Thursday depicts the loss we incur when we invest ourselves and day-to-day activities completely in technology. Our increasing reliance on technology to work, relax and connect with others can be a detriment if there is no balance and perspective.
Whether using tech in work, school or for social interactions, I feel it is key to incorporate what computers cannot--common sense and judgement--and to keep the capability to survive without technology as an alternative.
The more dependent on technology we become, the more we lose of our humanity and connection to nature. As with everything else in life, it's all about balance.
I could relate to the short film Inbox as having a utopian theme, especially as someone who met her husband online. The Internet (represented by the bag in Inbox) provides us with the ability to connect with people we would normally never connect with, and reduces the size of our world.
Technology now allows us to share who we are with other people behind the safety of a computer, though it can be argued that what we choose to share can be authentic or inauthentic, or may not have the same dynamic of social exchanges that happen in person.
Obviously, not all technology-based social exchanges are ideal--many, in fact have a dystopian theme, considering people use the Internet to hide who they truly are, are not the same person in person as they are on paper, and that fate (which worked in favor of the characters in Inbox) does not always play out the way we want it to.
Whether by kismet or the power of technology, I suppose I was one of the lucky few to have had a utopian ending to a love story that began online.
I couldn't be more excited to participate in Coursera's E-Learning and Digital Cultures course, the first block of which delves into how digital cultures and digital education can be described as utopian or dystopian.
Assignment one involves a short film and our thoughts on how technology is portrayed in it. Check out the animated film below and think about what the message means to you.
To me, the animated short, Bendito Machine III's message about technology and our interaction with it was two-fold for me.
In one vein, the film seemed to portray the idea that technology and our evolving fascination with it can both help and hinder our humanity and the way in which we interact with the world and each other. In many ways, we do benefit from the various types of information that technology (in this case specifically, the medium of television) can offer us. Technology can be used as a means to gather socially (i.e., watching sports, bonding time), and can bring some enjoyment to our lives as we access information that without technology is not readily available to us whether for geographic or socioeconomic reasons. On the other hand, we can be affected adversely in the way some information (news, propaganda, advertising) is relayed--reshaping societal values, causing panic, biases, or even general desensitization.
Bendito Machine III portrays technology as having the capability to affect us both positively and negatively, but the film also speaks to technology being a fad that we as humans have the intrinsic tendency to seek after. As a global community of avid consumers who focus more on trends and disposability rather than on sustainability and environmental and economic responsibility, the next best thing out is a must-have--everything before it is out-dated and useless. This couldn't be more true in today's world than it is for technology.
There aren't many artists that can successfully combine two things I love: music and a worthy cause (Bob Marley was best at this). So when I happened across Rise Against's music while starting my daily morning music therapy session (part of my mission to attain happiness), I was pleasantly surprised and became an instant fan. While the music may not necessarily everyone's cup of tea (I like it), I assure you that one, if not more, of their videos will send shivers down your spine.
Their newest video ("Make It Stop [September's Children]") addresses the issue of bullying with a nod to (and partnership with) the "It Gets Better" campaign. I wondered if their progressive lyrical and visual content was a one-off, so I watched more: one about the cost of war ("Hero of War"), another about the disgrace that is Katrina ("Help Is On the Way)", and a third on international labor vs. U.S. consumerism ("Prayer of the Refugee").
I began to see a common thread; These were musicians with something meaningful to say, and whether you agreed with what they stood for or not, it was refreshing to enjoy a music video that addressed issues that affect millions around the world.
The video I'm posting below is a great summary of many of the things Rise Against chooses to (pardon the pun) rise against in their art. Check out "Audience of One" now:
From one person delving into our molecules to improve the quality of life to another exploring the possibility of life 600 million miles from Earth, explorers come in all packages.
Dr. Hayat Sindi is a Saudi medical researcher who is at the frontier of revolutionizing the healthcare of millions in the developing world, using something the size of a computer chip. Where labs in the most remote parts of the world take weeks to get life-saving results, Sindi's bio-technology detects diseases by analyzing body fluids. With a drop of blood, saliva, or urine on a disposable, low-tech, and inexpensive tiny piece of paper, a chemical reaction using light and sound occurs that can track faulty DNA. The beauty of this tool is that doctors can diagnose and instantly prescribe treatment to 200 people a day instead of wasting precious time waiting for results from some far-away lab.
Sindi, an inspiration to Middle Eastern girls and women especially, is also a Pop!Tech Social Innovation Fellow, co-founder of Diagnostics For All, and is working towards building a biotech research center in Saudi Arabia. Almost more inspiring than her innovation is her inspiration to paving the way for more female Muslim scientists.
On the other end of the spectrum is Kevin Hand, a planetary scientist and astrobiologist who is working with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to find signs of life in the subsurface oceans on one of Jupiter's moons, Europa. Hand's efforts in developing the tools needed to collect data once an orbiting probe is sent to Europa won't begin until 2020, but he realizes there is also work much closer to home that needs to be done. Hand's Cosmos Education is a grassroots non-profit that improves science education for the youth in Africa by bringing experts in science and technology and hands-on workshops to the kids of Sub-Saharan developing nations.
As a national of a developing country, I believe there is an immense need for a greater understanding of science as a tool to help in the areas of health, technology, and sustainable development. At the Nat Geo panel, Sindi was asked what people thought of her paper-lab, and she responded, "They think it's magic." Needless to say that I am impressed with both Sindi's and Hand's efforts to bring science to the forefront and far reaches of our world. Their dedication gives girls and boys in developing countries the opportunity to someday themselves be "magicians."
I am lucky to work at one of the world's more respected organization--National Geographic Society. And this week, our "celebrities," the Explorers whose work we support, are at headquarters for the annual Explorers Symposium. During one of the panels, Dan Buettner, explorer and author of The Blue Zones and Thrive, spoke about the world's happiest locations and what statistics showed truly made people live a happier life. I was not surprised to see that social interactions, surrounding yourself with positive people, volunteering, and having a faith were high up on the list. I was especially not surprised to learn that among things that stress people out are a long commute time (those who know me know I've considerable commuting agita!).
In essence, the "happiest" places on Earth were not some tropical island, as I'd imagined. They were Singapore, Denmark, and a small Mexican border town. The Danes have a good work-life balance, the Singaporeans can rely on a secure, stable future without too great a socio-economic discrepancy among them, and the Mexicans enjoy six or more hours a day with family and friends. These things, among many other factors, make for healthy, happy living.
Needless to say, after the panel, I rushed to purchase the book online and discovered the "Compass Quiz", which I eagerly took. Much to my dismay (I was brutally honest in my answers) I got a C+. Yes, there's been a lot of stress in my life lately--none of my friends seem truly happy, the economy sucks, and the list could go on and on.
So in the spirit of pursuing my happiness, I plan to take heed to the result's recommendations: Toss Your TV Habit, Find a Faith, Sleep 7-9 Hours, Make Time to Meditate, Spend Smarter, Hang Out With Happy People, See the Sun. Everything I know I need to do, but seeing my low score is the impetus I need to get my happy back! I plan to retake that test in a few months--and this time, ace that sucker!
From extraction to disposal, the amount of 'stuff' we consume affects our planet, environmentally as well as socially. The Story of Stuff, a creatively produced informational video, gives us a behind-the-scenes, underside look at the (damaging) linear system of our consumer habits.
And for the record, I admit to being guilty of consumerism. And even though I think I'm fairly resourceful and I recycle a lot of the stuff I buy (patching ripped bed sheets instead of tossing them, saving and reusing gift wraps and shoe boxes for other uses, etc.,), we live in a society where when something rips/breaks/tatters, we toss it and get new stuff. While I call buying cool stuff 'retail therapy' (why does shopping have to feel so damn good??) there is more to the so-called materials economy than meets the eye.
Even though The Story of Stuff video makes me feel guilty about my spending habits, it also galvanizes me to be more conscientious about every purchase I make from now now. I'm not admitting to going completely green with my consumeristic habits, but I'm definitely shooting for teal right now. Baby steps.
