Technology and Culture

While driving to Foothill College to attend my English class, a friend called me at my cell phone to ask me about our plans for the weekend. I hesitated to answer the call since I was busy driving; however, I really needed to talk to my friend to work out the details of our weekend trip to Napa. While on the phone with my friend, I received a second call. This time it was from my boss. I knew that I needed to answer that call, since we were doing a major software release, and problems at work needed my attention. I told my friend that my boss was on the other line, and I had to call him back in a few minutes. While answering my boss’ call, a text message from my wife arrived asking me if I was going to make it home for dinner. All these tasks happened within a period of one minute. Suddenly, I encounter myself distracted and confused in a world of technological advancements that have changed my way of life.

Technological advancements have shaped our culture in many different ways. We no longer feel the need to distinguish between work and fun. We can toggle between them as often as needed and make them look seamless. This way of life is now possible thanks to new advancement in mobile technology that allows us to be flexible. We can use our cell phone to conduct business, at the same time that we talk to our friends and family. We can be informed about the latest Down Jones movements in real time. Stock and financial transactions can be accomplished from our own cell phone. Business deals can be done at the same time as the Sharks scores are being delivery directly to our finger tips. All this toggling has allowed us to “blurry” the line between work and fun. At a moment notice we can be working, or not.

New technologies have allowed us to be more flexible in how we conduct business and personal life. However, flip-flapping between work and fun is affecting people’s focus and attention to detail. Robert Samuel stated on his essay, “Breaking Down Borders,” that “new technological devices absorb people to the point that they forget what they are supposed be doing.” In other words, what might seem seamlessly between work and fun is not as flawlessly as previously suggested. For instance, last year, one of the worst train accidents occurred in LA while the train operator was using his cell phone on duty. The California commuter train ran a red light and slammed into a freight train killing 25 people and 130 others were injured. This could have been prevented if the train operator concentrated on his job instead of “inter-mixing” work and fun.

In the essay, “The Judgment of Thamus”, Neil Postman makes the argument that “every technology is both a burden and a blessing.” I agree with the statement that Postman makes. People tend to only appreciate the “ups” of technology, but never the “downs” of it. For instance, the Internet is one of the most innovative advancements in technology of our current civilization. The internet has allowed us to connect with the world in ways that were unthinkable before. We can instantly email a friend around the world and read major news information. We can establish friendships in social sites and join MUD’s (Multiple-User Domains).

However, we never question ourselves the “down” side of technology. According to Kalle Lans of Culture Jam, “there lies a world where most human beings are simply incapable of experiencing the emotions that life ought to evoke.” He is suggesting that we sometimes spend more time on the interactive cyberspace “connecting” with other people, than in our own real lives with family and friends. He argues that as of result, we are incapable of experiencing the emotions that life can provide for us.

Although we are connected thanks to the Internet, the question is, are we really connected? For example, Facebook is a social site that allows friends to connect with each other and share personal information. At first, this social-connection can seem great because it allows users to connect with lost friends from high school or college. However, there are many down sides to Facebook. I often tell my own Facebook friends that I don’t need to call them anymore because, thanks to status updates feature, I know everything about their life. As of result, I have lost the human touch of many of my relationships. I no longer go out for coffee or interact physically and emotionally with them. My interaction skills are not as sharp as before Facebook’s existence.

Neil Postman mentioned in his essay “The Judgment of Thamus” that “one significant change generates total change”. He argues that when a “new technology is introduced into a culture, it is important that we think critically about it, if we are going to live with it”. Without any doubt advancements in technology have changed our way of life. However, as Postman suggests, we need to weight in the good and bad and truly address how technology alter our behavior as a society.