We are all cyborgs now

I have seen the following TED talk shared in numerous places.

Cali Harris (known also as caligater), posted it on her Facebook a few days ago  with the statement “If technology affects your life, this is a must-watch. (Yes, that means you. Reading this.)”

This video is 8 minutes long and well worth you time. Here’s a description of the video:

Technology is evolving us, says Amber Case, as we become a screen-staring, button-clicking new version of homo sapiens. We now rely on “external brains” (cell phones and computers) to communicate, remember, even live out secondary lives. But will these machines ultimately connect or conquer us? Case offers surprising insight into our cyborg selves.

I love the analogy of “Mary Poppins technology”.

With most valuable resources online, I love the contination of the conversation in the comments (aside from the spam of course). Here are a few comments that intrigued me:

• This generation of 20 and 30-somethings are so funny when they talk about technology! It’s like listenng to teenagers who think they invented sex. -Keith Hart
• I heard once that we race in technology, but lack the humanity to use it. Perhaps instead the technology gives a chance to examine our humanity, and how to improve upon both. -Andrew Alessio
• I teach at a university which means I deal daily with the education of the first truly “internet raised” people, in the sense that they are the first generation in history to have grown up surrounded by mobile phones, Facebook, Twitter etc. I see no discernable difference in terms of character expression or self awareness between them and my own fellow students from my days at university. If anything, they are more socially aware and atuned to their place in the world by their constant access to information about it and, importantly, feedback from it. I think the development of things like blogs (50,000 per day) and individual webpages like Myspace show, if anything, that focus on our own interests and emotions is developing rather than receding. Most students I ask think it’s important to turn their phones/laptops off from time to time just as much as I do. - Peter Hull
• Here is a fun thought brought about by personal experiance. People that are introverted have a tendency to be that way becasue they cant find people to relate to. That was my issue when I was younger anyway. I now am very social due to the technologies of today as I am able to find and be in touch with people of similar interest, no matter what the distance between us. I also have found many people that live close to me that had the same issues We make up a great social group that hang out and do what we all love all the time now. I think these connections are very good for our species. I love my tech and enjoy seeing it get better and better. -Eric Bast

So, what say you, blog reading person living in the technology age?

About Elysa Rice

Blonde Computer Nerd. Texas Girl (Dallas to be exact). Community Manager for Bizzy. Social Media Club of Dallas Leadership. Lover of all things pink. Mac & Cheese fanatic. Apple Fangirl. View all posts by Elysa Rice →