(HW 22) FINAL **UPDATED**

Digital media has impacted this society in many ways. Some better than others but in general our society has made a complete turn around as to the way we live our lives. I have seen clips from old movies and from the difference between then and now is significant. We are completely sucked into what the digital life has to offer that we don't realize what is going on in the world besides what has to do with us. Digital media is effecting our society by drawing us away from reality, spoon feeding us everything and making us more ignorant.

In my opinion, the best inventions in history. I don't know where I would be without all the electronics. This generation, is so addicted to digital that I bet they don't remember what life was before it. During class once, Conner pointed out that there are positives and negatives that come along with it. Positives are that you can communicate with friends and family faster and around the world. Negatives are that it can be a waste of time instead of using your time wisely. I notice that when I get in a bad mood I turn to my ipod or my blackberry to entertain me or just to isolate myself. It amazes me how certain things such as computers, cell phones, ipods and etc can make such a difference. I spoke to my mom to find out how it was growing up for her and she told me that she had a type writer that wasn't used often because her brother and sisters would like to go outside more. Now everything a computer has is now on a cellphone that you take with you everywhere. I feel like all the gadgets and television shows take us away from learning more. As we watch more television shows and use our phones more that is less time you have to do something productive such as read. We get so distracted from these materials that it makes ignorant. I am one that gets distracted by my blackberry which they call the "crackberry" because its just so addictive. Other things such as television don't get my distracted because I am busy texting or IM-ing friends. This world really needs to wake up and look beyond the great inventions and really think about how its changing our lives.

This morning on the bus I looked around and noticed that more than half of the bus either had their phones out or ipods. I rely on my phone so much that I don't wear a watch because it has the time. Since starting this unit I have noticed more and learned more about the people around me such as my mother. For the first time I noticed my mom's daily routine in the morning. She wakes up and runs straight to brush her teeth and turn on the coffee machine. Right next to it is her Blackberry charging. She picks it up and starts checking all the emails and text she missed. I couldn't believe that she wasted about five minutes catching up with emails rather than showering and getting dressed for work.

I have had this blog since last year and still have not learned much about it or how to use it other than to post something. I noticed that I can sign up my blackberry on blogger and write a text message to blogger and it will go straight to my blog. With the click of a button I can post my homework before actually getting home and sitting on a computer. This makes it easier for me when assignments are due the same night and I have games or other commitments.

Besides my opinion their are other opinions we need to take into consideration such as random strangers. Since we have the best teacher in the world, and he was so gracious to take us out to the park we were able to interview strangers. While walking around Madison Square Park Chloe and I got to interview strangers who were either just sitting there enjoying the weather, having lunch or on there phones. At first we got rejected by a few people because they either didn't want to be bothered or just wanted to get rid of us. We interviewed a man smoking a cigarette but didn't get in depth with the conversation because of all the smoke. He said he spends 15 to 16 hours a day using digital equipment because he produces music and is always on myspace and facebook. We asked him what if he had children would he limit them? He responded and said as long as they get their homework done he doesn't care what they do. I couldn't believe that this man didn't care how much time they would spend using electronics. i wonder if he ever thought about what technology could do to his children.

Another person we interviewed was a mom hanging out in the park with her daughter. As we approached her she was on her phone talking away while her daughter was running around. She wasn't paying any mind to her daughter. She told us that they don't have TV at home but she would definitely limit her daughter when she gets older. As Chloe kept talking to the mother the baby started to play with me and showed me her toy. Her "toy" happened to be a blackberry which I was in total shock. The baby had stickers on the blackberry which she was showing me. I couldn't believe that this little girl no older than 2 years old was playing with a blackberry. I feel like by her playing with it just exposes her to the digital life at a young age.

Lastly, I interviewed my best friend Ralph. I couldn't help but interview him because he is the ONLY friend I have that DOESN'T have texting. I make jokes on him about not having texting and how he needs to get it asap. I asked him what did he think about all the electronics and digital devices we have and he simply told me that it is GREAT because we can keep in touch with people. I agreed with him on that one because if we don't get to see each other in person we videochat all the time. He said that sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming because all his friends say he needs to upgrade but he said sometimes it is good to not be updated every minute and that sometimes it is good to relax and take a break.

I am indecisive when it comes to technology. Sometimes I cant live without it and sometimes I want a break from it. I feel like life is twitter, there's an update every second and something new is out. I always ask myself what would i be doing right now if I didn't have this computer or this phone? Other times I'm like say I'm lucky to have this. Everything is with the push of a button which is making us lazier and more ignorant. I leave with this: In 10 years where will America be? What will be the "new" gadget?

This lead Andy to propose a digital experiment.For the experiment I decided I would try not to have my phone on while I was reading. I never turn off my blackberry not even overnight so you can imagine how I felt. At first I just put the phone to the side and started to read but once I felt it vibrate it killed me to wonder who just sent me a text message. So right away I checked and answered the text back. Then I told myself "okay sam you can do this, put it on silent". I ended up putting it on silent and throwing it to the other side of the bed. As I kept reading I saw the bright red light flashing and I wanted to know who was texting me. It lasted maybe 2 minutes before I grabbed it and answered back. After a few tries I started to get annoyed and just turned off the phone and put it away. I ended up reading for an hour straight but of course I thought about how many messages I missed. I noticed that even the little things like the red light flashing I noticed from across the bed. I noticed that I was very distracted and it took me a few tries to actually get me to give up on my blackberry for an hour. When I turned on my phone I had a lot of missed text messages from friends and I felt out of the loop for a few. It amazes me how for an hour you can feel like you missed something for days. I think for the next experiment I would like to either try and digitally fast for longer or engage myself in all the electronics for hours to see if I get tired or bored from the technology.

Another example is the book feed. In feed, there are many allegories about teens such as the lesions, the "feed" and how it affects us today. Andy brought up the point of how he thinks lesions are like "body piercings and tattoos". After reading half of the book I started to think about the lesions and how its the "gotta have" thing now. And if you don't have it your "late" or not "in". Now a days piercings and tattoos are cool and now teens are getting them because of the influence around them. Where will those piercings and tattoos look like or how will the people who have them feel in 15 or 20 years?

In the television text by Steven Johnson, the author explains how television is actually good for us because it makes us think more. He explains how television is more passive than video games because some will make you work and think about what is going on while others just let you be a couch potato. With television a certain show can come out and then producers will come out with a similar concept. He talks about how prime time is like ER, Desperate Housewives, The sopranos and lost. But in the games text is about how games can be a waste of time and that people should read instead. He states that he doesn't think those who read only read and that's it. He proposed what if games came before reading and reading became the new thing. I feel like the feed is an allegory for all the digital equipment we use or even the media. The media can portray what the "ideal" body shape is, new hairstyle, new outfits and so on. As suckers in this world we are quick to find out how to get that body, or get that for cheaper. We are like sheep waiting for the Shepard to tell us what to do.


Everything about television or any digital device in the unit has been the opposite of what Johnson is saying. At first everyone was saying how digital has shaped us and made us more ignorant to whats around us. While other were saying its great because you can do a lot of things fast and connect with family and friends all around the world. At first, I was all for the digital life but now that I have learned and researched about it i feel like it takes away from time with my self or face to face interactions. In the book feed, all the characters are taking away from whats around them because of the feed. The feed gives them everything they need so that they don't have to do any work making them lazy. The feed gives them the latest updates on anything from hairstyles to the prices in the stores.

In conclusion, everyone as a whole even the elderly are stuck on digital. Everyone is effected by it in some way or form, even you Andy :). We need to realize before its too late how much people have changed since this world has gone digital. I feel the need to change some of my habits but will I really follow through with them?