Are we living faster and faster lives, or is the world we're living in moving faster and faster, while we scramble to merely keep up? These are problems addressed in the first portion of PBS Frontline's Digital_Nation, directed and produced by Rachel Dretzin, accompanied by Douglas Rushkoff. One of the first quotes in the film, from Melissa Chapman, relates the need for connection through technology that we're faced with: "I can't imagine, I can't even imagine, being without [my blackberry]."
This isn't a strange phenomenon, of course. We're all, in some respects, wired up to the eyeballs. I asked the students in one of my classes today how long they spent online in a typical day. One student responded about 5 or 6 hours. We don't like to think it's true, and many others seemed pretty surprised to hear that number. But think about it. I use facebook, I surf blogs, I read news online, I check and write e-mails constantly, and text, all available on my handy iPhone. How often do I use technology every day? Rushkoff observed that World of Warcraft players devote an average of 10 hours a week to the game, and some people snicker when they hear that. But, really, some of us spend 10 hours a day on our digital devices without even thinking about it!
What does it mean to be wired? Are we too wired? What would that look like?
One of the big questions that Dretzin says she and Rushkoff had going into their project was just what was going on with the use of new technology, especially as it affected young people. They begin in MIT to talk about, and present, differing opinions on multi-tasking. While many of the contributors to the project viewed what they referred to as a bias in this portion of the actual film, the question is certainly raised... are we, as multitaskers, distracted?
What are your thoughts?
I think all the technology available to me definitely makes me more distracted when I, say, read a book--it takes an effort, even though I consider myself a reader, to read without glancing up every few seconds to see if something else has posted on my favorite social networking site. This twitchy-ness, while it doesn't carry over for the most part into my off-line life, affects everything connected with computers for me--I was on chat recently for a school-related activity, and found it difficult not to check some other function on my computer (a game, a social network, my e-mail) while waiting for the other chatter to respond.
ReplyDeleteI don't have a smart-phone, and I'm sure that affects how wired I am--I actually have an off-line life, but would I if I had an iPhone or a Blackberry or a Droid?
The formal definition of technology is "the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area" according to the Merriam-Webster's dictionary. The sole purpose of these advancements is to increase practicality, to make daily life more convenient, and with that in mind modern society is constantly evolving to achieve those goals. In a larger perspective, the prevalent question is no longer whether or not technology is detrimental to our society as a whole because it is redefining what is vital for survival. Rather it is a matter of time for the balance of technology and these developing skills (multi-tasking) to achieve maximum efficiency.
ReplyDeleteI like to think that we have been trying to do more mulit-tasking lately which has made it seem like the day is faster. Organization skills is definitely something you want to have in today's world. There are so many forms that there is no reason for you not to keep up with the world. It is going faster and changing at an equal pace. Are you going to keep up or just let it pass by? I like the busy and technology life I lead. You can always so no and take a weekend off. It's fun and interesting !
ReplyDeleteMulti-tasking is a big part of everyday life that we just take for granted now everyday. I wake up in the morning and before I know it I'm checking emails, the weather, and responding to some texts, all while getting dressed before class. It seems very easy to us now that we take it for granted like when we do homework and are writing a paper it only seems natural to have Facebook open while chatting with a few friends. Yet, every time I multi-task on something that is important I know that I am not performing my best.
ReplyDeleteTo try to talk about the wired question, I think what it means to be wired is to be constantly connected in some way through technology to someone else. Which sadly makes pretty much makes everyone I know a wired person. So I would agree that with anyone that thinks we are too wired. As time goes on someone younger than me knows how to do something that on a computer that I don't know how. Frankly, I'm amazed that my parents and grand-parents have figured it out as quickly as they have. I feel that we have entered into the technology era, because I can not walk down the South Oval without seeing someone on the phone or smart-phone, or when I go into Norman seeing someone younger than myself with a phone or smart-phone constantly on it. I just hope that one day technology doesn't stop working or I don't know what will happen.
Technology seems to be spreading more these days then it used to. For now, during English class there are computers available in reach, in front of every student. However, last semester my English class was just in a room with tables and chairs, and a chalkboard. I feel that people, including myself, use technology more than we think we do. For I am always checking my emails, around three to four times a day depending on the day to see whether or not I receive an email from a teacher/friend, along with sending emails to teachers/friends about different things. Technology now a days, feels as if it is something that we do without actually realizing we are doing so.
ReplyDeleteI also do try to multi-task every now and then when I need to get something done, but I will also fit in the time to talk to my friends on Facebook, and figure out if for example we are going to get together for dinner. However, I feel that these blogs that we do for class are interesting and new to me, but it only enforces the fact that we use technology more and more.
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ReplyDeleteAs a whole, our society is fast pace. When you add in technology and the rate at which it changes, this speed of life increases. We live in a world where the internet can direct us to a website within seconds. You can send a text message and the recipient will receive it within minutes. Everything is done with such speed that if you don't keep up, you will be left behind. Due to the expectancy of immediate results, our attention spans have slowly decreased over time. Waiting is not an option. If you wait, there is always someone else beating you to whatever it is you are waiting for. In the film, they showed MIT students multi-tasking while doing school work. They mentioned writing in paragraphs instead of writing an entire paper, is this because we have a shorter attention span? We feel the need to be stimulated by something different every few seconds. In my opinion, this makes it more difficult to get school work done in a reasonable manner.
ReplyDeleteAlso in the film, it talked about being addicted to the gaming or the networking sites. Most young people today are "addicted" to Facebook. I know that I, myself am and it is hard to get through an entire day without checking it. It is a link to other peoples lives, its a way to stay in touch with people all over the world. If I tried to shut down my Facebook, I would have no idea as to what was going on with the world. Several organizations that I am involved in send Facebook messages instead of emails. One weekend I didn't check my Facebook at all and I had missed so much vital information. Society today expects everyone to be technologically savvy, most people have a Facebook or some sort of networking site. This is how we communicate now, this is how we share information. We might as well embrace it, for this is only the beginning of our technological future.
I am a multitasked and when I am on the internet, I find myself on Facebook or YouTube, doing anything but homework. I have gotten so wired; I cannot go a day without a getting on Facebook, or at least sending out a text. Our society is so wired little 7 year olds have phones and not to mention they know the ends and outs of Facebook. They have become pros, and I struggle. We cannot even how face-to-face conversations without stopping to read a text or look at what someone posted on our wall. I was at dinner tonight and I watched my friend not only reply to multiple texts but answer the phone, I just want to know when did we become so wired to where we cannot have face-to-face relationships. Like Smith said, we wake up in the morning and check our technology; personally I grab my phone and read the texts I had received while I was sleeping.
ReplyDeleteI have even reached the point where I rather e-mail my friends than write them a letter! Society has become so wired that we cannot go a day without technology, and without out it, well, society as a whole, would not be able to function.
I definately think that it is easier to get distracted in today's world. I recently got a facebook profile, but just seeing how often some of my friends are on it makes me a little weary. I try to visit facebook only once a day, for under twenty minutes.
ReplyDeleteJust doing homework, i see all the students who are "multitasking," which makes me think of the past. It's not very often that i see or know of a person, who consistently does homework, without checking their phone, email, or facebook. Sometimes i imagine students of the past who completed an assignment without any breaks. A lot of students, including myself, choose to take "breaks" while doing homework, sometimes checking their phone, texting, or checking somethink online.
After watching digital nation, i definately get the feeling that technology has the potential to take up a lot of the time we do have.
I think its pretty crazy that on average each person spends 9 hours a day using a piece of technology. That fact is just astounding be the average person is only up usually 14 to 16 hours a day. I truly believe that technology is causing major problems to our society. For example, people have said that you have a faster reaction time driving drunk than you do texting while driving. People who are driving and texting are just asking for an accident to happen. Unfortunately, I sometimes even find myself in this scenario. Instead of kids going home to do homework they are going home and just playing video games until its time to go to bed. Although all this technology can help people do anything when they want like communicate with anyone around the world, it has caused major problems to society. Technology is controlling peoples lives and also ruining them. Who would of ever thought that people would be going to video game addiction rehab? Using technology responsibly like checking email or staying in touch with friends or family is completely fine. But being completely dependable on technology is when you have gone to far.
ReplyDeleteI do find it crazy that on average people are spending 9 hours a day on technology. But in all honestly what is considered technology? Is the alarm clock waking you up every morning considered technology? Are the powerpoints we are being forced to view in class using technology? These are all technology, but how much of it are we actually using? Yes all of us get on the computer and on our cell phones, but I question whether or not it is for 9 hours everyday. I personally feel like this show is attempting to make a slam on society saying we rely on our cell phones and laptops to get through the day. I personally don't care if a teacher writes on the board and all of us are required to write down everything instead of typing. But really, it's hard to say we are using technology nine hours of the day, when actually we aren't.
ReplyDeleteIt's unbelievable to think how "wired" I really am on a day to day basis. The first thing I do when I wake up is reach for my iPhone (which I just so happen to also use an alarm clock) and check my email and my Facebook in a matter of seconds, never even thinking twice.
ReplyDeleteSo what does it exactly mean to be "wired"? Well these days it's just become a part of daily life for everyone. I believe it simply means staying connected, or being in the "loop" of what is going on in the digital world, be it Facebook, ESPN, Yahoo, Myspace, Twitter, etc. Everybody these days, even my parents (which I find odd) are completely wired to the teeth. My dad is a realtor who uses Facebook to promote his business and to advertise. It's a clever idea on his part because of the sheer number of users who will log onto Facebook and see his advertisement.
Just like anything in life, I definitely agree anybody can become too "wired". I mean, too much of anything isn't good for you. You just have to learn how to find a happy medium and balance your life, because ultimately I think that's what it all boils down to.
People who are too "wired" really aggravate me when they simply are too caught up in their (usually superficial) digital life to acknowledge that you even exist. There's nothing wrong with people conducting business to a certain extent who NEED to be "wired" for the majority of the day, but I mean as college students, is it really THAT necessary? I think we all need to slow our lives down, because the digital revolution is growing at an uncontrollable and unpredictable speed, and it'll eventually just consume you and your life if you don't take hold.
I agree that we are using technology without even thinking about it. People really are wired to almost anything and everything. Now with the latest phones you can have internet as easy as a few clicks no matter where you are. I however do not have this convenience. Or is it a convenience? I don't really think so. I think it's kind of overrated.
ReplyDeleteI do also think that we are living faster lives than what say our parents did. We are being rushed in and out of different sorts of practices. So many as children or high schoolers were involved in an array of activities. I, who went to a small school was in about every sport, activity, and club there was. And this was not uncommon in the least.
I think it would be good for everyone to go a day without being rushed: like camping or something. Live without any technology. Leave any and all devices back home. See the beauty in nature itself and what God has given us. As our lives are moving faster it is a nice change to slow down and try to take everything in.
I'm a multitasker through and through. But, I also have ADD which is regulated by medicine to help me concentrate. I've always thought it helped me to concentrate on a certain subject if something was happening around me. Noticing how things have changed from high school to college I recall writing a five or six page paper in two or three hours while chatting with my friend who was also writing one at the same time, but now I can't even stand it if someone on my hall in the dorms is talking as they walk by my door. It's easy to get distracted by all the technology that we have at our fingertips.
ReplyDeleteWe live in a fast paced world. We can't help how this has happened, but it undoubtedly has. Our parents grew up in the generation that didn't have the internet until around the time they were having kids, but my mom is the most connected person I know. She sends anywhere to 100 to 200 emails a day, makes countless phone calls, but that's what her job demands. We have less time to get what we actually need to get done at work because we have to deal with so many other people and the issues they are having quickly or else something may go wrong. That's what our world has come to.
This has changed and has become very fast paced with technology. Now and days you could be living your normal life but be walking down the street and checking an email or talking to a friend via the text message, where as only 10 years ago many cell phone users were worried about roaming and carrying their cell phone around on their hip in a holster. The whole world has changed and sped up due to the internet, now there is video chat and people just walking down the street talking to someone when it looks like they are talking to themselves.
ReplyDeleteAs a nation we are wired. Myself, wired. Too wired? Yes. We are using technology to the fullest extent and even more. We are constantly looking for new ways to get work done more quickly. All this technology can become our down fall. Being more connected has also split us. Iran was almost sent into chaos due to Twitter. An entire nation almost brought by the internet. The technology has also created our most powerful weapons. These can wipe us all out. Technology is good but one must be able to ration it out.
ReplyDeleteOur nation is extremely wired. Our country is technically connected by wires with all the phone and other power lines that run over almost all of our streets. I dont feel that 9 hours a day is a realistic number for the average american. You possibly could count this simply due to the fact that many jobs require you to work on the computer. Connor makes a good point above, what is defined as technology?? Virtually everything has advanced in some way and is it wrong to take advantage? People will always search for ways to make things easier, the only question to ask yourself is what is too much?
ReplyDeleteAs a multitasker, i believe we are very distracted. The full clip of this video shows the test that Stanford professors applied on students multitasking. The results showed that students are actually slower when dealing with more than one technological portal at once. I get distracted when writing papers and having my laptop opened to a website; email, facebook, or text messages. My habit matches that described in the video, where students write one paragraph, then check a portal, and write another paragraph, then check a portal. That system really takes away from the effectiveness of your paper and thinking process when relating the the big picture and critical thinking.
ReplyDeleteWe may be a very distracted nation, but we should not just take Standford's tests and completely accept them. There are many other factors that go in taking those types of tests. The subjects who were studied could of been a more distracted because they knew they were being watched by professors. They could have become nervous which would cause a slower response. I do not completely doubt that multitasking makes the tasks you're preforming less effective, but the only way to get a completely truthful test is to study someone who doesn't know they are being watched.
ReplyDeleteWhat's interesting to me is that while I have grown up with technology and computer since I was 3, I've never been good at the whole "multitasking" thing. When you see most students around our age they are constantly texting, checking facebook, doing homework, and listening to music all within seconds of each other. It's amazing to see this in action. I myself am jealous of this. While I do have all of this technology (iPhone, Laptop, Facebook, etc) I've never been able to grasp the ability to multitask all of that technology. For me I need to pay attention to one thing otherwise whatever I'm working on suffers. Do I consider myself easily distracted? Yes, and this is why I think I cannot multitask. I know in the back of my mind that if I really want to learn or talk to a person I have to devout my full attention to it.
ReplyDeleteI did not think that I was capable of multitasking until I found myself in class the other day taking notes and on my facebook talking with friends. I love my busy hectic life full of multitasking and technology but it can take over sometimes, it can add stress that I wouldnt otherwise have, and in some cases such as texting while driving it can be dangerous. Its also a huge distraction such as when I am trying to study, then I get a text message I will procrastinate on studying so that I can talk with a friend. Everything has its positives and negatives right? So its more about if its more positive or more negative and I would have to say I get more positive from technology than negatives.
ReplyDeleteMulti-tasking is an important part of our lives but it is also dangerous. Multi-tasking divides your concentration among the different task you are working on. This can lead to poor performance or even Death! People who text while driving are a perfect example. The split the concentration used for driving the car with texting a friend. Not only are they less alert to their surroundings and other cars, but the the to remove their eyes from the road. Even people who can type with out looking at their phones still have to read the messages.
ReplyDeleteI think that the majority of us could be described as multitaskers. Even those of us not too savvy on technology are guilty of answering a text message or checking our email while in the middle of performing a completely different unrelated task. This is very distracting for anyone, even those who claim to be great at it. What is surprising to me is the young age that kids are becoming wired, beginning to multitask. Most of us didn't get our first cell phone until middle school, maybe even high school. Now, there are second and third grade kids walking around with cell phones. There has also been so much advancement in video and computer games. Kids are accessing these more than ever. Will there someday be a point in time where multitasking really doesn't distract people?
ReplyDeleteAfter watching this movie, I realized just how much we rely on technology. Each and every one of use has deep ties to our cell phones and little netbook computers. We don't just take the time to relax without some form of entertainment, such as movies or online poker. We immediately get home from work and turn on our televisions. I'm speaking generally of course. How did we evolve from no technology to the world out our fingertips? We have become so wrapped up in it that we don't even see how it is almost hindering us. By that I mean not being able to live without you're phone for a second, or losing those personal relationship that used to mean so much. Now we have Facebook so what is the reason to go out and associate with you're friends? We can just Facebook chat them, right?
ReplyDeleteAmerica is definitely a multi-tasking nation. At my school, I see tons of kids walking around texting, drinking coffee, and listening to their iPods. When did we learn to multi-task? I didn't even realize that I juggling about three pieces of technology and I looked down and I was like, "Whoa!". Right now while I am typing this, I am texting and listening to music. I think since we grew up in this "digital nation" we just kind of got accustomed to having all kinds of pieces of technology in our hands that we just started to use them all at the same time. I think multi-tasking is a good thing, not a bad thing like people say. We find ourselves being able to do multiple things all at once. That just shows how our nation evolved from horses and buggies to audis and BMWs.
ReplyDeleteThe human brain continues to develop roughly until the age of 25 for the average person. That is about the age that one is wrapping up their college career. I’d say that in our society, students are the ones whose lives revolve around technology, and rely on it most. It is used for homework, quizzes, projects, enrollment, and used for practically any other area of academics imaginable these days. The fact that technology is so concentrated in lives during one’s education means that the still developing brain will end up being heavily influenced by it in varying ways. Whether or not it is damaging to a person isn’t so well known considering we are the first people to grow up dependent on it. This is what really concerns me. I make it a point in my life to not let myself rely on technology so much because I don’t know how it will ultimately affect me long term, but at the same time I have no other choice but to take advantage of it to make my life easier and to succeed in college, not to mention it is required I use the internet for all of my classes. I’ve found this a hard balance to keep up but I’m determined to find a happy medium that works for me. I fear that most Americans don’t see the importance of this and might eventually suffer the consequences someday.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with the above comments regarding the dependance on technology. Although we are with are technological items at all times, wouldn't one agree that it has almost been forced on us? Teachers are now being required to teach how to do stuff on the computers in order to accommodate the needs set by higher up people. They are trying to make everything today as technologically advanced as possible. So with this being done, it makes it virtually impossible for us to be able to no depend on this technology when it is being forced upon us.
ReplyDeleteJust like the students at MIT I use technology in every part of my life. I connect with my professor's through email, I submit my homework online as well as papers. I check and update my Facebook as well as myyearbook on my iPhone. I use my iPhone as an alarm to wake up in the morning not to mention texting almost every moment of the day as well as calling friends and family to make plans and keep in touch. Ya I think playing an online game for 10 hours a day is a little extreme, but I spend that if not more on my iPhone and laptop.
ReplyDeleteSo what can we say to them that wouldn't be hypocritical? Okay, true I may be using my phone and laptop for school, but putting the use of technology aside, it is not just the gamers spending all there time with technology. Now I'm using the term technology loosely only referring to the internet, computers, and phones to be specific. But the fact is that a large majority of people are joined at the hip to their technology, whatever it may be, and I don't really see any of them suffering horribly or living unfulfilled lives. I find nothing wrong with using technology in every aspect of my life to make it more efficient so that I can fit all the things that i need to complete each day into the time I have.
I think you rate a great point dealing with the use of iPhones, not only in a sense of communication, but as an alarm clark. These people doing the studies claim that technology is being used way to often, but it's very hypocritical that in order to produce this video they had to use all sorts of different pieces of technology. I find that very interesting.
ReplyDeleteTo comment on what englishstudent said... I also thought about what it would have been like in the past without computers and phones and the internet and trying to do some of the reports that i have had to do for some of my college classes already. And the thought made me quiver. It took me hours sometimes to do these reports, how long would it have taken without technology? I would still be doing some of them.
ReplyDeleteWatching this video made me think of trying to make my way through college without technology. I was dependent on it in high school, but my dependence has only grown stronger in college. I use technology to email my professors, read class updates on desire2learn, check my grades online, turn in papers online, do research, and even just the calls I make home. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have access to the internet, computers, or cell phones.
ReplyDeleteCrakrjack, I find myself in the exact same situation:
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't have considered my self that wired while I was in high school, but I feel that ever since I've gotten here at OU, it's almost impossible to NOT be wired. With all the constant emails to and from professors, to all the online quizzes, etc., being wired is a must for any college student.
As technology advances in our lives, we become multitaskers. i mean technology is there to let us be multitaskers. today, we can do anything with our little technology device called cell phone. i myself use cell phone all day long. and feel wired.
ReplyDeleteusing a laptop during class is good thing if you use it in right way. this semester i did not buy a text book for my art class. instead of spending $90 for textbook, i brought laptop to art class. i took notes and download picture from internet. but not everyone use laptop in right way, it is depends on what the users are looking for.
Multitasking is not bad, it is good thing to do, because we can save lots of time.
i'm not really sure if multi-tasking is always a good thing. sometimes i have to turn my phone off when i'm trying to get something done because people will be texting me. it gets annoying sometimes to always be connected to technology. most people now think that just because you have a phone that you should answer them immediately when they text or call you. sometimes i just want to do my own thing.
ReplyDeleteI think that as far as social isolation goes technology is both the problem and the solution. These digital "second lives" and other computer games can isolate users because depending on how much people play these games they can forget how to interact with others in real life, not online. However technology can also bring people closer together through online social networks or common interests like it did with Bubbe and her grandson.
ReplyDeleteTo what Pacito stated, i also like my busy and technology filled life. I have so much to do every day that i appreciate that technology can help me get it all done. Technology is not the devil and it does not cause people to have no life. People make that decision and nobody can make it for them.
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