Flight n' Crisis

The Flight from conversation by Turkle and The Crisis of Significance by Wesch share a theme evolving around how technology has impacted human interaction.   The flight leads to the disconnection felt with one another in any environment whether social, or academic.  The crisis begins when the search for meaning and inspiration remains unfulfilled for periods of time which may seem an eternity. 

In Flight from Conversation, Turkle claims conversations are sacrificed for mere connections when families and friends sit together, text.  This new art of “being alone together” has enabled us to be with one another and also elsewhere. Consequently, we end up hiding from one another as we connect to one another.  The author points out how technology is advancing to  look for ways to make artificial intelligence with more human like qualities.  This reminds me of a movie, Her  2013, based on a main character, Theodore who is recently divorced and finds himslef alone.  He invests in the latest technology,  a program for an Operating System designed specifically for him.   Eventually, he becomes emotionally and intellectually attached to Samantha, the operating system and its human like qualities.  However, the intellectual stimulus is no longer sufficient to satisfy Theodore.  He needs more.  Theodore needs companionship in the way that Samantha could not provide.  In our rush to connect, Turkle asserts we flee from solitude, but fail to experience people as they are.  

In Crisis of Significance, Wesch states that the physical structure of the classroom does not inspire dialogue and critical thinking.  His focus is on managing the environment.  He describes his auditorium-like class, as a sterile environment of neatly lined-up seats all facing a massive stage.  The podium, housed a computer with him as the focal point instead of the students.  

As the ad states, let's disconnect to reconnect.