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  Tyshaun, 10 Jan 2006 @ 7:12pm

  
  

  disconnected connections...

  I work as a software engineer and my fellow technogeeks always seem to buy the latest greatest gadgets. The latest iPod, the new HDTV, whatever. I try to resist and only get those things I need in order to do my job or otherwise get by. My feeling had always been there's nothing wrong with technology except that it seems that so many people are plugging into the machines and plugging out of interpersonal relationships. I dunno, to me IM chat just isn't the same as a cup of coffee and a nice conversation. I hope that as technology marches on we don't use it as a replacement for humanity.

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    Regina Lynn, 10 Jan 2006 @ 9:16pm

    
    

    Re: disconnected connections...

    I don't think we will use it as a replacement for humanity, not in the long term. We're still figuring out where all our tech fits into our lives and our relationships but in the end, most people will gravitate toward a balance between tech-enabled and face-to-face companionship. What's happening now is the ability to try out all kinds of relating with people in all kinds of places, not confined to your personal geography. Eventually that settles out and the distinction between online and offline interaction becomes almost meaningless -- it'll all just be part of relating, with pros and cons in each. What's great is that people are no longer constrained to relating in ways that others, or even the majority, consider "superior" or "right." Text, audio, video, real-time or asynchronous or in person, it all has a place and each of us can find our own comfort level.

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    Tidybol, 11 Jan 2006 @ 10:06pm

    
    

    Re: disconnected connections...

    I respect your well founded concern that we lose our humanity as we drown ourselves in the technology blitz. But, just take a look at your local headlines. Dont you think we lost our humanity a while ago ?? We just seem to live under the pretense of humanity.

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  fuzzix, 11 Jan 2006 @ 5:39am

  
  

  Without a doubt...

  ...the worst aspect of ubiquitous mobile technology is not how it effects the user - that's their choice - it's how it effects innocent bystanders who have to hear the tinny rattle of poor quality iPod cans and, worse, ring tones.
  Oh, ring tones... How I yearn for death when I'm aurally accosted by a poorly digitised movie quote, repetitive zero-bass dance track or some awful novelty squaeking.
  I once had a dream about being present at that board meeting all those years ago where one coked up exec clenched his teeth and spat "Let's make them play tunes!" ...I'm there with a baseball bat... I make mince-meat of his head and ask "Any questions?"

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  joey, 11 Jan 2006 @ 6:26am

  
  

  Eliminate Gadget addiction

  That way we can go back to our houses after work and sit down, drink a beer and watch TV like our parents did before us.
  
  Wasn't life so much easier back then, with no MP3's or MP4 videos?
  
  that way you had to sit through commercials, forced to watch the commercial for a new LP, and had to go buy it.
  
  and EULA? Shoot! unless you had a turntable at work or in the car, you HAD to listen to it at home.
  
  Ah the old days....

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    Road, 11 Jan 2006 @ 8:29am

    
    

    Re: Eliminate Gadget addiction

    The technology isn't the issue. There will always be sheep in the world that buy everything that there told to buy watch everything there told to watch and so on and so forth. Not only that but there will always be that anti social guy that has more fun surfing the net and dating Virtual woman on his computer more then he likes going to a bar and talking to a real woman. These people have always been around in one way or another it's just more prevelent because the popluation is larger and we've given those anti social individuals a voice through the internet. I do IT for a living and yes I spend quit a bit of time on a computer every day and I know about all the new technology and do have a few nice toys of my own but when works over I have another life that doesn't invole AIM or email or text messaging (well maybe a little text messaging lol) It boils down to what kind of a person you are not the technology...

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  Kevin, 11 Jan 2006 @ 8:34pm

  
  

  Technology is not neutral

  It has become de rigueur to say "technology is neutral, and whether it is good or bad depends on how it is used." But, like the similar fallacy of "guns don't kill people" it is simply wrong (and tiresome). The very existence of a technology changes the landscape of possibilities. Some technologies have built-in biases. To say technology is neutral closes off an important avenue of discussion.

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