Technology and The Big Brother Effect

904 Words2 Pages

Technology and the Big Brother Effect

There is no doubt that the technological advances in recent years have changed the way we live. We are now able to talk to people in any part of the world within six seconds, we can watch events from any country such as the Olympic Games live on television screens in our own living room’s, we can even have interactive video conversations through as small a device as a mobile phone. These advances have benefited millions of people worldwide but we have reached a stage where it is now time to stop and think of what is happening to us as a result of all this automation and modernisation; we are becoming over-dependent on electronic devices to carry out simple tasks, we are becoming less and less aware of people and activities in our own communities, even family activities are gradually becoming a thing of the past.

When George Orwell wrote his acclaimed novel “Nineteen Eighty Four” in 1949, even he would be surprised at how things he wrote then would become part of society 60 years on. Results of the “Big Brother” effect which he predicted in his novel are now to be seen frequently in our daily newspapers. With the crime rate in Ireland, particularly the alarming increase in burglaries, home-owners are becoming more and more worried. Thousands of people are investing in high-tech security systems to protect their houses from being burgled. With S.S.I.A.’s still maturing at the moment, electronic gates, high fences, motion sensors and C.C.T.V. cameras in particular are popping up in communities around the country. These systems are installed to deter thieves from entering people’s homes but home-owners don’t seem to realise that by having such high security, they are literally telling people that they have something to protect. Apart from this, these systems also have side effects on the people who have them installed. Gone is the feeling of neighbourliness and community that rural Ireland boasted about for so many years. With the increasing number of ribbon developments in rural areas, things are getting to a stage where people have never even met their neighbours. Sturdy doors and strong gates may keep unwanted visitors out but they also discourage people from “popping round for a chat.” One has to wonder where this is going to end. It has been proven that over 55% of people who installed house alarms in 2005 did so after being burgled themselves.

Show More
Related

  • Adam Penenberg The Surveillance Society Summary

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although they can be easily tracked, people overlook the invasion of privacy possibility because of the convenience they bring to every day life. Systems like OnStar installed in cars have made the tracking of stolen cars practically effortless. Similar tools are being used by law enforcement, Penenberg stated “cell phones have become the digital equivalent of Hansel and Gretel’s bread crumbs” (472). He then goes on to discuss how in Britain in 1996, authorities installed 300 cameras in East London. Although this didn’t affect the terrorism, it did affect the crime rate which fell 30 percent after the cameras were put into place. Penenberg closes his essay by mentioning that the surveillance is not only used to watch the citizens but also for citizens to keep an eye on the government. Through his organization, relevant information, and professional tone, Penenberg creates an effective

    Read More

  • In Praise of Big Brother: Why We Should Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Government Surveillance

    1896 Words  | 4 Pages

    James Stacey Taylor's article, "In Praise of Big Brother: Why We Should Learn to Stop Worrying and Love Government Surveillance" begins reviewing the concept of "Big Brother" as it was originally presented in George Orwell's 1984. The Big Brother started off as a fictional character in 1984-- a dictator of Oceania within a totalitarian state. Set within a society in which everyone is under complete surveillance by the authorities, mainly by telescreens, the people are constantly reminded of this by the phrase “Big Brother is watching you” (Wikipedia) . Taylor goes on to explain some examples of recent surveillance technology and how it is applied in lives today. An interesting note and comparison between today’s technology and that of the telescreens in 1984, is that people could be sure that they could not be watched by Big Brother’s telescreens by going out of the cities into the country, where they only had to take care that their conversations were not monitored by hidden microphones (Taylor 227). He contrasts the two, highlighting the fact that “Such an escape is not impossible, for spy satellites can be used to monitor people wherever they go” (277). From there, Taylor perpetuates the framework for his position on the Big Brother notion. Taylor argues that, "rather than opposing such an expansion of surveillance technology, its use should be encouraged -- and not only in the public realm" (227). Taylor’s argument presented in a more formal construction is as follows:

    Read More

  • Essay On Lack Of Privacy In 1984

    1567 Words  | 4 Pages

    Big Brother and modern day government have been able to control its citizens through surveillance equipment, and fear all for a little more power. There is much to learn from such an undesirable form of society, much like the one of Oceania in 1984. Examining Big Brother government closely, alarming connections can be made to real-world government actions in the United States and the cruel world within Orwell's book.

    Read More

  • The Great Forgetting

    897 Words  | 2 Pages

    The evolution of technology has had a great impact on our lives, both positive and negative. While it is great to be able to travel faster and research anything with the smartphones that now contain almost every aspect of our daily lives, there are also many advances within the realm of technology. Nicholas Carr presents information on the dependency aircraft pilots have on automated technology used to control airplanes in the article “The Great Forgetting”. Likewise, in “Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?” written by Stephen Marche, the result of isolation and pseudo-relationships created by social media is shown throughout the article. We live in such a fast paced society with so much information at our fingertips that we don’t make time to go back to traditional ways to ensure safety or create in-person relationships, making these two articles very relevant to the world and its current events.

    Read More

  • Big Brother: An American Reality

    2795 Words  | 6 Pages

    “Before Sept. 11, the idea that Americans would voluntarily agree to live their lives under the gaze of a network of biometric surveillance cameras, peering at them in government buildings, shopping malls, subways and stadiums, would have seemed unthinkable, a dystopian fantasy of a society that had surrendered privacy and anonymity”(Jeffrey Rosen). Where were you on September 11, 2001? Do you remember the world before this tragic incident? Throughout history, the United States has adopted forms of legislation with the intention of improving national security. From prohibition, to gun laws, the outcomes of these legislations have not always been good.

    Read More

  • Are We Digital Dummies Analysis

    647 Words  | 2 Pages

    The topic of technology and our society has become a very controversial subject today. Many people believe that technology is an essential component of our modern world, helping us to improve communication from farther distances as well as giving us easy access to important information. On the other hand, there is the opinion that too much technology is affecting social interactions and our basic development. “Technology…is a queer thing, it brings you great gifts with one hand, and stabs you in the back with the other.” (Carrie Snow.) The CBC Documentary “Are We Digital Dummies” displayed the pros and cons when it comes to modern technology that we use in the western world everyday.

    Read More

  • Big Brother: Problem and Solution

    1090 Words  | 3 Pages

    Big Brother: an all-powerful government or organization monitoring and directing people's actions. When a government steps beyond its boundary of privacy and into the lives of the people it governs, the result is a “Big Brother” society. Although Americans live in a democracy, their government takes steps towards more totalitarian ideologies. All of a sudden, rights become privileges, safety becomes surveillance, and Americans lose freedom. Their government misleads them to believe that they aren't being mistreated by their government, and most of the Americans swallow it. The government of the United States manipulates the citizens by instituting socialistic principles; however, by examining and revolting, a more democratic America will arise.

    Read More

  • Big Brother: The Invasion Of Privacy

    854 Words  | 2 Pages

    "Big Brother is becoming more and more intrusive in our private lives and until something is done to scale it back or eliminate it, it's only going to get worse," says David Bakke, Money Crashers tech expert (Schwartz). In this case, big brother means the government and its role in privacy. The government’s spying has increased substantially over the past few years and it is not slowing down. As many more undesirable acts happen in our world today, the government is trying to snuff out these criminals by invading our privacy. But, is what they’re doing going too far? Privacy is something we should all have and the government should not be able to infringe upon it. From peeking through our webcams, listening to phone calls, and even tracking

    Read More

  • Surveillance Society Essay

    2040 Words  | 5 Pages

    The concept of surveillance is a phenomena addressed by a wide range of disciplines- including sociology, psychology, law, criminology and politics (Crampton and Elden, 2007), and has been defined as the systematic investigation or monitoring of the actions or communications of one or more persons (Clarke, 2000). Its purposes vary according to the subject in question, although most ordinary language users argue that its primary purpose is to gather data and information about individual’s actions and daily activities in society (Rose, 1999). While others have argued that there is a second intention which is to deter a whole population from undertaking illegal actions (Clarke, 2000). The process of monitoring includes observations from a distance via technological devices such as CCTV, or interception of electronically transmitted information (reference). On average it is suggested that there are approximately 5.9 million CCTV cameras operating in Britain (Barrett, 2013), which work out at one for every 11 people in the UK. There has been a wide range of debates and publications on Surveillance & Society, the most important of which are the work of Michel Foucault (1977), Jeremy Bentham, Giddens (1985), followed by the work of Gary Marx (1998), and of course more recent work afforded by Deleze, (1990) Lyon (2001, 2007) and many more. For the purpose of this essay, the work of Foucault (1977) is discussed at length in order to examine whether his work is applicable to contemporary society. Therefore, this essay will begin by drawing on Foucault’s work on Discipline and Punish (1977), and outlines the concept of panopticon which he elaborate...

    Read More

  • 1984 By George Orwell Essay

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    The well-known everyday television show Big Brother is sought to be originated back to 1984 through the character ‘Big Brother’ in the novel. Originators of Big Brother (the reality TV show) have conducted this based on the origination of people being spied on under constant surveillance as explored in Orwell’s novel 1984. The phase ‘Big Brother is always watching you’ often used by Big Brother him self in the reality TV show is taken back to the common phase used in Orwell’s

    Read More

  • Freedom Is Slavery

    426 Words  | 1 Pages

    The government has made society today feel the need for protection. In the 1984 novel by George Orwell, the people are basically free to do what they want, but they are constantly watched by different surveillances used by big brother. Some of the surveillances used in the novel included helicopters that patrolled the area, hidden camera-like things in the TV screens called telescreens, by the thought police, and by simple posters of Big Brother's face looking at the people.

    Read More

  • Positive Impacts of Technology

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    The standard 21 year old adults have exchanged 250 thousand emails, spent 5 thousand hours video gaming and 10 thousand hours using their mobile devices (Lei, 2009). When people hear the word technology, they think of microwaves, televisions, cars, NASA, different types and transportation and more. For all that, technology has occurred long ahead these discoveries. Technology is an arguable matter amongst people. .In the old days, people lived an extremely simple life without technology. They used candles to light their houses and lanterns at the dark to travel, they used fire to cook and used newspapers and mail to share news. On the other hand, technology has seized an important place in our society. People are living in a stage of progressive technology. They are using all natural reserves applicable for making their lives better and easier. The society cannot picture life without electricity since it allows them to live through their everyday life. This paper argues that technology positively impacts people’s lives.

    Read More

  • Technology and Social Change

    336 Words  | 1 Pages

    Today, Americans are faced with the increasing change of technology in our everyday life. Sometimes the change happens and we do not realize how it affects our lives. I think it is always a good idea to talk to someone that is older than yourself, like your grandparents to remind you of the times in their younger years. Hopefully, that will open your eyes to the changes we face in this generation and the generation to come. In this chapter, the author explores the relationship of changing technology to changes in both the environment and social institutions.

    Read More

  • The Extinction of Privacy

    1175 Words  | 3 Pages

    This world has changed, even as 20 years old, I am afraid of where technology is going already everyone is glued to it; as a kid computers were new, but we didn’t care we played outside, and cell phones were for emergencies, not fun. Due to technology privacy almost doesn’t exist in this day of technology anymore, there are secret spy cameras being placed in homes by jealous friends or family; social media sites pushing you to spill your age, looks, feelings, life story, and more, and “Big Brother” and “Little Brother” everywhere. Everyone has to be careful because everywhere there is someone trying to steal someone’s identity whether the reason is for money, for legality in a new country, or even to hide a past troubled life. Privacy in the world has been, is now, and always will be extremely important. Growing up in school after getting my first cell phone I was fascinated with new technology and couldn’t wait for the next cell phone to be released. I was always highly interested in what was next, but that was then when I was a young and obvious little kid, now as a young adult in this day of age I have an entirely different feel for all of it; privacy no longer exists and technology is the primary blame.

    Read More

  • Technology and Human Relations:

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    Consider a situation where a family is sitting at the dining table, the son pull out his iPhone, connects to Wi-Fi, and starts chatting with his friends on “Facebook”. The father has a Samsung Galaxy S4 in his hands and he is reading the newspaper online and using “Whatsapp” messenger while having his meal. The mother is busy texting her friends. They are all “socializing” but none of them has spoken as much as a single word to each other. This situation can be commonly seen nowadays. Technology has brought us closer and squeezed the distances but in reality, it has taken us away from each other. The rapid growth of technology has brought about significant changes in human lives, especially in their relationships. The latest technologies have turned this world into a “global village” but the way humans interact with each other, the types of relations and their importance has changed a lot. The advancement in technology has brought us close but has also taken us apart.

    Read More

More about Technology and The Big Brother Effect

Open Document