This weeks reading addresses how technology is shaping us and how it emerged during the early 2000s. Written in 2002, this is the time where revolutionary advancements were being made in the tech field. For my item I chose an apple iPod. This device allowed you to listen to your music no matter where you were, and was small enough to fit in your pocket.
According to our reading, technology allows us to see space, time, self, and knowledge in different ways. The author was delving into how technology is an entirely different world than real life. He brings up examples of people harassing others over the internet as a way of showing how the “self” can be different. People can give themselves new identities, and be a different person in the context of whatever online format they are participating in at the time. This allows people to be nastier or even nicer than they are in real life. The author also brings up knowledge- the internet gives you access to any information you want. He talks about how when searching for a handmade quilt on Ebay he learns the desirable details of a quilt rather quickly.
For my example, I think the iPod represents how time can be affected by technology. A lot of people who got the iPod early on would use it on commutes, like long walks or bus rides. This little pocket sized device that played your favorite songs was a way to make the time go by faster. It would take your mind off of whatever mundane task you were doing and enhance your experience by playing music.
Technology gives people an entirely new world to dive into. You can be whoever you want to be online, and gain whatever knowledge you want to gain. I think that this has its pros and cons. The device I chose for this week is no longer around today, but the concept still exists as an app on our iPhones. I think while it’s amazing that you can listen to music wherever you want to, it’s also good to pay more attention to your surroundings and appreciate what’s going on around you. That being said, I can’t imagine doing a long drive with no music.