“Alone Together” – Technology and Human Interaction

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Desire for Companionship
Embracing Technology
Time Wasting and Technology
Conclusion
Works Cited

Introduction

Technology continues to define several aspects of human life. People are required to constantly evaluate their position in relation to the endless revolution of this phenomenon. The author of the current essay reviews this issue from the perspective of Sherry Turkle’s “Alone Together: Why we expect more from Technology and Less from Each Other”. The essay examines the reasons why people have embraced the virtual world of technology. Turkle opines that such a move is associated with a number of benefits (7). However, it is also important to watch out for its various shortcomings (Turkle 7).

The current paper revolves around one major thesis statement. To this end, it is noted that separating humans from information and communication technology (ICT) is catastrophic. The author examines the impacts of ICT on individuals in relation to the desire for companionship and time wastage. Turkle identifies the issue of conformity to technology (12). In light of this, the author of this paper analyzes how people conform to technological changes while dealing with opposition.

Desire for Companionship

Human beings are social creatures. As such, socializing is a common phenomenon in the community. However, increased economic activities have taken up most of the time that people use to socialize. Turkle argues that ICT can be used to meet the social demands of individuals (17). Many people associate technology with utopia. There are those who would love to go out to social places and be happy, but lack the time to do so. Such people may end up on such social sites as Facebook. The platform offers them the chance to socialize and maintain a professional lifestyle at the same time.

Companionship is a complicated occurrence in many societies. Turkle holds that technology exists for the sole purpose of making life easy (90). Consequently, dating sites have emerged to help people meet their soul mates. People who are shy tend to express themselves better through a virtual interface than in person. As a result, technology meets the undying need for companionship in the society.

Embracing Technology

Technology is like a revolution. Turkle is of the opinion that advancements in this field are inevitable (7). The inevitability raises the question of how the society should respond to the change. Turkle makes reference to the young generation, which has fully embraced technology (66). The same is evident in the numerous hardware and software designed to suit the emerging trends of the 21^st century. However, Turkle creates the impression that technology has adverse effects on the society. Such impacts are evident among members of the old generation. The group is fixated on the potential vagaries of ICT.

Accepting the unavoidable nature of technology is a sure way of embracing its existence in the society. For instance, ICT has made it possible to conduct cashless transactions (Turkle 34). The security of such commercial undertakings is assured by advancements in this field. There are several ways through which technology can be used to promote the welfare of members of the community. Focusing on the negative aspects of this phenomenon will not stop its actualization. On the contrary, opposition will only delay its adoption.

Time Wasting and Technology

As mentioned earlier in this paper, ICT may constitute a significant part of an individual’s social life. Turkle observes that many people spend a lot of time on social sites. The development can be attributed to the allure of technology (Turkle 173). Time wasting is evident in workplaces where individuals may focus more on virtual interactions at the expense of their job. Such scenarios are common in schools and homes.

Self discipline is needed to ensure that people do not ‘over-indulge’ in technology. Unfortunately, Turkle fails to illustrate some of the approaches that can be used to save time and avert this problem. Such a scenario gives critics the impetus they need to argue against adoption of technology. Today, a number of job openings are advertized online. Such occupations require individuals to spend time on the internet. To an outsider, a person engaged in such tasks may appear to be wasting time.

Time is a non-renewable resource. As such, tactics that can be used to manage it should be made clear to deal with incidences of wastage. In school and work settings, internet connectivity should filter out unwanted material to ensure maximum productivity. Turkle attributes wastage to overreliance on virtual technology (201). However, this observation should not be misunderstood to imply that the problem cannot be rectified. Proper measures can be put in place to guarantee effective usage of time.

Conclusion

Technology, as illustrated in this paper, is part of human life. According to Turkle, human interactions are affected by this occurrence (233). Turkle points out that ICT has both negative and positive impacts on people. However, the text fails to highlight the dangers of neglecting its adoption. The current essay finds that boycott is not the best way to deal with the negative impacts.

Works Cited

Turkle, Sherry. Alone Together: Why we expect more from Technology and Less from Each Other, New York: Basic Books, 2013. Print.

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“Alone Together” – Technology and Human Interaction

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