Programmed or Not? 1/5

Thoughts on 'Program or Be Programmed' by Douglas Rushkoff

After reading ‘Program or Be Programmed' by Douglas Rushkoff, I become much more informed and aware of the huge impact that technology has upon us. I was born in 1980, the period when we were being dubbed "Digital Natives"[1] and technology was progressing at a rapid speed. However, the education of self awareness and timely balance with technology related tools, was not being reinforced into both the micro and macro aspects in schools. Indeed, technology is constantly changing and progressing, or retreating, depending on how we manage and deal with it in our everyday lives. 

Nowadays, especially in urban environments, I see many children swiping I-pad from an incredibly early ages of two or three. In kindergartens, teachers use I-pad to educate all aspects including literacy, mathematics, music, dance and art, just to name a few. The only times when the kids are not connected with technology is during playtime when they are forced to go outside. It is important to educate youngsters from an early age. So we will hopefully see less "ghosts" wondering in the subways or on the streets. By swiping all day and everyday just to see more bombarded information, news, or worse, play candy crash, does not necessary make us more informative or appreciative of the world. It fragments and distracts us completely from being a whole as human beings. When used inappropriately, people become “ghosts” - It deprives us from being alive, and is a form of mind paralyzing by not living in the moment when we are not “here” all the time.

        People who immerse themselves in the digital world all the time, gradually lose the ability to socialize in real time/ space with real people, thus perform and interact much worse at work, at school and with families. It is important to balance technology with non-technology life, to live in the present as a whole being, and to engage with digital technology wisely. My advocate for everyone is: turn it off and take a long break from it once in a while. 


Reference:
[1] Prensky, Marc (2001), "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants". On the Horizon 9(5):1-6.