A Broken Connection

   The age of books, letters, and real conversations is coming to a close. That is, these things are becoming less common. With the rapid advance of technology, people are finding ways to connect with machines and devices rather than human beings. Sherry Turkle focuses on the development of technology and how people are adapting a need for constant connection to technology in her presentation Connected but Alone?. This generation has become so afraid of being alone that they isolate themselves, relying on technology to meet their emotional needs. This might be a bit of an exaggeration for a lot of people, but Sherry shows the evidence of this reliability on machines rather than people in subtle but common ways. One thing I cannot stand is when you are spending time with a friend who waists the entire time on their Smartphone texting or accessing Facebook and such. Is my company not good enough? Is there something this person would rather be doing, someone they'd rather hang out with? It opens up a whole list of insecurities. Now I admit it, I'm not completely innocent of this, but for the most part I avoid this practice. Texting during class, a meeting, or even a family gathering is one example that this generation feels the need to be connected to the world at all times. People are afraid of being alone, of not being heard. Posting thoughts on Facebook or twitter can make someone feel like they are being listened to. Has this generation of technology consumers become so attached, so needy, that they can't trust in their own species to be there for them? Sherry Trukle talks about a women, who had lost a baby, having a conversation with a robotic seal that looked as if it was listening to her, tilting its head and batting its eyes. The women felt that the seal was showing empathy towards her, though, she knew it was just a machine, she was seeking that false empathy. That machine wasn't listing to her, it didn't care because it couldn't care. It didn't know pain, suffering, life, or death. People seek a false feeling of empathy, praise, or the sense that someone is listening. Terrified of being alone, we are isolated. Terrified of not being heard, and no one hears us. This progression of technology is degrading the ability for two human beings to relate, understand, and really know each other. There is nothing wrong with technology, it's the users that need to make an effort to take advantage of the presence of family and friends, to put down the phone and get to know the people in their lives. This generation needs to expect less from technology and more from people, to stop being "alone together", and start connecting with the human race.