Related Sections: Portable Gadgets Shift iPhone
SHIFT: Do gadgets make you lonely?
A coworker of mine recently sent an e-mail asking, "Why does technology seem inevitably to pull apart communities and isolate individuals?" His argument based on the assumption of Bowling Alone, that Americans are more isolated than ever. But my co-worker placed the blame for this trend squarely on the iPod and the accompanying trend of noise-isolating earbuds.
This didn't seem fair to me. On one hand, the advent of the Internet and smartphones has changed how we communicate — we e-mail, text, video chat, IM and call more than we meet in person. This new kind of socializing could leave you lonely, or it could be a welcome extension of your varied interpersonal activities. But what about the gadgets themselves? Are they really contributing to the general isolation of the populous? I tend to think not. Read why, after the jump.
iPods Are for Sharing
Smartphones aside, are people so engrossed with their personal electronics that they tune out of social situations? I suppose that depends on how social you think activities like going for a jog or riding the subway should be. In general, the iPod is a far more social device than its predecessors, the Walkman and Discman, ever were. When you bring a tape or CD over to a friend's house, you may be able to share a couple of cool songs. But when you bring your iPod, you can DJ a whole party or introduce friends to dozens of new artists. The potential for the iPod (or any other MP3 player) to be a social device, rather than an isolating one, is far greater than previous personal audio devices ever allowed.
Digital Cameras Save Christmas!
The guy with the camera at the party used to be the creepy one who you always avoided. Just what was he talking pictures of, anyway, and what did he plan to do with them? Today's pocket digital cameras allow you to share pictures on the spot by showing the results to friends. And Wi-Fi (or Eye-Fi) equipped cameras can upload new pictures to Flickr before the evening's over.
Little video cameras like the Flip and its rivals let videographers record events without having to miss out on the fun, like they used to when cameras were more unwieldy. To this argument, my friend responded, "Reality as seen through a flip video camera is like breathing through a straw." Maybe so. But to extend that metaphor, recording with a ten-pound VHS Camcorder was like breathing through a straw that's attached to a SCUBA tank. The point is, little cameras let you capture memories without taking time away from the experience (or freaking out your children).
No iPhones at the Table
Those who rail against gadgets are frequently mistaking bad manners for bad technology. While using a BlackBerry during a business meeting may be newly acceptable in some circumstances, texting on your iPhone during dinner is just plain rude.
But it's not rude in any newfangled sort of way. No, you should not play with your iPhone at the dinner table (or during any face-to-face social interaction). By the same token, you shouldn't play your DS Lite or PSP there either. And no matter how engrossing book seven of Harry Potter is, it also shouldn't join you at dinner — it doesn't matter if you're reading it on your iPhone, Kindle or in old-fashioned library book form. Do gadgets like iPhones make this sort of antisocial behavior easier? Perhaps. But people have snuck magazines and crossword puzzles into inappropriate situations long before touchscreen phones seemed like a good idea.
Of recent technologies, perhaps the least isolating are video games that encourage in-person group interaction, like Rock Band, or pretty much any game designed for Nintendo's Wii. Whereas old-fashioned video games took hours alone in the dark to master, these games are more fun to play with friends. If you find yourself Wii bowling alone, you may want to blame societal trends over the last 100 years, not the tech that brings the game to life.
By Onkel Udo at 12:27 AM ON 08/07/09
Although it can be argued that modern gadgets have isolated individuals, this is nothing new. One could easily claim that air conditioning has done more to harm community relations than any of these gadgets. Before AC was widely available in American homes, people spent warm days on their front porches or stoops. You knew everyone in your neighborhood and saw almost everything that went on. Neighbors would stop by while taking a walk and chat. Also, when was the last time you were driving around with your windows down and said hello to the school crossing guard or and older neighbor working in their garden.
Rude people will be rude no matter what. Being social takes effort but it is not a burden, it is a pleasure.
By DoktorH at 6:01 AM ON 08/07/09
gadgets only offer alternate forms of socialzing (IM, phone, text, etc) because customers want these alternatives. in terms of people sitting with their headphones on and not interacting with anyone, there is an even older technology called Books which have achieved the same effect for centuries.
In terms of getting someone's attention when they're reading vs getting their attention when they are listening to their mp3 player, neither is any more difficult than the other.
By richpit at 9:09 AM ON 08/07/09
Let's be honest...I'd rather interact with my iPod Touch than most people. If they're people I like, I'll turn it off.
By Random Hero at 4:52 PM ON 08/07/09
What happened to the good old days of calling up your friends so you could meet up and hang out? Nowadays it seems like people, teenagers mostly, would rather text back and forth for 8 hours than actually meet face to face. It's like there saying, "Yeah, I'm your friend but I just don't want you in any close proximity to me".
By Giggity at 5:27 PM ON 08/07/09
@Random... thats because you grew up having to do that..so its natural.
Kids now grow up with the inna-net and texting, so its natural for them.
Not saying its better...just natural for them.
By random hero is crazy at 5:31 PM ON 08/07/09
random hero--
maan you got it all wrong. first of all, texting and hanging out are not rivalrous forms of communication/social activity. the idea that kids (or anyone) are texting as a substitute for spending time with somebody is kinda crazy. its an ALTERNATIVE, ya dig? so now, instead of only ever communicating with the people you really like in face-to-face form (the good old days, to you), you can have less committed social contact with people who you probably wouldn't have even hung out with.
get with the times brah. technology only opens doors--the way we use the tech has nothing to do with the tech itself.
By Theodore Kaczynski at 7:50 PM ON 08/07/09
*sigh* You pro-tech people might want to read the Unabomber Manifesto. Technology is stealing life and reality away from people. Sending emails is NOT a valid form of socialization. PERIOD!
By HyperbolePanda at 8:58 PM ON 08/07/09
@Random Hero -- It seems like all too often parents don't want their teenagers going and hanging out with their friends. It is too "dangerous" because god knows what trouble those kids are getting into, or so seems to be the parents' attitudes towards the subject. So if they can't usually go out with their friends then they turn more and more to communicating through Facebook and texting.
That said, there are a lot of kids who text, use Facebook, AND go hang out, too.
By isilverthe at 9:48 PM ON 08/07/09
Na, it does alot to focus your ideas and ability. You have to just find your way to when done. Stop relax talk to people, watch a ,movie, or sleep. Heck mabye it's breer time. I will drink to that. Well, I used to drink to that.
By ade at 10:17 PM ON 08/07/09
Gadget can make our phone usage more practical... but too many gadgets may waste our precious time.. unless you have too much time to spend. Be wise
By wpshore at 11:14 PM ON 08/07/09
All you have is your attention, half of which we avoid focusing our ourselves because it's paintul (loneliness, frustration, stress) and the other half we use to kissing the ass of anyone that has power over us (pretty girls, bosses, parents, teachers). There's not much 'self' left at the end of day. Avoiding distractions is soooo hard, especially the shiny gadgety ones - with buttons. But know this, you're being played more than you're playing; that's the bottom line. To the shiny button makers you're just a tool, a piece of meat with a wallet. Don't forget.
By Qurious at 12:29 AM ON 08/08/09
Um, ipods for sharing? It's a good attempt, but given the society's already individualistic take on things and an item that augments that, it'll just make things worse not better. My question is, who the hell shares nowadays? A lot of people with ipods will usually have friends with ipods already, what point is there to share?
Granted I have a group of friends like that who will share, but whens the last time you seen people with ipods share with strangers?
By cornboy3 at 2:12 AM ON 08/08/09
Gotta love the compubody sock by bekathwia on instructables :D
http://www.instructables.com/id/Laptop-Compubody-Sock/
By MarieToms at 8:39 AM ON 08/08/09
Hmm i think it depend to each person..for myself, I always limit the usage time of the gadget, spare my time for my family
By Karuna at 1:28 PM ON 08/08/09
True! What the hell m I doing blogging at mid night... :(
By Andrew at 5:31 PM ON 08/08/09
My cousin and I always have our phones out at the table--to text each other. She is deaf, and whereas it could be otherwise difficult for us to communicate, texting is a common language. I have actually come closer to an individual might not have thanks to technology.
By weightlossban at 11:48 PM ON 08/12/09
[url=http://news.insurancemax.de/wp-content/data/forum_1/topic_1021_cure_for_diabetes_.pdf_natural.html]cure for diabetes .pdf natural[/url]
By chatsomalinet at 11:49 PM ON 08/12/09
cambridgepoetryawards org link purchase purchase uk viagra viagra html
By Dodger at 4:59 AM ON 08/13/09
The sound isolation of iPhones and iPods is great in one circumstance. When stupid lazy bums are trying to get money and cigarettes off you on the street, you don't even have to say no or make up an excuse. Just walk on by... iDeaf.
By mmaitzen at 9:26 AM ON 08/13/09
Once again we are blaming the tech for something that is defined by the person. I am not the best example as I am not that social anyway for reasons that have nothing to do with technology. But I know that my sister got my parents a Wii and they love playing games with guests and family. I know I and others love to show pictures on their phones, iPods and iPhones which would have required dragging an album before that. I read on my iPhone but I just read paper books before so that is really not a change. Again, it's just more convenient.
By Dreaming Action at 12:10 AM ON 08/18/09
it's depend on the individuals, some people basically don't like to socialize. and maybe they got their world with their gadgets
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
Dreaming Action:
it's depend on the individuals, some people basically don't like to socialize. and maybe they got their world with ...More »