Tuesday 29 January 2013

Addicted to Technology?

There is a lot of talk in the #edcmooc of us being addicted to technology.



Is it that ALL technology is addictive? Or are people more prone to be addicted to communications technologies? Is it about base human needs? If we NEED something, then is it really an addiction? - perhaps if overdone? Are we "addicted" to clothes (not fashion)? Are we addicted to living in shelters (not architecture)? These are technologies. Maslow was pretty spot on with his hierarchy of needs. Communications technologies provide for all levels of basic human need - apart from physiological (although can help indirectly with these). They enable us to feel safe and secure (knowing that loved ones are ok, knowing that information about weather and disasters is very easy to get). They enable us to feel belonging and love (we can find any number of interest groups and like minded people at the click of a button, we can communicate very easily with loved ones who are away for extended periods, we can find and catch up with old friends and acquaintances, we can explore family history easily). They can boost our self-esteem, enabling us to achieve in a variety of contexts, gain respect from like-minded people who may not be in our physically local community and gain recognition in a variety of forms (badges, "likes" "+1s"). They also enable creativity and the pursuit of inner talent for self-fulfilment more easily than ever. It is interesting that technologies such as tablets, internet access etc... and the ensuing modes of use are simply fulfilling our basic needs, and because of the ease of access some are addicted. Food is a basic need - but we can become addicted and over-eat, becoming obese. I suppose some of us then can of course become addicted to technology, especially because it serves so many of our basic needs. But can we become technologically obese? Yes. Who are the most obese people in the world? People with easiest access to food? Who are the most technologically obese people?
Sorry.... just writing as I think..... interesting concepts...

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