I read “The Technosphere: Man/Machine Symbiosis” in the Gene
Youngblood text. This chapter spoke on the man’s right to be unique and the
relationship between man and machine. Some key items mentioned in the text were
the evolution of leisure and how computers are used in society. There is an
ongoing debate on whether computers make leisure a problem or if our culture is
one that demands leisure. I believe that it matters on which way you are using
computers. Although some may argue that playing video games all day is still
productive because they are therapeutic, improve motor skills, improve vision,
etc., I would argue that this form of computing makes leisure a problem.
Playing games and aimlessly surfing the Internet all day only becomes a problem
when it takes over one’s life and keeps a person from benefitting society.
Another interesting point of view that Youngblood had was that computers change
the meaning of life. He stated that we must learn how to live all over again
and intelligent machines are beginning to dominate man. I agree to some extent.
Society as a whole is becoming lazy when it comes to using our brains. We live
in a country today where it is very easy to just “Google” an answer to a
question rather than find a book or person to track down information. Why would
you scramble through several books for hours in a library when you can easily
search for an answer in a matter of seconds online? There are certain benefits
to both. While searching on the Internet may be faster, you will be able to
learn more in depth about a topic by doing research in the Library.
1 comment:
I agree with what you are saying Milton. From my musician's perspective, when I had to learn a new piece of music growing up in the late 70s and early 80s, I had to go to a music store, order the music, wait for a couple of weeks, go pick it up, and then begin the process. Computers have changed all of that. As a teacher, I can send an mp3 recording and attach a PDF of the sheet music to my student in seconds and the learning process begins immediately. It is all in how we are using this technology to further our knowledge and lifestyle. I need some surf time to relax or dumb things down after a long day, etc. It has stunted our social skills as a society in recent generations but this is part of the results of growth of technology versus growth of the intellectual or not so intellectual...
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