Entry 4: Respond to "The True Cost of Gadgets"

The relative simplicity that existed in 1995 versus 2009 sounds attractive. Suzuki likely wants us to consider the ramifications of living in such a fast-paced, interconnected era. People are so dependent on their cell-phones, email, and Internet access that we tend to forget how important genuine and direct human interaction is. Most people (myself included) are happier when they’re with and around other people. Electronics and electronic communications shouldn’t be a replacement for genuine social interactions.

If I were in college fourteen years ago I would engage myself in different ways and would be less consumed by electronics and communications. I admit that I’m more dependent on my email and facebook than I’d like. When I receive a message through my phone, I prioritize checking that message over whatever physical activity I’m engaged in. I have (as I believe many people my age do) a need to stay as updated and informed as possible on a personal level (through checking my facebook and reading incoming text messages) and on a societal level (through frequently reading on-line news sources). Many people in my generation have developed a dependency to stay hyper-connected to the rest of the world. Ironically, as we try to become more connected to the world through electronic sources (computers and cell phones) we become more disconnected from our immediate environment (a problem discussed in the previous paragraph).

Sad to say, I completely agree with everything Suzuki says about the modern consumer society. His claim that it has affected our well being as well as the environment is hard to argue against. The more we become immersed in the wide range of technology our society has to offer, the more we do become disconnected with everyone else around us, including the natural world. The more disconnected we are with the environment, the easier it is to abandon and mistreat it, as we currently are experiencing with major issues today from simple pollution to global warming.

I admit that I too spend more time than I would like with these technological gadgets and that they have taken time away from my experiences in nature. However, I can only blame myself. Although my social life has not been affected, I feel that by eliminating some of the items I own, or even limiting my time with them, my life would be in a healthier mental state. I believe this technological era has become somewhat of an addiction, because I know that I am anxious when I don’t have my cell phone for a day or even a few hours. As Suziki advises, “Enjoy the real life, rather than a virtual version of it.”

“For some, this excess typifies everything that is wrong with the developed world we consume far more than our share of the world’s resources. We create huge amounts of waste. We obsess with fads and fancy while species die out, pollutants seep into the food chain, and the climate changes. Christmas is the pinnacle of our hyper consumptive lifestyles, so it’s easy to point a finger and condemn the whole stressful, chaotic, overindulgent experience.”
Everything that David Suzuki proposes in this article seems, to me, to be complete common sense. Clearly, we have become a society that is driven by our wants and needs. We are consumed with having to have the next best thing. Even if we have a phone that works perfectly, we always need the upgraded version. It seems like the before we can even get our new gadgets home, they are already out of style. All of this is a ploy by companies to make more and more money. Whoever makes the next best thing, wins the race. And we all buy into this cycle.
We have been obsessed with technology since our creation. From our ancestors and the creation of fire, the wheel, and other tools, to today’s’ more modern gadgets, we have always been interested in creating new forms of technology. With each new invention, our lives become relatively easier, and we become lazier. From walking, to biking, to now driving a car everywhere, Americans don’t get nearly enough exercise. Kids are constantly indoors on the internet, watching television, or playing video games. Companies have to invent things such as the Wii Fit just to get people moving. Physical Education teachers in elementary school have incorporated the Dance, Dance Revolution video game into their curriculum just to get children interested in exercise. The worst part about it, is parents simply promote these unhealthy activities but allowing their kids to be inside for hours on end. The days of playing tag and flag football outside with friends now has been reduced to playing Call of Duty and Halo on the computer.
Getting to the quote, and my main point, the pinnacle of our consumerism, I believe, comes around Christmas time. Personally, Christmas has become one of my least favorite holidays. Don’t get me wrong, I love decorating Christmas cookies, cooking Christmas dinner, and singing all the Christmas carols, but Christmas has become increasingly materialistic. It has boiled down to who can get the best presents; Instead of joyful, it’s one of the more stressful times of the year for most people. Everyone rushes to the mall to get the best and latest toys. The worst of this, comes on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. Stores open as early as 4am with promises of discounted prices. Some people camp out in front of these stores overnight, just to be the first in the stores. Once the doors open, people rush to grab their toys. In 2008, a worker at a Wal-mart in New York was trampled to death in the stampede of people trying to get into the store. In the same stampede a pregnant woman was pushed to the ground and had to be rushed to the hospital for injuries. That same year, in Palm Desert, California, in a Toys R’ Us, two customers were shot and killed during an argument over a toy. Joy to the World.

I think the purpose of this thought experiment is to draw the readers attention to two things. First, the difference between necessity and desire, and secondly, the social pressures placed on people to conform to a certain standard of living and appearances.

By asking the reader to think about their life without all the extraneous devices surrounding them, Suzuki attempts to demonstrate to lack of substance. For instance, I engaged in this though experiment and came to the conclusion, that my life would probably much simpler if i were not plugged in. I would have more free time for activities and experiences. I would not have to worry about these costly gadgets and their battery levels, but rather i would be focused on my necessities. I would focus on eating well, enjoying life, and getting 8 hours of sleep a night. Overall, i believe life circa 1995 would be much simpler.

Lastly, the issue of social pressure is vast and has many consequences. For example, last year, my phone broke, and it made it very hard for people to get in touch with me. I did not bother me very much, and after a few days of withdrawal, I realized life was much easier without a phone. No one could call me, i had no idea what time it was; i was free to do my own thing. Everything was great except that everyone else did not like that they could not reach me at all times. My family, friends, teammates, and girlfriend especially, would all remind me how i needed to get a new phone as soon as possible. There was a lot of pressure to remain plugged in. And of course, I did end up getting a new phone, but i did learn from this experience, i severely cut the amount of time i am plugged in. My apartment has no cable, no TV, no internet, and only go on facebook about once a month. I prefer my little world to being plugged in.

I think that the main point that Suzuki is trying to make is that it is possible for people to live without having all of the technological advances that we have become so accustom to. Suzuki reminds us that only 14 short years ago, we were without all of the technology that we use multiple times a day, today. We take for granted the fact that our cell phones, not only make calls, but can be used to search the internet, can act as a GPS and many other things as well. It is hard for our generation to think about what life would be like without all of these conveniences, because this is how we grew up. Knowing what I know today about how much easier life with a cell phone is, I think it would be almost impossible to live in 1995.
We have become so dependent on our cell phones, it becomes difficult to go even a few hours on an airplane, because we feel lost without them. Also, cell phones and computers have made bringing your work home with you easier. People often try to vacation without their cell phones or laptops and find it almost impossible because they are so use to being in the “know” about every update. It is hard to just relax and know that everything is under control. Living in 1995 would certainly be going back to the basics.

Sitting here, on my bed, trying to imagine life sans technology is not only frightening but is making me feel queasy. Looking around my room, I have a TV and DVR, a Blackberry, a computer and an Ipod; much like everybody else at UCSB. These technological novelties have become integral tools and resources for everyday life. It is not only expected that you have a cell phone and a laptop, but necessary to function as a human being in the year 2009. So as a product of growing up in the 'dotcom' age, the thought of life without those necessities is scary.

But these things were not always necessities. In fact, Facebook wasn't even around 5 years ago! This wave of technological bombardment has completely changed the way we, as humans, relate to one another and communicate with each other. Computers and cell phones make communication less personal. There is nothing more safe and requires as little effort as a text message, yet this is the main way people talk to one another. Living without the clutter of 2009 would force people to revert back to more intimate forms of communication, like having a conversation face to face. Life is ultimately about the relationships we make and these technological mediums of communication are only hindering people's ability to relate to one another without the protection of a computer screen in front of them.

Reading Suzuki’s article on “The True Cost of Gadgets” was a painful guilt trip for me in many ways. I believe the author was aiming for this exact response from the audience in this reading “experiment.” Technology is separating us from the real world, and we, as a modern society, have blindly taken in electronic devices and visual stimulation with no real consideration of the consequences.

Suzuki’s depiction of the modern life in 1995 was shocking. Although it is a time period I have lived through, I realized there was not much I remembered about how I spent leisure time before becoming familiar with the internet in middle school. The computer was and still is how I spend most of my time in the house and I would feel deprived of necessities if the internet were to go out for long periods of time. I felt that Suzuki was spot on when discussing the distance from society brought on by technology, because the internet keeps me busy at home. If I was to throw away my cell phone, computer, modem, iPod, and other gadgets, and lived the 1995 vision of the modern life, there would be nothing to do inside the house. This means the idea of seeking out leisure activities outdoors would be more attractive, and certainly more socially engaging.

Biologist E.O. Wilson’s suggestion that human beings possess a trait called “biophilia” was of particular interest to me. This idea that humans have an innate desire to bond with and understand other life forms would explain the major success of online video games like World of Warcraft, in which players may create an online persona and interact with others in a virtual world. This particular game currently holds over 10 million subscribers worldwide and continues to show that more and more people are looking to escape reality and immerse themselves in fantasy worlds.

It is easy to see that technology in leisure activities has offered us more; the choice to spend time indoors and out. But is more always good? Even when fully aware of consequences brought on by Suzuki’s article, I cannot confidently say I would be willing to give up internet and all my electronic gadgets to prevent said consequences. This is very scary.

As utterly depressing and scary as this article may be, Suzuki makes an extremely valid argument. The jump in technology from 1995 to today is outrageous. Just over a decade ago, cellphones were rare and the excessive amount of high-tech products that exist today were pretty much nonexistent. Our society has become so dependent upon technology that we would feel completely lost without it.

The truth is, without our cellphones or Facebook accounts, many of us would feel completely disconnected from the world. Twenty years ago, however, neither of these things existed- and people still seemed to survive! We have taken so much comfort in technology that we have completely disregarded traditional forms of human interaction. Why meet in person to have a talk when you can do it via text message or Facebook?

I think the scariest part of Suzuki's article was his mention of children. Our technology-obsessed world may in turn have very negative effects on the youth of our society. Similarly to Suzuki, I used to "play" when I was a kid. I spent a majority of my time outside climbing trees and running around. Just even in the last ten years, the idea of "play" has changed for many children due to our spark in technology. This summer, I babysat for two little girls that live down the street from me. The entire day, all they wanted to do was watch Nickelodeon or play video games. As Suzuki pointed out, we're starting to overwhelm our sense of sight with visual stimulations, but deprive our other senses such as smell or touch.

In an era consumed by the "empty self," people strive to find a meaning to their lives and yearn for a sense of fulfillment. Instead of indulging in technology and other commercial goods to feel satisfied, we should be interacting with one another and embracing humankind.

I think Suzuki wants us to realize how unnecessary this new technology really is. If people were getting by just a decade or so ago without it, why can't we? One of Suzuki's main points is that our obsession with technology and the latest gadgets have hindered our ability to enjoy the natural world. Our generation constantly exposes ourselves to visual stimuli, but according to Suzuki, we lack the stimuli for our remaining senses. There are Wii games that allow a person to fish, play tennis, and snowboard in the luxury of their own homes. It's an "escapism" as he calls it, that causes our generation to seek solace in technology rather than friends or family.

While I enjoy our new technology and am usually using one of the products constantly throughout the day, I will admit that I have grown quite dependent on them. My social skills have not been diminished, however, I would not be willing to go back to 1995. I feel that there needs to be a balance that our generation, and the upcoming generations need to learn in order to live with this new technology and keep in contact with the natural world. I agree with Suzuki in that technology has taken away our ability to truly appreciate what is just outside our door.

I think Suzuki is trying to raise questions on whether or not we really need all of these gadgets, internet connections, cell phones etc. and to essentially get to the root of why we feel like they are now a necessity. It is bizarre for my generation to look back and attempt to grasp how the world functioned and connected before we had the technology to do it via signals in the air. I am guilty as charged in saying that I feel naked without a cell phone, and the truth is I have honestly wonder how people kept in contact before the genius invention of a portable telephone; which was invented within my lifetime. What happened if you got lost on the way to meet a friend for lunch? Or you weren't able to make it to a meeting because your car died? As embarrassing as this is to admit, I have asked my parents these same questions before, in which they answered, with the obvious response, “we just found other ways to let someone know that information besides calling them on their phone.”

Which brings me to my next question: could I, in this day and age, survive without a cell phone? Obviously, the answer is yes. And, surprisingly, I have tested this question out before when my broke after dropping it on a hard tile floor. I was devastated, and no matter what I did I was going to be without a cell phone for a week because it had to be shipped from a Verizon store. The week went by slowly at first while I looked every morning to see if it had come yet, but after the third day I found that I was actually enjoying not having a cell phone. I felt a lot less stressed that I wasn't looking every 5 minutes to make sure that I had it in my purse, to see if I had missed a call, or had received a new text message. It is strange to admit this, but I felt almost free. A cell phone makes you available at all times to anyone who wishes to call you, and finally I wasn't always available.

This involuntary experiment brings me to confess that I could definitely live happily and comfortably live in 1995. It would just take time to get used to not having all the technology to communicate, and to find different ways to survive; actually write a letter, or walk down the street to a friend’s house. Our parents had to do it and they have the same relationships, or even better relationships, with their friends that I do. Furthermore, I actually would probably prefer living my adult life in the 90's more then I would living in today's world because I hate the fact that I can sit around and watch re-runs of a tv show, or spend countless hours talking to friends and looking at their pictures on facebook. It is such a waste of my life and its frustrating to understand how wasteful it is, but be unable to break the habit because its what all my friends do too; and the last thing I want is to not be part of my best friends lives.

Technology is impossible to not participate in the 20th century days, but I definitely have to say that I have a love/hate relationship with it and what it is essentially doing to human societies.

I think Suzuki is trying to emphasize the fast pace at which technology advances. 14 years ago, in 1995, people were content with the technology they had. It is not until we compare this to today's current way of life that we can see how far our society has really advanced. Things we think we "need" were unavailable in 1995, yet miraculously, people in that time survived without it.

This makes us question: What do we really need in our day-to-day lives? The answer is much less than we use. Yes, these things can make our lives much more convenient and at times more enjoyable, but at what price? Suzuki names some of these drawbacks as increased e-waste, less community, and a loss of respect for nature. Before reading this, I had not put much thought into our biological ties with nature. It is true that we have evolved with close ties to the environment, though i had no idea that it was so relevant to our well-being. It makes one wonder what will happen if we permanently damage the environment we depend so greatly on. Will the next generation be less healthy, happy, and content?

"Second, and even more important, the constant focus on technological distractions can distance us from our families, our communities, and the world around us."

I agree and disagree with Suzuki's quote because I have come to observe that technology is able to distract us from our current world and at the same time, help create a communal environment as well. Growing up, there were many occasions where escaping the world was as easy as putting your ipod headphones in your ears and zoning out for a couple hours. On the other hand, if my father walked into my room and started speaking to me, he would get infuriated at the fact that I wasn't paying attention and then i need to come back to reality. Considering he's a first generation immigrant and he never dreamed of owning the technological gadgets that are just daily necessities to me, he could never fully understand why I was so attached to them. When I was 11, my dad's business starting picking up and he bought himself a new cell phone. Ever since then, he eats with it, sleeps with it and cannot go an hour without knowing where it is or who is calling. In this case I think Suzuki is right, technology allows us to be very easily distracted from our current environment and oftentimes we become antisocial without even realizing it. When my brother bought his first ipod, he stopped talking to me and my mom on our way to school because he was listening to music. Even the majority of students walking around campus have their headphones in their ear and you become way more hesitant to talk to them.

However, there is the flip side to this argument. Television is one of the most common forms of relaxation because it allows us to escape our busy, hectic lives for an hour at a time and just unwind in front of the screen. In addition, television can also help create smaller, more intimate communal environments as well. Every monday and thursday night my roommates and I take a break from our crazy and hectic work schedules to sit down in our living room and watch our favorite shows. Even though we are zoning out from reality, we are as a small community, tuning in to another community of characters on the screen. In this case, television proves to be a very social activity because it brings people together in a way we wouldn't normally have time for.

I remember my freshman year of high school my friend had a camera phone. This was such a HUGE deal at the time, especially since I didn't even have my own cell phone, his phone had a camera so he must be rich... Just a week ago my 10 year old cousin ran up to me to show me her new cell phone (complete with camera obviously).. To reflect and realize how much technology has changed and affected our lives so much in just five years is crazy.

Suzuki brings up interesting points in the argument of the effect of technology on our interactions with family and our surrounding communities. I agree that cell phones distract from current, physical interactions, it's obvious in every day activities whether it be shopping in the grocery store or sitting in a lecture, they're everywhere. But on the other hand, modern technology has also made it possible to keep in closer touch with friends and relatives. Moving away to college makes you appreciate the option of communicating via text, email, etc. So while Suzuki brings up the point that technology may be taking away from the real world, it doesn't touch on the fact that technology allows us to communicate with people regardless of where they are, and although it may be virtually, these people still exist and technology allows us to do what may have taken days or longer in the past.

While reading this article, I could not help but think about an episode I’ve seen of South Park titled “Make Love, Not Warcraft.” In the episode, Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny become obsessed with the video game World of Warcraft and spend countless hours inside a basement with their eyes glued to computer screens and ultimately become obese. Although I found this episode hilarious, it is also sad to think that this may be a correct, although exaggerated, representation of children today. My younger brother, for example, is thirteen years old and prefers to spend most of his time in his room, on his computer, with his television on. He also prefers to have the windows and blinds shut. I do not share an obsession with video games as much of the youth of my generation, but I understand the infatuation with the virtual fantasy that video games encompass. For example, I see movies as a temporary mental escape from reality. While watching a movie, the plot engrosses my mind and I become emotionally involved until the movie ends. I enjoy movies very much, but I don’t think this engrossment is healthy. Many forms of technology offer the same experience, but as Suzuki describes, we should become more in touch with the real world around us.

I would like to be less dependent on my cell phone and the internet, but because the majority of our society today has become accustomed to such technological gadgets, I would probably lose touch with some of my friends and family. I cannot imagine what it would be like not being able to call or text my mom or best friend at any given moment. However, if we could all go back to 1995 without most of the gadgets we have today, we would all be much healthier and I think happier.

I think Suzuki is warning us to be aware of our responsibilities as consumers. Suzuki points out that we not only have a responsibility to sustain our natural environment but also a responsibility to educate younger generations on the dangers of overindulgence and immoderation of consumer goods. I agree with Suzuki when he asserts that electronics may “make our lives easier” but may not “make our lives better.” Our unhealthy obsession with technology and consumer goods has affected both our social relationships and our personal morals and values. Children, today, measure their happiness not on the meaningful memories they create with their family, but on the number of gifts they receive on Christmas morning.

I think we should focus on how technology has made our lives easier and continue to appreciate the benefits that it provides for us. I think that our dependency on technology and “stuff” has not only fostered the “gaps” or “emptiness” in our lives but has also created them. Suzuki says, “I think people are hungry for change but feel trapped. We are yearning for meaning but accepting baubles and trinkets instead.” Suzuki makes an interesting point; although we may realize the detrimental effects of our obsession with “things,” we are so intensely dependent on our cell phones and Ipods that it is hard for us to tear ourselves away from them. I think Suzuki would agree that technology is a dangerous thing—if we enjoy it in moderation, it is a healthy benefit; but if we enjoy it so much it that begins to deteriorate our values and our natural enviroment, we become paralyzed victims of its tightening choke hold.

The True Cost of Gadgets
“There’s nothing wrong with a little visual stimulation, but there’s more to life. We mustn’t forget to feed our other senses. Right now, they’re starving, and that may not be good for our mental or physical health”

Our world has become a virtual board game. We are going through the routines in our daily life but we are dependent on technology to make the next move. This article points out the negative side effects of mass consumer technology. Yes, technology is beneficial in innumerable ways.
However, people – especially young children as David Suzuki points out – have changed their perception of the world due to the high amount of “gadgets”. It’s true that daily life is full of things we can’t ever really touch. In the article, Suzuki states that Christmas has become less about spirituality and more about shopping. People shop in order to keep tradition of giving gifts and with less religious tradition, people are striving to maintain tradition through gift giving. The bigger the gift – the better. But even this tradition is dwindling. Shoppers are now finding that “perfect gift” online, where you can’t even touch the item. So how can that gift be perfect? Well, the answer is that electronics are popular gifts and there is not much to touch with electronics, so the cycle continues. This is not to say that people are not snuggling, touching, eating, drinking, decorating, etc. around Christmas time, but there is definitely a trend towards the intangible.

Personally, I think this visual stimulation and endless worlds seen through the computer has enhanced imagination. With technology, anything is possible. Paris is just a click away. The bottom line is balance. To succeed in our modern world, children must be beyond computer savvy. They must be electronic geniuses for the majority of future careers. I’d have to agree with Suzuki in that our technological world is not necessarily negative, it is positive as long as we keep in balance with our biological desire to truly experience the world, not through a computer, television or blackberry screen.

I don't watch television. I do text, but am relatively new to the texting craze; I can go without texting for a while. I don't need Facebook to interact with the people I know. I don't even own an iPod. My 360 is ages beyond the Playstation I had as a kid, but these days I don't find myself playing as many video games as before. I think I can say that I'm almost living the life Suzuki believes we all should. Technologically, my life now isn't too different from my life in 1995.

Except for the internet.

I download my TV shows. I download my music and stream it on my computer. I e-mail; I don't need to Facebook, but the truth is that I do. I browse message boards for fun. Online notes even let me not go to classes.

I can appreciate the outdoors. But I don't. Other technologies haven't pulled me in yet. But the internet has consumed me.

David Suzuki makes an excellent argument about how we are too wired and attached to modern technology in our current society. I found his points on the environmental and psychological consequences of the high-tech lifestyle to be particularly interesting. His article suggests both balance and change. He is not suggesting that all technology is horrible and should have never been invented, but rather that we have unevenly shifted towards the virtual world while not spending enough time in the natural, realistic world around us.

You asked us how we would feel about living in 1995 without today's most often used technology. I have to admit it would take some adjusting since I rely on modern technology daily. However, I think I would live a less stressed-out lifestyle and would have a slower pace of life. I would use traditional ways of communicating with my family and friends but might not stay in touch with acquaintances as much. I would probably have to work much harder in school since I use technology as an academic resource all the time, yet I would also have the benefit of being active and outside more often. I see many advantages to the lower level of technology and inventions that were present in 1995. I would miss many elements of today's technology and consumer goods, but I am confident I could find plenty of natural replacements to fill my time and keep me happy. Whether it be playing in a swamp as Suzuki referred to or riding horses through fields as I did as a kid, these natural replacements are no doubt more beneficial and satisfying to us both as we do them and for our future.

I believe what Suzuki is trying to explain to us is in roughly 15 years we have become a society that thrives on communication. Whether it may be "more bars in more places," instant messaging your friends on facebook, listening to music wherever and whenever or accessing your email whenever. Communication has been the field that technology has thrived in the most for the past decade. Without all of these new forms of entertainment, communication and the internet how would our society even exist. If all of these technologies vanished we would take a major step back.

If I was to drop my phone, turn off my internet, and turn off my facebook I would be disconnected from the world. I would fall behind on school due to the lack of accessing my emails, loose touch with my friends, and be extremely bored. However, I think that life would be much less stressful and simpler. I believe that we focus too much on technology, which is something that I have grown to dislike. Losing all of this technology would change our life today much more than many of us realize.

What Suzuki is attempting to do here with his thought experiment is force us to reevaluate the way in which we live today. Not more than fifteen years ago, the majority of the gadgets that we refer to as essentials today had yet to be invented and still society did not come to a grinding halt. Perhaps, what Suzuki is alluding to is that what we consider to be necessities today are not really necessities at all, but rather conveniences that we inappropriately deem as essential. I'll admit, life today would be much harder without the convenience of a cell phone, but it does not seem as if life as I know it would come to an end.

Furthermore, in a world where the majority of our gadgets are used to more easily communicate with each other, what is it that we are really saying to one another? It seems as if the use of different gadgets often takes away from the more intimate communication that tends to take place face to face. Rather than taking the time to drop in on a friend to see how he or she is doing, we instead send each other texts that are within the specified 160 character limit. While the simple presence of a text allows us to know that another person is thinking about is, it is hardly the ideal way to express one's feelings.

In direct contrast with this are the social networking sites that allow us to have all the information about our friends right at our fingertips. In 1995 it hardly seemed essential for us to know a person's beliefs and favorite quotes before even meeting them. Instead, we were taught that gradually learning about one another was the ideal way of building strong relationships.

“Indeed, most of us have become so accustomed to the dominance of visual stimuli that we don’t really think about it anymore. We take it for granted that most of the information we use to understand our world comes through our eyes. It’s normal to us. But our other senses may be languishing.” (44)

If you ask a teenager to describe a setting nowadays, they will describe everything visually, with more emphasis on those objects that are bright or huge. If the individual even notices a scent, sound, or touch, they will mostly likely fail to describe it because the lack of experience of using it. Like Suzuki explains, with your eyes, you don’t even have to think about it. This can ultimately affect their intelligence and social interactions.
For example, an individual may lack the ability to interpret another’s actions (i.e. in a relationship). Also, one may not be able to infer information in certain settings, which can lead to consequences. A far fetched instance is if you’re crossing the street and you don’t see a car coming towards you, so you cross the street thinking its safe is not enough. You should be able to tune into the sound of an intersection and determine if a car is coming towards your way whether you can see it or not, stop, look, and listen.
Our senses can be misleading, however depending on a single sense is more unreliable.

“But when the world of fantasy, of television, video games, and computers becomes the only outlet for our sense of wonder, then I think we are really missing something. We are missing a connection with the living world with which we share common histories, life cycles, and even segments of our genetic code.” (p.200)
I definitely agree with this statement. Growing up in a world where television was increasingly popular, it was a large part of my lifestyle when I grew up. Although I was somewhat restricted from watching TV too often, it undoubtedly influenced the way that I learned things and the way I was entertained as a young girl. Though a lot of TV shows were educational, it still didn’t give kids the same experiences that generations before me have had in nature and in things outside of technology.

I have only one exception. I think that series like Planet Earth are an excellent hybrid between technology and the living world. It provides an unbiased view of just how amazing the world is. With cold hard facts interspersed with incredible High-Definition visuals, this series has transformed the way I think about the natural world. Things I never knew existed appear on the show, and it is truly a shock to see these things. The series’ take on global warming serves as an undertone and warns its viewers that if we don’t do something now, these amazing animals, plants, and places are soon to be no more.
But the fact that Planet Earth shows me things that I didn’t even know existed in the first place is shocking enough. This is probably due to the way my generation was raised. I am evidence of the study that is mentioned in this article. By age eight, children were identifying about 80 percent of Pokemon cards they showed them and less than 50 percent of wildlife cards. Young children are sucked into television programs like these and forget that there is a real world out there waiting to be discovered. Of course, I had my time outdoors, but it was probably nothing like the experiences of the generations before me, who didn’t even have the option of technology as a form of entertainment. The overwhelming and ever-increasing influence of technology may be the direction our world is heading, and most people seem to think it’s a bad thing. All I know is, it may be nearly impossible to stop it in its tracks.

I think that Suzuki would love to make a spectacle of my situation yesterday...I was downtown Santa Barbara consuming a nice Thai lunch, and some shopping on state street. I got a phone call during this shopping on my blackberry from my friend who attends Berkeley, and when our conversation was over I put my phone back into my purse and continued consuming...or so I thought. After about 5 shops and a Starbucks coffee I got in my car, filled up on gas for $3.09 a gallon and returned back to Isla Vista. About half way through an episode recorded on DVR I panicked and realized my phone had disappeared. I called all the stores I was in earlier...no luck. I retraced my steps in my head I have come to the realization that I actually THREW MY BLACKBERRY AWAY...in a state street garbage can. I must admit last night was difficult without handheld access to internet or my alarm schedule, but I would also like to note how redeemed and worry free I feel. Perhaps it was my subconscious empty self that put it in that trash can. Is this my first step to healing?

I think Suzuki's article and experiment make reference to consumerism's erosion of character. The kind of technology that we surround ourselves with today generates a lack of individualism and creativity. Within a decade, our society has transitioned into a world lacking independence; instead we find ourselves reliant on gadgets rather then character. Ranking and esteem are now determined by who has what rather than individual integrity.

This experiment asks us to reassess our priorities and value system. I think the results would be pretty telling in regards to what we miss while the TV is on and our cell phones ringing. Consumerism stimulates the economy and social networks, but it threatens the sincerity of our communities. Even I am old enough to remember the years when my life wasn't fueled by technology, and I think it made it easier to grow up: I ate with my family, played outside, read books, and remained oblivious to the world's temptations and problems. Our world's youth are now made accessible to so many corruptive options. I for one consider myself lucky to be raised just before the age where every 6th grader goes to school with a cell phone and i-Pod in their ear. Technology is no doubt a blessing in so many ways, but our outright conviction in it is troubling.

I can easily admit that I am a victim of our society’s obsession with technology. Just looking around my room, I can spot my iphone, laptop computer, television, dvd player, and ipod, all of which I’m sure my roommates own as well, along with most other UCSB students. Sure, these things make my life much easier. My iphone allows me to check the weather outside, check my email when I’m not at home, and text my friends and family. Facebook allows me to keep up with my friends’ lives, and connect with people I might’ve lost touch with. But at the same time, all these new technologies can be extremely distracting. I’m very often tempted to text during classes, and to constantly check my facebook when I’m avoiding studying. So while I do admit that these technologies can be convenient and fun to use, they also have a downside in that they create somewhat of a dependence in their users, causing the user to miss out on other possible interactions and learning experiences. I know I would have a difficult time adjusting to a life without all this technology, but I’m sure I would get a lot more done.

I wholeheartedly agree with Suzuki on the subject. I believe that with every advancing generation and even every advancing year gadgets become more and more integrated into our lifestyles. Like others have said, even over the past few years we see that technology has advanced rapidly.

Suzuki brings up an interesting and very true point about the distractions these technologies provide from everyday life. People have become more and more used to texting and other forms of communication away from face to face contact. In fact, many studies have shown this correlation to be true and that many people in our generation prefer communication through electronic means rather than direct contact. This may hinder our communication with our peers over the long run and in the work environment. However, it does allow us to reach virtually anyone in the world at any time and in a sense can bring us closer. Communication methods which took days and weeks over the last hundred years have evolved into instant communication. This has allowed us to reach those whom we wish to contact instantly at any time we desire. Yet I still do believe that the advancement of electronics and the everyday reliance we have put on them has hindered our reliance on traditional forms of communication such as direct person to person contact and this may prove to be detrimental in the long run.

People nowadays have lost touch with a reality outside of their virtual reality. We stay so connected to our cell phones, televisions, and computers that we forget to interact with the natural world and even with each other, in person. I think it's sad that we've adopted a consuming culture and a virtual reality to fill the void that nature and family used to fill for us.

Suzuki wants us to think about what life would be like without all these technologies, back in 1995. Personally, I'm always happier when my life is simpler, without all the distractions of cell phones and beeping machines that command my attention away from the real, physical world. I think people should revisit a time when Iphones didn't exist in order to reconnect with their other senses and appreciate what nature has to offer us. It's not healthy to always be connected to the world of virtual reality at the expense of experiencing our real surroundings, which have provided for us since humans existed.

It is astounding how far we have come in only the last 14 years since 1995. The entire way that we view life, the window that we see it through, has changed completely. Every year or two for the last two decades we have been handed another product that we “have” to have. First it was CD’s and CD players, then soon after came DVDs. We then moved on to the internet and cell phones, which have now expanded to the point where most everyone is plugged in at all times. The onset of technology has always given us new things to rely on; 150 years ago nobody even had lights in their houses, and now electricitiy is only one of the many signals that flow into each of our households. Every product they come out with that makes our life “easier” really just adds another device for us to be reliant on.

Human's ability to adapt to, and change the world around them in such profound way really is a double-edged sword. The technological advances since even 1995 have completely altered human interaction and lifestyle, and I believe the unbelievable speed in which we've adopted and accepted these changes is a somewhat scary proposition. The uncertainty of where we are as a society, and where we are going, naturally leads to a sort of idolization or nostalgia for a “simpler” time. But, a the same time, people seem to downplay the enormous improvements and opportunities created by these technologies. The internet alone provides an almost limitless arena for spreading ideas and knowledge accessible to millions. Yes the world is changing rapidly, but regression is not the solution to a stable and sustainable society, rather we need to work to integrate these advancements in a responsible manner, developing coinciding technology to protect the environment, while utilizing these gadgets in a way that enriches our relationships with ourselves and those around us. The fear of isolation is a real, but not inevitable.

After reading Suzuki's article I am left with a feeling of idiocy and foolishness, because unfortunately it is all true. Society has began to see technology not as a luxury but rather a fundamental part of our everyday lives. With the popularity of cyber communication it is impossible to be a highly productive member of the work force without participating in these forms of communication.
This however is not what causes me to be sadden by the quote, but rather the fact that we have an installed sense of reliance upon these technological devices. I can not tell you how I would live being a college student without email or a cell phone. The fact that this seams impossible to me is only a testament to power of the consumer society. every generation in the past has lived without these luxuries and prospered. We however feel that we are inadequate or unable to be a fundamental part of today's fast moving society without having these gadgets.

“Times certainly change, but when our behaviors change in a way that alienates us from the natural world upon which we depend for our food, our energy, our natural resources – our very lives – that, to me, is cause for concern.”

Suzuki brings up a very pertinent argument because I do not doubt the growing trend in obesity is related to the decrease in outdoor activity and the increase in electronic media usage. This should be of great concern, especially with regards to children. We have children developing Type II diabetes… this is a problem!! The advancements in the video game industry have made people sedentary. The shift away from nature and outdoor activity towards inactive electronic media is startling. I work with children (K-8th grade) and the time they spend in the computer lab rather than playing on the field is not even comparable. I don’t have an all encompassing solution, but I do think it must start at the home. Parents need to set limits on how much time their children are allowed to watch television and play video games. In a society where parents work longer hours they need to find active avenues for their children when they got off school. We commonly associate new technology with ease and effortlessness, but, as Suzuki notes, “These electronics may make our lives easier, but I often question whether they are making our lives better.” And if we don’t start working towards a solution our obsession with technology is going to greatly reduce our self-worth and quality of life.

I find it interesting that even as I try to focus my attention to writing this response I am being sucked into the powerful forces of facebook. I have already checked it today, I am sure there will be nothing new, but I continuously find myself back on that home page. Like the Americans that Suzuki describes, I am constantly “plugged in.” I am not sure exactly when my addiction to technology began, but I do remember a life before it. I was lucky enough to be raised by a hippie mother who did not want television in the house and always had to live somewhere with plenty of gardening space. My free time was spent exploring the woods or river, building forts or helping my mom water the flowers. I had my own fantasy worlds as well and loved to sneak away under a tree with a good book, but at least these other worlds were ones I envisioned in my own mind and did not just watch on a screen. But somewhere around the time I entered high school this began to change. Starting with the cell phone and working up to the ipod, I now cant get through a day without using my various gadgets. I would love to experience the same sense of adventure and freedom I did as a child and refocus on the beautiful world around me instead of the screen in front of me but it is impossible in todays society. These new technologies may make everything more complicated but is a road that I don’t think can be turned back on. So I will now submit this via the wonderful world wide web and return to my facebook once again.

I believe that living in 1995 would be very difficult for me. I could not image being disconnected from my family, friends, and social networks for that long. I do not tweet but I do regular update my facebook and a talk to friends constantly throughout the day. I have trouble even imagining the days when you had to find a payphone to make a call. There are very few payphones that even still exist, in my hometown. Quite honestly I feel that it would be quite agonizing to wait for a call and have to stay by the phone all day. It is daunting to think that I am so attached to technology however I must admit I experience a great sense of uneasiness whenever I even leave the house without my cell phone. I feel cut off from the outside world. Also my cell phone has a lot of my personal life stored inside. If I leave my phone in someone else’s possession I almost always have the fear that they will read or listen t to my messages. This is not to say that I have anything too incriminating stored on my phone but I feel it is a grave invasion of my privacy. So in some ways I might even go as far to say that I consider my cell phone an extension of myself.
It is scary to think that we are leaning more and more toward a virtual reality. Though this would have it’s benefits I did not think I could be satisfied with this way of life. I wonder about future generations and how life will be for my children. I would not want them confined to a manufactured reality I would want them to experience life to its fullest . Though I do not foresee myself giving up any of my technological gadgets I will try and be more mindful of what technology is truly enhancing my life.

Sometimes, I do wish for my life to be unfettered from the myriad of unnecessary technologies upon which I have become dependent. Very few things are as irksome as people Twittering (or, more annoyingly, "tweeting") about what they had for breakfast that morning... or the thousands of "OMG LOL KOBE!!11" Facebook status updates that inundate my stalker feed (which makes being creepy exceptionally easy) every time there's a game on TV.

Indeed the technological landscape of 2009 is beginning to resemble the scene in the Matrix where Neo realizes that he's got gigantic cables plugged into his brainstem. The resemblance is metaphorical, of course, but it seems as if we -- as a society -- have all taken the blue pill.

“Far from spending the majority of my time indoors, I spent most of my waking hours outside swimming, fishing, hiking or just exploring.”(p. 48)

Kids need to get hurt. A fundamental part of any child's development is to wander and explore the world. Naturally getting bumps and bruises are an important reminder of what we can and can't do. The fact that a childhood spent outdoors seems strange or unsafe proves Suzuki's point. Children nowadays have lost any connection to the world outside the front door. As a result, trust in marketing and consumption, outweighs our natural desire to experience the natural world and our relation to it. Suzuki demands for a change in the way adults view their responsibility to teach younger generations about the benefits of going outside.
I noticed an interesting trend that reflects this decay of the benefits of going outside. In a constant attempt to make everything safe, the parks around my house completely remodeled their play sets. Instead out the old two story structure with a long, straight, metal slide, a one story curvy plastic slide was installed. As a child I spent most of my time at that park in a desperate attempt to be the fastest down the original slide of doom. Granted I received a fair share of cuts and bruises and one time I actually fell backwards off the structure onto my back. However I am still alive and healthy despite how “dangerous” the park was. Now I chuckle as I see kids at the same age I was, in the protective arms of their parents as they try to scoot down the new spiral. It must be difficult being a child nowadays when the only true excitement a kid can have is in front of a computer screen.

When I first read this article, the first two paragraphs struck me immediately and I planned on writing on them even before I knew that it was the assignment.
There is this nostalgic sort of romanticism with the past. When I was watching Fried Green Tomatoes with my roommate, we both wanted to live back in the 1920’s when half of the movie took place. The houses were nicer the people were friendlier and the grass was greener. But mainly it was the simplicity of life back then that was the most enticing. Idgie Threadgood,, the main character in the 1920’s half of the movie, fished, climbed trees, and generally did not worry about much unless it was right at hand. In today’s information-packed world, it seems very attractive to be able to unplug in such a way. And yet, as said in the second paragraph, that sort of life didn’t disappear until very recently, a fact often forgotten. The normal way of life has drastically changed in the last decade and it has happened almost without anyone realizing it. Technology and our reliance upon it have grown exponentially. At one point people actually had to be in their houses to be contacted via phone. Other than that plans had to be made in advance, in person. Stories and information were told face to face and immediate connection was not available. What is odd, however, is that that way is now something longed for. People often wish for a return to the “simpler days” when cell phones and texting and hundreds of channels on the television weren’t average. It’s possible. That kind of life can be easily returned to. However, as the article says, “friends might think you’ve lost it.” And it would be unpractical. Where people in the past were able to work around not having a constant connection, the ability has now been lost due to disuse. My best friend didn’t have a cell phone all throughout high school. Working around that was difficult. If she was out with her sisters or with other people, I had no way of contacting her. She enjoyed the simplicity though. And it was something I got used to eventually. But despite that I had always wished that she did have a phone for simplicity’s sake, ironically, even as I wished that I could live back in the same simple age as Idgie.

Suzuki's comment brings together many of the technologies we view as "must haves" in 2009 and reminds us that all of these items did not exist even within the short lifetimes of us college students. It often seems as though we could barely survive without some of these products, since we have been conditioned through advertising and actual possession to believe so. Losing a cell phone is a travesty, closing your Facebook account would seem absurd. How dare you not be reachable 24 hours a day?!
Accessible and constant communication has lead to a few things. First, it has made the population increasingly bad at commitment. With the touch of a button, we can make, cancel, or postpone any plan. In 1995 (or any year before that), if you said you'd be there, you had better be there. Second, many of these technologies have put us in our own worlds. There is a preoccupation with one's gadgets that removes us, at least mentally, from real world interaction with those around us, and allows us to collaborate online. Escaping to an online world of communication has lead to a decrease in effective face-to-face dialogue, as we are simply not forced to do it.
Life 14 years ago sounds attractive. There are times when I'd like to drop the dependency on my cell phone and laptop. I would like to be a skilled communicator away from the computer and the text message. Despite the enticing simplicity of a life without these gadgets, I do recognize their benefit and convenience. What needs to be established is a balance. Just as with anything else, a balance between electronic and real life communication will help us to use these technologies in their most effective way, while maintaining a realistic connection with the physical world around us.

Instead of pretending to live in 1995 at my age, I'm going to reflect on what it was actually like for me. In 1995, I was seven years old and in the 2nd/3rd grade. I lived in a somewhat poorer neighborhood in Los Angeles. My family lived in a pretty open spaced house. It had a moderate sized front yard, a side yard, and a huge garage with all of my father's carpenter equipment. In our side yard we had plum vines. And every year (I forget which season it is), my older brother and I would have a competition of who could pick the most plums. Then, we would take the excess plums and give them to our neighbors, and our aunt who lived across the street. One summer we decided we were going to build forts with the four by fours in the garage. We made four walls, but had no idea how to connect them. Then we turned them into ramps for roller blading off of on the sidewalks. We became really cool that summer. All the neighborhood kids would spent time in front of our house and we'd try to out do each on the ramps. The most technologically advanced item we had in our house was a computer (sans internet). Our dad bought it so we could practice our typing (Mavis Beacon). I hated it. All I wanted to do was jump off the ramps and play with our Chihuahuas, Joseph and Mary (we're Catholic).
When I think about 1995, I have great and amazing memories. My family didn't have much at that time, but I had all I needed for a great childhood. I spent most days outdoors, and even quit Piano cause all I wanted to do was play tag outside, or learn how to roller blade backwards. Now, my younger brother and sister on the other hand, had very different childhoods. They enjoyed the gadgets and technology my family slowly began to accumulate. My younger brother John, who is 5 years my junior, had a faster WPM than I did and could troubleshoot anything. During their childhood, they were already surrounded by this technology and immediately dependent on it. They grew up with cable, I did not. I got my first cell phone in my senior year of high school. My little brother got his first cell phone in 6th grade. My little sister got hers when she was 7. She got a sidekick.
When I was about 9, my father got his Chiropractor's license and started making more money. We moved to this gorgeous house in a middle class neighborhood with palm trees. We had a huge backyard with lots of grass and trees, and there was a park a block away. I was stoked. Right after school I would grab a bunch of quarters and walk to the park. I would buy a twin pop and hang out with the neighborhood kids. We would spend hours there making sand castles, and digging holes as deep as we could. My little brother and sister on the other hand, have spent maybe a handful of days at the park. Usually the only reason why they go is for the ice cream.
Suzuki is definitely right when it comes to the way technology affects people today. It totally changed how people and children lived their lives in a matter of a decade. Even though my siblings and I are technically in the same generation, the 90s made a big difference. My childhood and my younger siblings' childhoods are drastically different and there is only about a five and eight year age difference between us. If this keeps up, future generations will have nothing in common with the previous one.

"We live in a visually oriented world where the vast majority of our attentions are focused on what we can see. Whether we’re watching television working on a computer, or driving a car, sight has become the most dominant sense in modern life.”

Vision is undeniably the dominant sense in modern society. This is a fact. Vision has probably always been the dominant sense, but not in the same capacity that it is today. Modern society neglects touch, smell, taste, and, to a slightly lesser degree, sound. This is particularly apparent when looking at contemporary forms of physical activity. Exercise is becoming sedentary. Instead of going for a run outside, people go for a run inside – on a treadmill. Instead of going for a bike ride outside, people choose to bike on stationary bikes, inside. While doing these now sedentary physical activities, people engage the all-important sense of sight. Instead of exercising outside and observing the natural surroundings, people now watch television while exercising. Modern fitness equipment is almost always fitted with LCD television screens attached directly to the front-center of the machine. These TV’s are the focal point of the exercise. Even while lifting weights, something that has traditionally been done indoors, people are simultaneously watching TV. At UCSB’s gym there are two huge flat-screen displays as either end of the weights-rack. People congregate around these TV’s and watch sports while they exercise; they always watch sports.

The idea of modern technology is a concept often discussed in 2009. What is appropriate, how it is affecting current generations, and what can be done to change the current situation. However prevalent this theme appears to be, Suzukis' article got straight to the point and made me truly reconsider the technology-based world we have surrounded ourselves by. Yes, I have considered what it would be like to not have a cell phone, or not be connected to the world wide web in a heartbeat, but never before have I actually thought of it in a generally positive light. Through Suzuki's argument I could actually see myself living in 1995 without our modern technology and being able to cope with life's daily activities.

I loved the quote: "We have millions of years of evolution programmed into our cells, programming that's infinitely more complex than anything we've created with our shiny new and exciting technologies." It is true, in the past 50 years, and more specifically, the past 10-15 we have so dramatically altered the world we live in, I am surprised our evolved bodies can even attempt to catch up. In addition, we have only fostered this rapid change, even convincing our bodies that day/night doesn't matter (as in arcades, casinos and the plethora of 24-hour places).

I think that conducting this experiment would be very interesting. Our generation is so used to having a constant connection with others even if its through some sort of humanless media. We are constantly checking our phone to check if we missed a phone call or a text message, or checking our emails and facebooks to check if we have anything in our inbox. I think it gives people a sense of being accepted in society and a way that people can become something they really arent in real life. In cyber space individuals can become someone else from the safety of their homes or even on their phones while we are in class. This experiment would be really hard for most people because for our generation it has become a way of life, and if we dont have it we feel like we are missing something.

The majority of the world has conformed to the new technologies of the era. I agree with Suzuki in that everyone is losing touch with reality and are becoming distant from real friendships and relationships. There is a huge pressure to conform though. I couldn't imagine how to function in today's society with out a cell phone. Any decisions that my friends would make without me around i would be completely left out of. i can think of only one person in my college life that hasn't had a facebook and he recently had succumb to its popularity and created an account. i have grown up in a society that demands technological to keep in contact with others. it is very superficial but it is how things are now.

It is very interesting to ponder how things operated in 1995. i have asked my parents and relatives how there partied or went out on the weekend with out cell phones. basically they had to plan everything out way in advance. i can see how that would make going out with friends more significant but i feel that it takes away from spontaneity. i feel like the most fun that i have is when i don't know that it's coming. my parents were unable to enjoy spur of the moment activities when they were young because they had no cell phones. instead they would have to sit down and write a letter or make a home phone call and hope that person was at home at the time.

"Children of the twenty-first century are growing up in a world very different from the one I faced. In some ways they have more opportunities than my generation ever did. But they also face new problems and threats that we never would have imagined."

Growing up in this century has made me very bias. Although Suzuki makes a valid argument in that we as a generation will face new problems, I would have to say that technology really is a positive aspect. Not only does it make communication faster but it also connects people instantaneously. For instance, while abroad at Cambridge University two summers ago I found myself emailing, facebooking, and skypeing all the time so I could keep in touch with loved ones. If these technologies were not invented I would have had to keep in touch the old fashioned way via postcards and letters. Not to say that there is a problem with writing letters however I truly enjoyed how convenient it was to be able to talk to someone over the computer.