When reading an article or journal, it can be complex and not fully understood by everyone. Because of this we would have to investigate meanings to be able to understand the full text. Sherry Turkle, a professor and current director of the MIT initiative on Technology and Self, in her 2007 Forbes article “Can You Hear Me Now?” she addresses the topic of technology and discusses society’s growing dependency and alienation as a result of it. Since Turkle wrote the article for an educated, mature and business oriented audience, some terms and ideas may need clarifying for the common reader. In her article, Turkle “offer[s] five troubles that try [her] tethered soul” (272). These are the effects that technology has on people. She discusses the Blackberry throughout the article, which is not concretely defined. In this paper, I will clarify Turkle’s references and terms for better understanding. One of Turkle’s focuses is on the BlackBerry, bus she lacks in describing what the device actually is. For younger and present audience, the Blackberry does not have the same usage and significance, compared to readers of that time and audience. From describing it we can better understand what is and the effects of it. The BlackBerry that Turkle is referring to is a wireless handheld communications device released in the early 2000’s. The significant of the device was that it “offer[s] cellular phone service, wireless e-mail capability, and Internet access” and “the new ‘smartphones’ took the business world by storm” (“BlackBerry”). The Blackberry is used to make the lives of the busiest people more efficient. The reason that she uses the Blackberry, rather than other communication devices, is due to its popularity at that time. The majori... ... middle of paper ... ...s the negative impact of technology has on us. She talks about the BlackBerry, its revolution and effect of alienation. With more clarification we are able to see that her use of these terms and vocabulary enhances her argument for readers of Forbes magazine. Technology, especially the BlackBerry is an evolution that changes how society interacts with each other. We are now able to better understand her point of how technology alienates us and make us be attached at the same time. Works Cited "Alienate." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011. Web. 10 Oct 2011. "BlackBerry." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. 09 Oct. 2011. . "Revolution." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, 2011. Web. 10 Oct 2011.
In Sherry Turkle’s, New York Times article, she appeals to ethos, logos and pathos to help highlight on the importance of having conversations. Through these rhetorical devices she expresses that despite the fact that we live in a society that is filled with communication we have managed to drift away from “face to face” conversations for online connection. Turkle supports her claims by first focusing on ethos as she points out her own experiences and data she has collected. She studied the mobile connection of technologies for 15 years as well as talked to several individuals about their lives and how technology has affected them. Sherry Turkle also shows sympathy towards readers by saying “I’ve learned that the little devices most of us carry
Doctor Jean Twenge is an American psychologist who published an article for The Atlantic titled “Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation?” in September 2017. The purpose of Twenge’s article is to emphasize the growing burden of smartphones in our current society. She argues that teenagers are completely relying on smartphones in order to have a social life which in return is crippling their generation. Twenge effectively uses rhetorical devices in order to draw attention to the impact of smartphones on a specific generation.
...helle Hackman, a sophomore in high school, realized that her friends, rather than engaging in a conversation, were “more inclined to text each other” (Huffington Post). Michelle also became aware that over forty percent of people were suffering from anxiety when they were separated from the phones. This clearly shows that we are connected to the technology that we use, but we are also suffering from the use of technology. We spend more than half of our entire day using some sort of technology, whether that is a computer, phone, television, or radio. Technology is becoming a prevalent part of our lives, and we cannot live without it. Technology has become our family, and part of us.
In the essay, “Growing up Tethered,” written by Sherry Turkle there are valid points that we use our cell phones for everything. Even though many would disagree with the conclusion that our lives revolve around our cell phones, there is evidence to support her premise that our cell phones are a priority and they have a lot of control over our lives. Cell phones benefit us greatly in many ways, but they cause us to be less independent and more dependent on our cell phones.
Is it possible for one to not use their phone constantly? Relying on it for simple math, to take an aesthetic picture of their food, or simply to whine to one's followers about how expensive the latte they just purchased was, phones are always being used and it’s affecting us. “The Veldt” is written by Ray Bradbury and is about a rich family whose children become attached to a room called the nursery which leads them to hurt others. Susan Green writes an article, “Modern technology is changing the way our brains work” that explains the harsh effects of a screen. This connection is relevant now because everyone has a gadget whether it be a phone,computer, or television. Everybody should know and understand what the technology they are holding or watching is doing to them. After a careful reading of “The Veldt” by Ray Bradbury, it is clear that the theme, cruel intentions can go unknown even when they are seemingly
Technology has always been at the forefront of the world’s mind, for as long as anyone can remember. The idea of “advancing” has been a consistent goal among developers. However, recently the invention of smartphones broke out into the world of technology, causing millions of people to become encapsulated in a world of knowledge at their fingertips. Jean Twenge elaborates on the impacts of the smartphone on the younger generation in her article “Has the Smartphone Destroyed a Generation?” Twenge’s article is just a sliver of the analysis that she presents in her book “IGen.” Twenge, a professor of psychology at San
Electronic devices, such as computer or cell phone, are crucial to proceed their business in the workplace because it allows people to be connected for sharing information efficiently, but people actually want to be connected anywhere which means not only in the workplace but also in the private life. Because of the desire to be connected anytime and anywhere, it becomes the problem of addiction. Turkle claims that “whether or not our devices are in use, without them we feel disconnected, adrift. A danger even to ourselves, we insist on our right to send text messages while driving our cars and object to rules that would limit the practice” (277). People have to focus on face to face relationship when they are staying with others but they tend to miss authentic relationship because they focus on their personal networking. It makes the loneliness in the crowd. Also, for instance, people have to focus on safe when they are driving but their electronic connection makes them to think about other things which are not important than safe. Like this, efficient technology connection causes addition which could be a dangerous problem for people’s lives. Slater also illustrates another problem from technology development which could be the controversial issues among the people. In Slater’s article, Cosgrove said, “We don’t
Many forms of media have emerged over the decades. Some die while others stay and thrive. Over the past few years, a sensational digitalized type of media has loomed into the modern world; it is called the new media. Although new media has beneficiated society with rapid access to information and easier communication, it has also enclosed the public within the world by making them vulnerable to ignorance and disunion. Media commentator Sherry Turkle gives an example of the damages new media can cause through her book excerpt “Connectivity and its Discontents”, and author Dallas Spires who also gives an exemplary of this case through her essay “Will Text Messaging Destroy the English Language?”. With all the popularity and misuse society has
There are pros and cons to technology in today’s society. It is so ingrained in our everyday lives that it would be hard to go without, and Turkle explained it perfectly, “These young people live in a state of waiting for connection. And they are willing to take risks, to put themselves on the line. Several admit that tethered to their phones, they get into accidents when walking. One chipped a front tooth. Another shows a recent bruise on his arm” (430). Kids, and even adults, are so tethered to their phones and other devices that they are willing to put their bodies, and even their lives, on the line for a simple text, tweet, like, or favorite. It is
With the development of science and technology, the new technology broadens people’s vision and has greatly facilitated people's lives. It is commonly believed that the advanced science and technology add much flavor to people's daily life. More and more people deem that social media play an increasingly important role, which cannot be ignored, in people’s social life and work in the 21st century. Because of that, many people would like to keep abreast with the latest development of the new technology. However, from another perspective, we cannot ignore the negative effects new medias bring to some extent. Sherry Turkle, the professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, hold different attitudes towards this issue. In her newest book Alone Together, Turkle explores how communication technology is changing who we are. This phenomenon social media technology brings to people exists for a number of reasons. She argues convincingly about the personal destruction resulting from our growing dependence on it.
In the article entitled, “Our Cell Phones Ourselves”, Christine Rosen describes how cell phones have changed the way we communicate. Rosen tells the readers the main purpose for cell phone use in the past, versus present day. Her purpose is to make society aware of how cell phones have influenced our lives in order to inspire change as to how we view our cell phones. Rosen directs her writing to everyone in the present day by describing the negative results of cell phone use and how it impacts our lives and those around us. Without a doubt, cell phones are going to be a part of our world, but it is the responsibility of every cell phone owner to exercise self control and understand that a cell phone is nothing more than a device.
Turkle’s stance on this topic is emotionally engaging as she uses rhetoric in a very powerful approach, while also remaining unbiased. The article flows very smoothly in a beautifully structured format. The author maintains a composition that would appeal to the interest of any sort of audience. She effectively questions the reader’s views on the negative consequences technology has on social interactions. Her work is inspiring, it sheds light on the dark hole society has dug for themselves, a state of isolation through communication in the digital age; this is a wake up
In the article, The Flight from Conversation featured in The New York Times, author Sherry Turkle pleads to technology user to look up from their phones, iPads and computers. She explains just how harmful technology can be to our social aspects of life. Turkle makes great use of ethos and pathos by showing her credibility and connecting herself to the audience. And although Turkle does make some solid arguments, I feel as if her extreme lack of logos diminishes her entire argument.
“Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, allowing us to do things more quickly and efficiently. But too often it seems to make things harder, leaving us with fifty-button remote controls, digital cameras with hundreds of mysterious features.” (James Surowiecki) Whether or not is known, technology has become too heavily relied on. It is replacing important social factors such as, life skills and communication skills. While technology is created to be beneficial, there must be a point in time where we draw the line. Once face-to-face conversations begin to extinguish, this means that there is too much focus on the “screen culture”. In her writing, “Alone Together”, Sherry Turkle talks
Turkle makes the bold statement that, “Our little devices, the ones we keep in our pocket, are so psychologically powerful, that they don’t only change what we do they change who we are.” (Turkle). I agree that a lot of the things we catch ourselves doing on our mobile devices today would’ve been so un-thought of just a few years ago. We have the power to send e-mail and online shop during class and work and we th...