Analysis Of Sherry Turkle's Alone Together

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We, as Americans, are always looking for an easier way to do basic everyday things. Robots have been thought of as a way to better the world and our lives. In “Alone Together”, Sherry Turkle talks about her various encounters with our modern day robots. She wrote about a lot of different stories and examples to give you a good idea of the opinions from the people who tested the robots. The chapter I read, “Love’s Labor Lost,” has a few studies describing reactions of robots tested in nursing homes. While some people felt like robots could not substitute for human interaction, the majority of the elderly people in the nursing home enjoyed the company of the robots and even grew attached to them. This sparked a debate among the people.
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I think it is a great idea, but it also has some adverse side-effects. If senior citizens in nursing homes no longer feel the need for human interaction, this can create a problem for the family of the elders. Despite the fact that the elders may feel a lot less lonely with a robot companion, human interaction is still important.
One of the most amazing things to me though, was when Turkle talked about the bonds the study participants created with the robots. They treated the robots like people and even gave them names. Many of the participants explained that they talked to the robots and liked how they could tell them private thoughts without being judged. This provided them with an outlet even when they didn’t have any visitors.
Robots have been widely viewed and seen as “the future.” Although they can definitely have their downfalls, robots can change the world as we know it. Providing care for the elderly and sick is just one possibility. Imagining a world filled with robots can be scary, but realizing the potential that can come with that is exciting. Even though it may not happen in the near-by future, robots will make a prominent entrance. We, as the people, have to decide what we want for the future

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