I am in my final year of a combined Law and Media (Communications & Journalism) degree at UNSW. My passions include creative writing, reading Victorian fiction, and researching about health and fitness, technology, theology and philosophy. I write and blog about topics that inspire me, such as law school or life in general. I sincerely hope you feel inspired after reading my posts!
If you would like to view my CV, please contact me at fionalu@live.com
#currentlyreading - Cecilia
#currentfavesong - Prince of Peace - Hillsong United
It is difficult to separate ourselves from technology when it is so embedded in the routines of our daily lives, to the extent that chips are implanted into objects we carry, drive or wear, and our physical location.[1] Ubiquitous computing and the interchangeability of apps expose us to high levels of interactivity because it is freely available everywhere.[2] Our laptops, computers and mobile phones are accessible within reach. Such flexible devices grant us continuous access to the Internet and content, and the ability to contact others without being restrained by time and place.
It had taken humans thousands of years to build languages, conventions and architectures of physical places,[3] yet it takes us a few minutes to set up a website or upload content. We have the capacity to publish and preserve content online, without having to worry about whether it will deteriorate.
This over-reliance on technology has caused us to sometimes forget about its presence and power over our lives. We are so consumed with the idea of frequently being connected to each other, that our lives are defined by how many followers we have on Twitter or Instagram, or whether our ‘selfies’ are perfect enough to collect ‘likes’. Ultimately, the popularity of technology and social media has left people fragmented. People are so engrossed with technology at home and in public.
We hardly see hand-written mail, or commuters interacting with each other on trains and buses. The role of computing has changed, and information technology has become a social infrastructure.[4] Even apps can render the environment for the user.[5] All kinds of affects can travel, and multiplicities can form in networks of apps. In order to understand how the digital world has extended beyond the desktop to work, play, and travel,[6] this blog will explore the social relations, physical processes and change technology brings in the lives of individuals and society as a whole.
(Caption: Bladerunner - LA 2019)
In the twenty-first century, society has witnessed great technological change and developments that has overcome limitations of the physical world.[7] Maybe one could argue we are fast becoming a technologically advanced society like the city of Los Angeles in the movie Blade Runner. We may encounter human robots or “replicants” running rampant in the city. Our streets may be lined with skyscrapers or industrial factories, like the pyramids of Tyrell Corporation. The sky may constantly appear overcast and smoggy due to overpopulation and industrialisation. Maybe we will even use automobiles (spinners) that are able to fly above the streets. Who knows? In less than 50 years we can travel to other planets to construct “off-world” colonies for Earth tourists to visit. These somewhat unrealistic ideas are derived from the movie.
(Caption: Interacting with Siri on iPhone 4)
However, there is an article, which has predicted 30 years after the production of Blade Runner, technology has transformed to resemble some of the qualities of Los Angeles in 2019. Finnerty mentions the rise of gesture-based computer interfaces. Where “triumph of touch screen interfaces…[such as] the Apple iPhone has offered ‘pinch’, ‘pull’ and ‘swipe features’’.[8] The invention of Siri, a voice activated assistant, has become a companion to iPhone users, in a culture that is growing lonelier.[9] People are becoming isolated from one another, thus they are finding solace in their electronic device.[10] Siri has the capacity to adopt our information personalities,[11] by recognising our vocal speech and the accent in our voices. For example there is an option to alter Siri, so she can be more responsive to certain dialects.
Arguably, technology is creeping into our social lives in a manner that may be detrimental. We are relying on technology to carry out simple activities, such as typing a text message, or saving an event on the calendar. Siri is self-organising, self-configuring, robust and renewable, in the terms of McCollough.[12] Because of this, no longer are we focused on connecting to cyberspace. Instead, we are dispersing our use of technology to extend to our social lives.
Berry claims “Siri seems to provide a viable substitute for companionship and unwavering attention: she provides perfect advice, seeks to rescue one from dilemmas, and offers companionship”.[13] It is true the ascent of human-computer interaction has radicalised technological devices to the extent that individuals look forward to using it.[14] I have seen students in lectures mindlessly opening FaceBook on their laptop or mobile phones immediately before the lecturer starts speaking, and people using Siri to search for the nearest restaurant. This is illustrative of what McCollough states, “involves proactive information feeds treat all quiet time and space as something that needs filling”.[15] Inevitably, we are using technological devices to pass the time and fill spaces that are empty.
Since technology is embedded in our everyday lives, our activities continue to become mediated when we engage with persuasive computing that is connected to ubiquitous networks. I tend to avoid using Siri as I prefer to carry out activities manually, in case anything was to go wrong. Technology, robots and the like are not infallible. Our over-reliance on these systems will eventually have a detrimental effect on our organisation, communication and literacy skills.
(Caption: Introduction to Google Car)
However, what technology can do may not be so important as what we want to do with it.[16] The Google car is an electric-powered vehicle with standard controls found in modern automobiles. Although it does not have a stirring wheel or pedals, the vehicle is controlled through a smartphone application. This app allows the vehicle to pick up passengers and automatically drive them to the destination selected on the app.[17] This vehicle revolutionises the way humans operate and control machinery. There were even tests of the Google car that suggest the vehicle outperforms human drivers.[18]Although this innovation sounds rather exciting, there are some concerns about safety in areas where the speed zone is over 40 km, which is the maximum speed of the Google car.
Personally, I find this vehicle, to some degree, will improve safety on the road by decreasing the amount of accidents, but, it will unnecessarily require laws to change, in order to facilitate this vehicle. What if there was a fault or malfunction? Technology and robots cannot fully replace humans, and their capacity to act like humans does not come without flaws. Yes, technologies can integrate themselves in our lives in its application, and it can promote greater interaction and user activity. However, society should be wary of the consequences of over-reliance of these technologies, not just on our everyday practices, but also on our ability to care for ourselves.
Further, technological devices has offered greater opportunities for us to communicate and interact with each other, and allows us to organise our lifestyle accordingly. I find it difficult imagining a world without the Internet, laptop or mobile phone. We are bought up in a culture which embeds technology everywhere we go and in everything we do. It is inescapable, and it is controlling. I have come to understand it is machines that control us, than we control them.
We have bestowed limitless power onto technology, and are open for it to change our lives incredibly. Technology will continue to rise and transform every aspect of our lives, from architecture, cyberspace, and the private and public realm. As we sit back and watch this unravel, let us not forget that technologies are susceptible to fault, and maybe we should stop relying on devices to carry out our simple needs. Lets prevent our cities from becoming Blade Runner's LA in 2019 in the future, and force ourselves to exercise the natural skills we developed since birth to interact with the world.
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[1] McCollough, M (2004) Digital Ground Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, p. 5.
[8] Finnerty, D 2012, ‘Blade Runner: Which predictions have come true?’, BBC News Magazine, 22 June 2012, accessed 28 May 2014, <http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18026277>.
[9] William Berry 2012, Psychology Today, accessed 28 May 2014, <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-second-noble-truth/201208/the-psychological-aspect-siri>.
[17] Markoff, J 2014, 'No steering wheel, pedals in Google car', Financial Review, 28 May 2014, accessed 28 May 2014, <http://www.afr.com/p/technology/google_erases_steering_wheel_pedals_ofbRYoRJNXuJ83za9lEfcL>.
[18] Simonite T 2013, 'Data Shows Google's Robot Cars Are Smoother, Safer, Drivers Than You or I', MIT Technology Review, 25 October 2013, accessed 28 May 2014, <http://www.technologyreview.com/news/520746/data-shows-googles-robot-cars-are-smoother-safer-drivers-than-you-or-i/>.
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