Profane comments can now be voted off the board if enough negative votes are cast. Social rules inscribed in society have heavy influences on acceptable online behavior; along with it come morals.
Unfortunately, morals concerning an individual and its habitat are about to be shaken up. People maybe less aware of community events, and that's already an understatement; people may not even care. I'm not going to get too deep on this one, but if you are interested, go check out Shadi's blog: Life After God. There is a post that provides links to social network sites based on location.
It's interesting to note that technology does have the potential to right its own wrongs. Of course, "potential" being the operative word. For now, all we can do is get real liberal, and shout loudly at the elitist agenda. And for the first time in history, we can actually shout loud enough to be heard.
I pretty much agree with all that, with two exceptions:
"For now, all we can do is get real liberal, and shout loudly at the elitist agenda. And for the first time in history, we can actually shout loud enough to be heard."... you should ask the French nobility about that one. However that is besides my point, which I'm not quite sure if you directly hit on. Allow me to elaborate:
When you state "there is no means as of now to completely reproduce the complexities of real human interaction. The emotions involved are almost beyond description. How can we algorithmically replicate a sense of occasion? It seems frugal to take the side of technophobia. Technology is going to happen no matter what; however, there is no inclination for it to replace face to face interaction in the near future.
I do not see Granville night-life ending anytime soon."
Of course technology is going to progress, that is human nature. What worries me is the direction in which it is progressing. I realize this is a fairly deterministic outlook, but the advent of the portable digital device breeds a culture in which the physical connection is not valued. These portable devices are essentially telling us that physical contact is not only not needed but in order to be efficient and effective, not wanted.
While Granville Street will still be a happenin place for the forseeable future, portable devices are gradually leading us a way from such cultural hubs. Instead of rewarding yourself with a night of drink, dance and physical bonding, the digital world offers it own rewards. If you look at the popularity of games such as World of Warcraft, millions of people are endlessly entertained by this replication of occassion, so maybe "they" aren't as far off as you think.
If you can satisfy all your social needs while being plugged in, why ever unplug? Well because you need to go grocery shopping or empty your bed pan... and for those incredibly inconveniant instances (those trips back to nature): Ipod to the rescue! You never have to be without your digital Saviour and deal with the heathen organic world!
Its almost as if my multifunction, multimedia cell phone is my Bible, and everything i perceive has to be interperitated through it. Instead of confessing our sins to a priest, upload them to facebook. Instead of a promised heaven after a lifetime of hardwork and good deeds, we are rewarded with constant mediocre entertainment and access to it in every perceivable way.
Major catch, and I believe this is exactly what Postman was talking about. Any emotion I have ever experienced generated from or thru a digital medium absolutely pales in comparison to its physical rendition. I don't care how good you are at MLB 2K8 you can't play baseball unless there is leather in your hand.
Portable devices and the encompasing technologies do not value physical interaction and real organic emotions. Slowly our perceptions will follow suit, and then one day these qualities are going to be left out of an update. That is what worries me about the path they are leading us down.
A Teleological (The use of ultimate purpose or design as a means of explaining phenomena- dictionary.com) approach of portable digitable devices is essentially what I'm after.
What is the Telos of the I-phone?
We'll touch back on this later on...I'm not sure if I'm physically able to communicate like this anymore. It's so time consuming. I wonder if we can just post video comments. Cause i feel that would be more informative.
I really hate this format of commenting....it almost limits it into bits of information. This box is tiny. Why can't this application be the same as posts...possibly a social blog
cause that would be pretty cool.
Hmmm....Social blogs. I was thinking about this one while writing my first response. I haven't done any actual searching on the internet but I feel it would be a fun one. Think of a facebook group but blog style. A limited audience...
Anyway...I hate this box.
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