It is quite remarkable to think about how much things have changed over the past few generations with continuous advancements in technology. I was talking with my dad about something interesting I could write about for this blog and he brought up how our generation is the first generation where people are going to be in constant communication throughout their entire lives. After college my friends from high school may move across the world from me, but through social medias such as facebook, e-mail, video chatting, etc we will be able to easily communicate globally. It will be as though we are constantly present in each other’s lives, no matter how many miles may be between us, due to easily accessible picture and video sharing. He brought up the example of an airport waiting area. When you look around at the people waiting to board the same airplane as you, almost everyone is consumed in their own personal medium, whether it is their blackberry, laptop or iPod. No one simply strikes up a conversation with the man or woman sitting next to them like they might have in the old days. Even though advancements in technology have provided constant communication, the downside is the lack of verbal communication. You may be in constant communication with your group of friends, but no one ventures out of their group to strike up a conversation with a stranger possibly sitting next to them in the airport or standing behind them in line.
Although it is unfortunate that people communicate verbally less and less, it is truly remarkable to think about how much things have changed. My grandfather was on a destroyer in World War II and he always said that they would eagerly wait months and months to receive mail and it was always the most exciting day on the ship. I can't imagine sending a handwritten letter to a friend or loved one and then having to wait months to receive a response when I am used to sending a text or bbm and getting a reply in a matter of seconds. Just as we learned the first day of class, we have become so dependent on our social medias that they have literally become an extension of man.
Annie, Lose twenty pounds and gain four inches!!!
ReplyDeleteAnnie I think that this is a very interesting point. You made some great points. Media has definitely become an extension of man in many ways, and I think this helps us and hurts us. I thinnk that the lack of verbal communication could potentially hurt us in the long run because no matter what being able to verbally communicate in person is something that everyone should be able to do. As we go on, the age at which people start to use all these other forms of communication is getting younger and younger which means they aren't focusing on developing their verbal communication. Basically I think that as much as it helps us we need to make sure we balance the use of all these different media properly.
ReplyDeleteI could not imagine living in a world where I could not talk instantly with someone close to me. It is crazy to think just how many changes have happened in the past ten, twenty, thirty years. And it is even crazier to think how much things will keep changing in the coming years. I am both eager and nervous in a good way about it.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Annie. Its crazy when I compare my mom to the way she is with her friends from high school or college to now. She didn't get in touch with many of her high school friends until her reunion. It is a lot harder to keep track of home phone numbers compared to having cell phone numbers stored in a device that is with me at all times. It will be so much easier to keep contact with friends from the past when their information is so accessible to me.
ReplyDeleteWe take technology for granted and often forget that our generation has never not been in constant contact with each other. One thing to consider is will there ever be a time where the US post system will no longer be needed.. Many newspapers are all electronic now and have had to stop printing hard copies because of finances..
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