Technology taking over

[Ellieboolou33]

I know it seems like double standards as I'm using tech now to communicate, but I feel increasingly concerned about how our communication as a society is changing through technology. Sat in a pizza place today with my 2 girls (both under 10), everyone in there eating had phones out, not taking.

Homework is all online now and the only way to communicate with a teacher is online.

I am finding that when socialising with friends at some point the phones come out and not just to take a picture. Even watching a film with my husband he scrolls through his phone.

Is it just me? Are we turning into technology zombies and losing the art of conversation and seeing with our eyes.

I really worry about the future for my children, we seem to be losing the art of conversation as commutation.

@NoNotHimTheOtherOne Thanks for linking to that story, I hadn't read that before and it was great. I looked up when it was first published and it was 1909! It feels like it could have been written now.

There was a bit I really liked where he said "What was the good of going to Peking when it was just like Shrewsbury? Why return to Shrewsbury when it would all be like Peking?"

Yes thanks for linking to the short story NoNotHim. I wonder how the author was able to think up this story, over 100 years ago.
This part stood out to me:
"But I can see you!" she exclaimed. "What more do you want?"
"I want to see you not through the Machine," said Kuno. "I want to speak to you not through the wearisome Machine."
"Oh, hush!" said his mother, vaguely shocked. "You mustn't say anything against the Machine."

There have always been people who oppose new technology. Luddites smashed machinery because they thought it would take their jobs, people believed railways were dangerous because you'd die if you travelled at 30mph, cars would scare horses, cinemas then radio then television then computers then mobile phones were destroying the fabric of society.

Life evolves, before too long we will be living a lot more of our lives virtually. There will always be those who can't or won't adapt to new technology and ways of living, but this is normal and they will just gradually be left behind as the rest of the world progresses.

People look at me in confusion/disbelief when I say I don't have a smartphone. I have a basic PAYG mobile; it is useful for communication, but it's turned off overnight and when I'm in the office. If it's a tool I'm in control of it. If it becomes a life support mechanism, where I panic when it's not near me, it's controlling me.

Morning No one in this thread is saying that we should smash our phones and computers, but I think we need to be mindful and use them in moderation (I'm bad at this)

I think technology is amazing and a lot of it really does help society.

What I struggle with is social media. Last year I would spend so long scrolling through Facebook, Instagram and tiktok. It is made to be addictive. This year i made a resolution to not go on these and so far so good.

I’m an adult and I struggle with them so children must really struggle. I see children mindlessly scrolling and they are constantly bored if not on their phone. Also I notice that young children can’t watch a film, they watch 5 minutes then get bored and move onto another film.

@JaneJeffer

There's a lot to be said in praise of technology as well. It kept many isolated people in touch with others during lockdown for instance. Everything in moderation.

Yes the problem is the lack if moderation!

@MorningStarling

There have always been people who oppose new technology. Luddites smashed machinery because they thought it would take their jobs, people believed railways were dangerous because you'd die if you travelled at 30mph, cars would scare horses, cinemas then radio then television then computers then mobile phones were destroying the fabric of society.

Life evolves, before too long we will be living a lot more of our lives virtually. There will always be those who can't or won't adapt to new technology and ways of living, but this is normal and they will just gradually be left behind as the rest of the world progresses.

A lot of those things are true though/really did happen!

I wouldn't call living most of our lives virtually"progress". Anyway, you talk as if this change is inevitable. It isn't.

I don't think electric cars are there yet. When you can get 500 miles from a 5 minute re-charge then you'll see the next step on the ladder. Self driving cars is another "mobile phone" moment. Imagine finishing a punishing 12 hour shift and just getting in your EV Jam-Jar and selecting the " home James " button on your satnav.

You can interact by meeting someone for a coffee, and you can also interact by meeting someone in VR and exploring different worlds together
I never said you couldn't. I just said I can't see the attraction of it.

I personally love books, meeting in person, being in the company of other people and being 'present' as my phone is left in my bag.

Maybe I'm just getting old but I feel the younger generation just don't know how to interact in person, and that a virtual reality world may be deemed more exciting than actually spending time with another physical human

In my favourite book of all time - Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance - there's a bit about the difference between people who use technology and know how to maintain it and those who depend on it but don't understand how it works, and therefore don't know what to do if/when it stops working.

I teach secondary and wen really academically bright, keen kids struggle to read anything longer than a few sentences, let alone a whole article or chapter. They can't extract key points from a longer piece. I'd it's not bullet pointed in exact wording to match the question they can't relate it.

I've seen that with DS recently - however DH said his uni collegues think they spotted when students came though who hadn't regularly been doing long essays something my primary school had us doing and continued in secondary.

Got us talking and both us us were doing this kind of skill with reading and then summerizing since primary but the kids haven't. Also DS hadn't been taught basics or relating points back to actual question - exam tecnhnique.

My kids have enountered classic stories and books - but that's all come from us at home but ours schools at least tried to expose us to some of them - with mixed results.

I do think screens can be detrimental to concentration but I also think there are other changes which are being missed that are also having an impact.

Though we are not on instagram or facebook - it whats app discord with knwo people and you tube and DH twitter but all of us are more than capable of putting the devices down. Plus there were over 10 for most things - educations apps/webpages only really with parental supervision before that.

Also as a family we will watch TV and look stuff put on our phones when we have questions and talk about it with each other.

@Nat6999

They are now developments using robots to supervise people in nursing & retirement homes, how long before there will be robots instead of carers calling in people's homes? After tonight & ds having to go again because his dad was on the floor after falling off the toilet it doesn't sound such a bad idea, keep him safe & let ds have a life of his own.

Japan's doing most of this - rapidly aging population falling fertility rate cultural factors meaning at least in cities families less likely to live multigenerational. They don't favour immigration so don't have the workers so look to tech to bridge the gap.

I image we'd go down the immigration route in UK.

In 90s DGP had alarms worn like neckless that could be pulled apart to alert services immediately they needed help if one of them fell. They had family in every day and carers twice a day but still needed the extra support.

Pendant Alarm plan something like this.

Siri is rather polite and forthcoming, if there was a more intelligent and capable version of Siri, I wouldn't mind toooooo much being looked after by such a patient and reliable gent . only slightly tongue in cheek

It makes me sad when I see parents of young children glued to their phones instead of interacting with their children. They can’t all be urgent messages.
I used to work at a primary school and it was heartbreaking when the children were released from the classroom and ran to parents staring at their phones.

@RedHelenB

Yabu, the same was said about TV and computers/ games consoles when they came out. Technology has been a lifeline during Covid.

Firstly TV is not as immersive as phones/ipads etc.

Secondly, I don't think it has been shown that the people concerned about TVs/games consoles were wrong! Have they been a force for good in our lives? Or actually are they bad for us and we've mostly stopped questioning it?

@MorningStarling

There have always been people who oppose new technology. Luddites smashed machinery because they thought it would take their jobs, people believed railways were dangerous because you'd die if you travelled at 30mph, cars would scare horses, cinemas then radio then television then computers then mobile phones were destroying the fabric of society.

Life evolves, before too long we will be living a lot more of our lives virtually. There will always be those who can't or won't adapt to new technology and ways of living, but this is normal and they will just gradually be left behind as the rest of the world progresses.

The Luddites were right! Just because we've moved on and accepted it, it doesn't mean any of the things you mention are a force for good. I'd say cars are probably overall a negative for society. It would be better if we questioned a bit more whether these developments really represent progress rather than just being driven along by what is technologically possible. Indeed, there are some things that could be possible but that we as a society have taken an ethical stand against (e.g. cloning).

Have they been a force for good in our lives? Or actually are they bad for us and we've mostly stopped questioning it?

Not sure sure if theres any conclusive data either way.

I did read research that used some eldery people in care home who played an adventure game with map they were showing improved congntive ablities and spatial awareness skills after starting to play the game chosen for the study.

Gamification like -dragon box which teaches algerbric ideas/concepts - can help children master skills certain had some of our kids friends playing who thought they hated algerbra. There was a maths game DD1 played in first lock down that was based on Y6/7 maths skills that did seem to help her retain her skills and improve.

I suppose it depends which type of games you are looking and how they are used - and it's a huge range out there now.

Honestly I dont even know how people make friends or boyfriends for that matter, I have not worked since 2015, its just the few work mates on facebook but they've all moved away.

no one cares anymore, even the mums at the school gate, used to think we all got together and chatted etc, you get mum mates when you have kids. nope they all pull up outside the school in 4x4s ditch the kids and run. I seem to be the only mum who stands around outside the school gates to take the kid home and take them.

Secondly, I don't think it has been shown that the people concerned about TVs/games consoles were wrong!

Missed that line but was mainly addressing gaming.

Though have to say TV - is simiar - we don't tend to watch reality TV it's more documentaries and over my life I've learnt a lot from the TV medium. I'd say Youtube similar - we tend to historical cooking, sewing, food tech, maths ect and often inspires us to try things we wouldn't have with out viewing.

I'd agree society is more insular and though IME it varies area to area and even time of life about how easy it is to meet people and I do think tech is possibly playing a role in that - but long work cultures - commutes and having kids later meaning more generational squeeze older parents with young kids - and house prices forcing people to move away from family/friends to buy/settle - also contribute.

@Beowulfa

People look at me in confusion/disbelief when I say I don't have a smartphone. I have a basic PAYG mobile; it is useful for communication, but it's turned off overnight and when I'm in the office. If it's a tool I'm in control of it. If it becomes a life support mechanism, where I panic when it's not near me, it's controlling me.

I lived my Nokia 3510, I didn't want a 'smart phone' but unfortunately it couldn't cope with long smartphone messages being sent to it, so I had to relent.

Since then I've had some health issues and an accident last year which has left me with some life changing issues. I'm incredibly thankful for my smart phone. I live alone & without my phone, probably wouldn't have been able to come home & I certainly wouldn't have had the confidence to do so.

Also it's been a lifeline to be able to keep in touch with people during the pandemic in a much more convenient way than with just a landline.

It's also been the only way I was able to go outside, by myself, again - the ability to call for help shoukd I need it).

However, I do miss pre smart phone/internet tines a lot and I do think we've lost a lot whilst gaining a lot too. Life has changed so much & I find it kind of sad that younger generations will never had experienced life pre mad amounts of technology

@TheWildHunt

Have they been a force for good in our lives? Or actually are they bad for us and we've mostly stopped questioning it?

Not sure sure if theres any conclusive data either way.

I did read research that used some eldery people in care home who played an adventure game with map they were showing improved congntive ablities and spatial awareness skills after starting to play the game chosen for the study.

Gamification like -dragon box which teaches algerbric ideas/concepts - can help children master skills certain had some of our kids friends playing who thought they hated algerbra. There was a maths game DD1 played in first lock down that was based on Y6/7 maths skills that did seem to help her retain her skills and improve.

I suppose it depends which type of games you are looking and how they are used - and it's a huge range out there now.

Yes and you would most likely get the same result if they had played board games with the same content, or if they had been stimulated in other ways.

It will all come to a shuddering halt when there is a massive solar flare that knocks everything out for a couple of years. Then the game is over because it is not as if we can work offline. Most apps now run from the cloud.

The other shocking thing about AI is that all our spending and consumption can be tracked. Based on patterns, 80% plus of our finances can be controlled without our intervention. We go to work, but are increasing losing control of our money. Welcome to the modern workhouse!

Yes and you would most likely get the same result if they had played board games with the same content, or if they had been stimulated in other ways.

Possibly but the research didn't look at that but they suggest the spatail improvements were realted to manipulation of the map - ie twisting it round and orientating and relating it back and forth to actor/player view.

Plus I was pointing out that there some research suggesting some benefits it's not all evil tech is rotting our minds out there.

There was a survey looking at WWII knowledege in school kids usually very poor but some got all the battle names and info right because they'd played WWII games with those battles and landing in. Yes they coudl have got that information from a book but they hadn't and neither had their peers.

In our house we play board games and computer games and read books and listen to audio plays and books and watch TV and YouTube and cook and craft and sew - so it really isn't one thing or another.

I do think questions need to be asked about tech and it's impact but suspect a lot of the meta stuff is just media hype and a sales pitch to sell things people aren't currently keen on.