Technology is often described as amazing and breath taking. Many think of the powerful computer of today’s world when they hear technology. However, technology is much more than just computer and things that go beep. Technology can be a pair of eye glasses so people can see better, protective gear that can be worn to protect the body, children toys, etc… According to dictionary.com technology is defined as “the application of science, especially to industrial or commercial objectives.” Technology is a tool that helps science. There has been an ongoing debate on whether the effects of technology are negative or positive. Some believe that technology is moving too fast and the advancements technology is doing more harm than good. Others believe that technology is extremely helpful and the benefits out way the risks. In the articles, “Cuddling up to Cyborg Babies” by Sherry Turkle and “Body Smarts” by Edward Tenner, take a look at technology and the on going debate of technologies good and evils. Turkle’s and Tenner’s ideas contrast on their perspective of new technology and their perspective on how technology is affecting human kind. However, they are both concerned with the affects that technology has on humans.
Sherry Turkle is currently the director of MIT Initiative on Technology and Self Program in Science, Technology, and Society and also is the Abby Rockefeller Mauze Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology. Her work focuses on the relationship between people in artifacts (Sherry). Her article, “Cuddling Up to Cyborg Babies”, first was published in UNESCO Courier in the September 2000 edition. In it she discusses the relationship between children and their toys (Turkle).
Turkle discusses the progression of toys from simple to complex designs. Children in the past used to play with toys that were simple and were mechanical. Since these toys were simple and mechanical the way they worked could be understood. A person or even a child could simply inspect or take apart the toy to understand its mechanics. Some types of these toys are bicycles and windup cars. However, the toys of today’s world are more complex. So complex that an individual cannot understand how it works by disassembling the object. A lot of toys today contain a chip, wires and batteries, these items that make toys too complex to understand by looking at the mechanics of it, toys such as, computer games, virtual pets and digital dolls are these types of complex toys. The technology of these toys makes them seem almost alive.
Turkle analyzes the emotional relationship between children and their toys. Since toys today cannot be simply understood by children, children fail to connect with them on a physical level, which leads to the children to connect on psychological level. When children connect psychologically children establish a emotional tie with the toy and have a hard time establishing what is alive and what is not. Turkle uses Jean Piaget’s theory of how children determine what is alive and what is not, to outline the problems with technical advanced toys. According to Piaget children first consider any that moves to be alive. Then children believe that only things that are moving without a push or a pull to be alive. Finally, children come to believe that things that only breathe or grow to be alive. Many toys today defy those simple outlines. Some toys move without a push or pull and other toys simulate growing and breathing. One such toy is a Furby which, simulates leaning and human conversations. Or toys like the Tamagotchis, a virtual pet, which depend on the child in order to stay “alive”. These types of toys blur the guidelines that Piaget had stated, which causes children to believe that they are sort of alive and become emotionally involved with their toys. Robots and toys become more personified by children over the years. They describe as cute and having different personalities. Children come to assess the toys’ “state of mind” as though it is alive and does have feelings. This type of thinking leaves children emotionally vulnerable. They fail to have the ability to conclude if an object is alive or not.
Edward Tenner is an independent writer, speaker and consultant on technology and culture. His works focuses on how technology affects human kind (Edward). His article, “Body Smart” was first published in the spring 2003 edition of The Wilson Quarterly but, it also appears in his book, Out Own Devices: The Past Future of Body Technology. In it he elaborates on the relationship between the human body and technology (Tenner).
Tenner recounts a brief history of technology in order to prove that technology is not a new occurrence but an occurrence that has been shaping human kind since the beginning of time. Technologies such as, shoes, eyeglasses and reclining chairs, have been around many years, although these technologies have improves since their invention. However, in many cases of the same technologies that were used decades ago are used today. For example, the v-shaped sandal or the mechanics of a car, wheels and pedals. On the other hand, other technologies have improves such as eye care which has moved from glasses, to glasses with bifocals, to contact lens to laser surgery. Or artificial-limbs which have come to look and move more life like. Tenner points out that, humans still look for the natural way, that is people try to preserve what is natural first. For instance, teeth, the technology for teeth cleaning and preserving has improved greatly so that teeth will not have to be replaced by dentures. Tenner also discusses the resistance to technology, movies portray technology in a negative light and people are skeptical of technological advances. For example, the layout of the computer keyboard, QWERTY, is primitive. It does not allow the user to type their fastest. However, humans have come accustom to its use and are resistance to its change. This resistance has slowed the progression of technology. Tener argue there has been development in technology however, it is not nearly as advanced as some people believe, some of the same technology is used today that was used decades ago and human are resistance to change.
Tenner examines the relationship between humans and technology. He argues that there is a give and take relationship between humans and technology which allows for technology and humans to continually change. Humans lead technology, that is technology continues to advance in given areas as long as people demand it. Technology is only developed because there is want or use by humans for it. Technology in turn does shape human lives. Tenner especially analyzes the affects of technology physically on humans. The biggest change recently is the importance of the thumb rather than the index finger, due to small keyboards on cellular phones. The finger that once was used just to hit the space bar while typing has a new more developed role. The new technology of texting has created more skillful and stronger thumbs. It is very interesting that has been a fifty percent increase in American’s thumb usage when holding a pen. Humans shape the path that technology takes technology shapes the human physically.
Tenner and Turkle both look at the progression of technology. However, Tenner portrays the progression as not always forward moving instead people sometimes scorn new technology and are resistant to change. He highlights that many of the technologies used in the past are used today. He also states that technology is not moving fast as it could be. On the other hand, Turkle discusses the progression of technology as forward moving with more and more toys becoming more and more complex. Toys are becoming more life like and harder to understand physically.
Both authors discuss the affects of technology on humans. Turkle writes about the emotional concern and confusion that new toys today can bring to children. Tenner instead focuses on the physical affect that technology has on the human body. There is development of more and less muscles because of new devices. Turkle and Tenner both agree that technology does effect humankind but they differ on their views of how technology affects humans.
Turkle and Tenner, both agree that the change due to technology is not without costs. However, they look at the costs differently. Turkle concerns her paper with the emotional impact that technology has on humans. She concludes that technology leave individuals emotionally venerable. Tenner, on the other hand, addresses the concerns of the physical impact of technology. For example, penmanship, which has become less important and developed less since the invention of personal computers. Tenner however, does point out there is cost but there is also a benefits for instances, while typing skills have greatly improved, penmanship skills have been developed less. Tenner concludes that affect of technology on humans physically is really neither good or bad but it just changes.
Both authors develop good arguments in their pieces. They both provide examples to support their argument. However, I found Turkle’s point of view to be weaker than Tenner’s. Turkle made a logical argument to come to the conclusion, that technology leave children emotionally venerable, but she fails to prove why this is a problem. What is so wrong with a child being emotionally involved? If a child is emotionally involved with their toys, is there really anything so bad about it? How does a emotionally involved child differ in the long with one that is not? I was left wondering these questions after I read her piece. On the other hand, Tenner’s piece manages to never states whether technology is good or bad however, I was not left wondering questions. He explained well both sides of technology, how technology is continually changing and humans are continually changing with it. Both, Turkle and Tenner arguments can coexists that humans are affected by technology both in the physical and psychological aspects, perhaps that both affects should be looked and analyzed together. It is clear that the physical impact is more easily understood than the psychological impacts. There is no doubt that more research needs to be done.
“Edward Tenner”. Edwardtenner.com. http://www.edwardtenner.com/ (May 10, 2006).
“Sherry Turkle”. www.mit.edu. http://web.mit.edu/sturkle/www/ (May 10, 2006).
Tenner, Edward. “Body Smarts” The Presence of Others. Eds. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004. 767-772.
Turkle, Sherry. “Cuddling Up to Cyborg Babies” The Presence of Others. Eds. Andrea A. Lunsford and John J. Ruszkiewicz. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2004.359-364.