CCT205-Lab4

"Alone Together": An MIT Professor's New Book Urges Us to Unplug

The days of writing and mailing letters are over. Why write a letter when you can send a text message or email in seconds? Technology has revolutionized human interaction and social connection. The transformation into a fast pace, business driven society demanded efficient and far-reaching technology. This technology spread from the workplace into our everyday, family lives. Cell phones, emails and social networking sites all seem primeval. I agree with Turkle, technology is precious, but finding a balance is important.

The prevalence of technology has created a widespread dependency due to the social networking capabilities. Everyone is connecting, forming identities and joining communities. Technology provides so many new ways to accomplish this, but it has also caused a constant craving for validation from others. Turkle talks about how we don’t know how to be alone anymore. If we’re not connected somehow we’re lonely. Socialization and interaction is a natural desire, but technology has made it so easy and accessible that one many question whether these interactions are frivol. Turkle says, “I think there are ways in which we're constantly communicating and yet not making enough good connections.”

Technology has many positive social results. We have the ability to connect with our friends and family on a larger level than ever before. Many of the people we stay connected with are directly because of the Internet; its a great tool. It can be nice to unplug and remove ourselves from the demands of fast pace society and technology, but what’s more important is finding a balance. This way we can enjoy the benefits without becoming slaves to our phones and computers. Technology helps reinforce human interaction, but we should not allow it to replace it. We need to value face-to-face interaction more than simulated and virtual interaction.

lol @ the old school phone and the days that this all started!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5uPHr65QV0