In this week’s podcast, the interviewee was Rory McGloin who is an assistant professor here at the University of Connecticut. His research mainly focuses on the effects of media, primarily video games which is emphasized in this podcast by “looking at how a variety of contextual features, whether video games or other types of virtual environments, effect people’s perception of the experience,” (McGloin). The role of technology in our lives was spoken about all through the listening indicating there was a time where education and information was limited to everyone, until the internet came along. The internet has unleashed countless possibilities for users all over the world and has allowed us as individuals to have another facet of our reality. …show more content…
The purpose of a video game is to virtually take part in actions you haven’t done in real life but would probably be good at it, like first person shooter games. They give us a sense of our real world expectations, which may make it easier to get absorbed in a game. In class, Professor Stifano lectured about the effects media has had on people since its upbringing, and he brought up cultivation theory which ties really well with the important aspects of this week’s podcast. Cultivation theory says that television can shape our impressions of the world around us, so in other words what we see on television reflects reality. Most of the time, many of the things that are seen on TV are entirely inaccurate depictions of the real world, but for those who are avid TV watchers, they have strong belief in the realities of this. It is almost as if people think their life is a show. Even though this theory is targeting television influence, similar effects are seen with video games when. I know from personal experience of watching TV that it is not an accurate source for information, depending on what is being viewed. I’ve seen many movies regarding foreign countries where it depicts the country as being poor, warlike, even terrifying, when it really is beautiful and secure. …show more content…
Many can agree that there are numerous pros and cons to technology. There are devices Professor Stifano talked about in class that control other devices, like our cell phones can control the lights and security in the house, and even turn on the car beforehand just by a simple application on the smart phone. We have gotten to a point in society where we cannot live without technology which I find to be frustrating at times. For example, when I hang out with my friends, I notice while I am having a conversation with them, most of the time they are not listening because they are on their phone. It makes me feel like I am not worth their time or anyone’s time. I find this to be a bigger issue with technology because it is taking away peoples attention from things that are more important, not to say that I am important but the being able to listen and respond to when people are talking to you is an important characteristic of interpersonal communication in relationships. I think it can be very dangerous if we let ourselves become absorbed in technology because before we know it, we will have become older and wonder what is it that we did with our lives that made a difference in the world positively. In communication class, we learned the importance of having meaningful
While his best arguments come from cultural criticism. Written text led to the decline of oral reading and television obliterated the radio. Every technology comes with it’s trade-offs, it just comes down to moderation. There is little doubt that the internet is changing our brain. What Carr neglects to mention, however, is how the internet can change our brain for the better. Computer games have the ability to improve cognitive tasks and increase visual attention. He doesn’t always address the good effects that the internet has had on the world. One of the better strategies Carr uses is switching his point of view from third to first person. He reflects on his personal life and how his life has changed in response to what he has learned. Carr shows how even he has his faults but, being aware of a problem is the first step to finding
Are technology and the media shedding the very fabric of the existence we have known? As technology and the media spread their influence, the debate over the inherent advantages and disadvantages intensifies. Although opinions vary widely on the subject, two writers offer similar views: Professor Sherry Turkle, director of the MIT Initiative on Technology and Self, in her article “Can You Hear Me Now” and Naomi Rockler-Gladen, who formerly taught media studies at Colorado State University, with her article “Me Against the Media: From the Trenches of a Media Lit Class.” Turkle asserts that technology has changed how people develop and view themselves, while at the same time affecting their concepts of time management and focus (270). Similarly, Rockler-Gladen believes media and its inherent advertising have had a profound effect on the values and thinking of the public (284). I could not agree more with Professor Turkle and Ms. Rockler-Gladen; the effects technology and media have worried and annoyed me for quite so time. The benefits of technology and media are undeniable, but so then are the flaws. People are beginning to shift their focus away from the physical world to the virtual world as they find it easier and more comfortable. The intended purpose of technology and media was to be a tool to improve the quality of life, not shackles to tie people to their devices. I no longer recognize this changed world and long for the simple world of my youth.
Although Though technology can be good, it can be worse than good, such as people always with their faces on their phones and headphones in their ears, people neglecting books and using more online text, and people wasting their lives watching TV.Children now know how to use a phone faster than they can
...helle Hackman, a sophomore in high school, realized that her friends, rather than engaging in a conversation, were “more inclined to text each other” (Huffington Post). Michelle also became aware that over forty percent of people were suffering from anxiety when they were separated from the phones. This clearly shows that we are connected to the technology that we use, but we are also suffering from the use of technology. We spend more than half of our entire day using some sort of technology, whether that is a computer, phone, television, or radio. Technology is becoming a prevalent part of our lives, and we cannot live without it. Technology has become our family, and part of us.
The first point that needs to be addressed is how video games are used for training purposes. Video games are used by the United States Army to train soldiers (Suellentrop). America’s Army helps the soldiers develop their fighting skills (Suellentrop). This video game also helps to teach soldiers how to learn to function as a team (Suellentrop). Along with the Army, video games train individuals how to respond in emergency situations (Issitt). Video games train people in many ways, even if it is unknown to many people how important they can be to society.
Technology Is What You Make It The articles “How Computers Change the Way We Think” by Sherry Turkle and “Electronic Intimacy” by Christine Rosen argue that technology is quite damaging to society as a whole and that even though it can at times be helpful it is more damaging. I have to agree and disagree with this because it really just depends on how it is used and it can damage or help the user. The progressing changes in technology, like social media, can both push us, as a society, further and closer to and from each other and personal connections because it has become a tool that can be manipulated to help or hurt our relationships and us as human beings who are capable of more with and without technology. Technology makes things more efficient and instantaneous.
Whether technology is with us or hurting us, we still have to use it and it affects our lives daily. We need it to get a hold of someone. We need it to do our jobs. Most importantly, we need it to keep our lives away from harm. There are many ways to manipulate technology, but technology has more good to it than bad. There are those who use it for good, like investigators so they can figure out the real story. Then there are those who use it for bad, just like those who commit cyber bullying along with other minor and major things. We need technology regardless if people argue they like or not. There is no way to stop technology and keeping people from making it better. With the developments in technology, we may be able to enjoy all the pricey luxuries and still enjoy life at the same time.
Carr discusses the effects that the Internet has on our minds and the way we think, as well as the way media has changed. Our minds no longer focus. When in conversation with people we are constantly distracted by the technological advances our era has brought. Text messages, emails, pop culture drama has all taken over thoughts.
Over the last few decades, technology has greatly increased its abilities. It started from the simple radio to now having cell phones which can surf the web. Technology has greatly influenced our society in many ways. Nowadays it has made family relationships have a different connection and has simplified people’s lives. A couple decades ago, a person would never had imagined to Skype a family member across the world. It would be like trying to imagine teleportation. It was unthinkable, but with moderation, technology has evolved for the better. With the new technology in our world, people are able to talk to their distant family members. People are also able to save time and watch a movie with their extra time. There are pros and cons to having technology nowadays. Yes, people are able to communicate faster and save money, but technology is also disconnecting them from the people around them. Technology has changed humanity for the better, but humans must know to use technology in moderation.
The opinions of many people vary on technology and the effects it has on today’s society. Some say that it’s more beneficial than anything, others completely disagree, and some have mixed emotions. Would you rather read out of a book, or play online learning games with a possible risk of eye problems? It’s about taking matters into your own hands. 71% of people believe technology has improved their lives. 76% of people completely disagree by saying that technology creates a lazy society and that is distracting and corrupting. Daily life with technology is also another huge issue in society. According to a survey taken in January 2013, people feel their work productivity has dropped 8% in the last year. They also felt that their relationships with their family at home dropped 4% in the past year. The opinions vary, but they are needed to show how technology is affecting different people.
Technology has really changed the world in a ton of ways. Some are ggod ways, and some are bad ways. What all people need to realize though, is that technology isn’t always going to be in their life. One day it is all going to drift away. Technology is not the most important thing in the world. If anything, it has caused more problems than anything. This is easier done than said, but put down the cellphone, get active. Lose those pounds that you gained after you got hooked on technology. Get connected with family more. Bond more with your friends. Get your head in books and off of TECHNOLOGY.
Both mediums of mass entertainment, movies and video games, can severely impact the audience that is engaged in them. Video games require much more involvement of the player because the player of the game controls the avatars every move. Many games such as Call of Duty, Assassins Creed, or Grand Theft Auto involve extreme violence, in which the player is killing other players to achieve objectives or points. From a narrative role, videogames offer many different options in terms of gameplay and the overall outcome at the end of the game. According to Darren Franich, “Videogames have become more “filmlike,” with more realistic characters and complex plotting,” (Franich, 2011). Video games affect the younger generation immensely, which is important to recognize because the younger generations are the ones causing the most problems within society. There are kids as young a ten years old playing violent video games for excessive hours, daily. According to a recen...
Society has been impacted both negatively and positively by technology. As a result, every aspect of our lives has been influenced by technology. Hence, life is easier, yet it has taken away some of the enjoyment. For example, remember the days of less stress and more personal interaction, when there were no online messages, no emails, social media or cell phones. We have become excessively dependent on technology. As a result, we need to rely less on technology even though it has made learning fun, and business, daily tasks, work, travel, shopping, making new friends and staying in touch easier. In conclusion, technology has a lot of benefits, yet it could take over our lives and become our worst enemy if we aren't careful.
To sum it all up, people can see many positive effects of technology on different aspects of human life such as education, personal safety, agriculture, and the environment; however, not everyone thinks about its downsides. Though modern technology indeed facilitates people’s tasks and duties, it may weaken human bodies, ruin nature, and destroy good values regarding social communication. I believe in technology, I completely support it, but only to an extent. I say go ahead and enjoy what technology has to offer, learn about the world we live in, entertain yourself and consume in it. Just until it doesn’t affect your appearance or the people around you and especially the person in you. Think about it like this, we as humans made machines we can’t let machines make us who we are.
Rosen, senior editor if New Atlantis, on her essay published in Wilson Quarterly in autumn 2009 “In the Beginning Was the Word,” points out how digital technology, especially in communication and entertainment, affects negatively on our lives socially and cognitively. She believes that although technology might appear as sign of our progress as humans, it is withdrawing us from the core literature. Rosen explains th...