Technology Is A Tool, Not A Substitute

In Alone Together Sherry Turkle says, "Technology is seductive when what it offers meets our human vulnerabilities." One of the things Turkle is saying is that we are vulnerable because we do need connection and intimacy yet we see this need as somehow an inconvenience. For example Turkle writes, "I believe that in our culture of simulation, the notion of authenticity is for us what sex was for the Victorian -- threat and obsession, taboo and fascination" (p.4).

The book opens with the statement, "Technology proposes itself as the architect of our intimacies" (p.1). Turkle introduces her claim that technology has become a substitute for our intimacy or connection with other people. I think this has been brought about by extreme depression (or desperation, in other people's cases) due to solitude. Turkle asserts that we are easily attracted with technology because for one thing it is easy. I think of it more as a tool rather than a substitute. One of the main advantages technology nowadays offers is its convenience. Since many people are preoccupied with mostly their careers, the use of technology helps with its efficiency. Reaching out to loved-ones despite our busy day-to-day schedules is no longer demanding, all thanks to Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, text messaging, etc. On the other hand, in the eyes of the author, technology has become a substitute. The fact that it is very convenient, it lures its users in and eventually takes over their original purpose for using it - connecting to other people. Instead of forming relationships with the use of technology, some people end up making a connection to this tool.

In "The Robotic Moment," Turkle expands on this technological seduction idea when she tells the story of taking her daughter, Rebecca, to the museum exhibiting Darwin's works. "At the exhibit's entrance are two giant tortoises from the Galapagos Island" (p.3). Surprisingly, Rebecca was bothered by this. She thought that it would have been better had they used robots instead of having to fly these tortoises in just for the exhibit. I think this is only natural for kids to react to it this way, they are naturally compassionate especially to animals. They are just kids. However, as Turkle continues and mentions one of the kids say "aliveness comes with aesthetic inconvenience," I could not help but wonder, is technology better than reality that even kids are intimidated by the physical presence of these tortoises? And then she mentions the kid in Animal Kingdom, who prefers the simulated creatures who roll their eyes and slap their tails in Disneyworld than the actual jellyfish floating in the water. I think the problem is maybe we enhance reality too much and try to make it "better" in the simulated virtual world. Thus, we tend to expect more from the real and demand more from what it already has to offer. Furthermore, Turkle expands on this idea (seducing technology) as she talks about David Levy's book, Love and Sex with Robots (p.5). In his book, he states that robots will make better friends and lovers than humans do. They will soon learn about sex positions and will know more than humans do. According to Levy, the good thing about this is that it will benefit us since we get to practice on them. I started to question myself as I read. Practice? As if trying to be perfect? Do we need perfect friends/lovers? Sure that's what we ask for, that's what's ideal. But does anyone really think that this so-called "perfect relationship" will be in any way functional? Nothing is exciting if we know what the outcome will be. And isn't excitement what we're looking for in a relationship? A relationship with a bot will probably be perfect, but I think it will be nothing more than stationary. In Miriam's case, it becomes apparent that people look for someone (or in desperate cases, something) who would feel the same we do (p.8). We want someone to reassure us that how we feel about certain things is okay. This is why some people are willing to be with robots or are more comfortable with them. They don't judge. They don't have their own minds, which entitles them of an opinion. They don't have experiences. Robots agree, they don't argue. We become willing to settle because settling is easier. We don't want to feel or go through the negatives in life.

In "Connectivity And Its Discontents," we can see how the purpose of technology seems self-contradicting. Online connections, particularly, were developed to substitute face-to-face connections. It was promised that it would give us more time, only to consume all the time we have in our hands (p.13). Skype-ing with friends, while it allows us to talk for hours while seeing them on the web camera at the same time for free, it also self-destroys this "connection"it proposes to its users. "Ellen and her grandmother were more connected than they had ever been before, but at the same time, each was alone" (p.14). Since both are preoccupied with other things going on on each other's end, the connection they believe they have is eliminated. Moreover, Turkle states that "texting offers just the right amount of access, just the right amount of control" (p.15). Maybe this is right. Maybe this is what we prefer. Maybe we want this type of connection, connecting with people but at the same keeping the distance between each other. What's wrong with not wanting to out our guards down?

In "Romancing The Machine: Two Stories," Turkle makes a reference to Furbies and Tamagotchis, and mentions that "if something asks for your care, you don't want to analyze it but take it 'at interface value.' It becomes 'alive enough' for relationship" (p.18). Through this she goes back to the problem that was proposed early on about how some people become too desperate for a relationship that they will take whatever they think satisfies what they need. As she concludes her introduction, she asserts that "relationships with robots are ramping up, relationships with people are ramping down" (p.19). I had to disagree with this, because I really think that we only connect or form relationships with people through technology (robots). Technology is merely a tool we use.

- Kate Bolfango