After Watching the Michael Wesch's speech, 'The Machine is (Changing) us'. I found out that it is interesting and meaningful to me. I thought about anonymity and development of technology. Recently, it is more common having conversation through on-line(like facebook or U-tube) than through face-to-face, and some people think that it is more convenient and comfortable. Michael said communication through on-line could bring hatred as public performance while it could bring freedom without fear or anxiety. Some people more easily reveal part of them which they don't want to show the people around them, and they take comfort from showing deep inside of them to the public. My first question is this, so anonymity(talking to machine) brings disconnection with people around them? and it brings new relationship with people they don't know? Can we call that as "relationship?"
According to the reading, development of technology and society are related to each other. As industrialism brings emergence of capitalism, technology sometimes lead the change of society. Then, what is next stage? What other new technologies will emerge and how can it affect our life? Technology develop gradually to artificial intelligence, and relationship between people moves from face-to-face to on-line environment, can it be a reality that machine really "using" people?
I really like your last thought about exploring what the next stage of technology is. As Heilbroner suggests in "Do Machines Make History?", he points out that technology follows a pattern, a certain sequence of development. If there is anything science fiction books can teach us, it is that people let their imaginations go wild as to the future of technology (although there are always phenomena that cannot be predicted or foreseen, such as the event of 9/11.
ReplyDeleteI am not a hardcore sci-fi fan but from what I can tell, many sci-fi books/movies are constantly predicting a world where machines & robots control humans. I guess these stories reflect a lot of our underlying fear of technology. The way I see it is that society is driving this all-powerful racecar called technology going at maximum speed, and we have this fear at the back of our heads that the wheels are going to spin out of control at any second. These sci-fi stories are here to predict what might happen if the car crashes.
Yaeji,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post. I agree with the comment above that your question about the future is interesting-- particularly for educators. We can't know what or how technology will shape the future, but we know that it is shaping the now and will continue to impact the future-- so how do we prepare students to be successful in a world we don't know yet?
In terms of your 'relationships' questions-- I think technology redefines relationships because connections happen differently. I was able to maintain a long distance relationship with my Scottish boyfriend for 2 years largely because we connected daily through Skype for free. Now he lives here and we are engaged. Our relationship would not have been possible without this technology and our ability to connect differently. In what Wesch was saying about anonymity, I thought it was interesting that with all the free-ness of talking to the youtube community there is also a big need for recognition. I doubt people would continue to vlog if they didn't think anyone was out there. So, a big motivating force, even in an anonymous vlog, is the connection to "real" others. I think it's just another example of a new communication technology jumbling up what are public and private acts of self. It's exciting.
Thanks for your post,
-Kristine
Vancouverite: I'm really huge fan of sci-fi fictions :) but recently, when I see the movie about future (like robot takes over the world), I feel sometimes I'm afraid that it can happen.
ReplyDeleteKristine: Your question- How do we prepare students to be successful in a world we don't know yet?
Well, I think the important thing is that teaching students how to manage information and how to adapt themselves to a new environment driven from all technologies than teaching the content.
Content should not be overlooked, but things change so fast!
Also, your story about relationship with your boyfriend is really interesting :) yes, I think technology did a great role in your "real" relationship.
Thanks for comment.:)