Technology is at its prime and becoming more complex with each passing day. As a result it is only natural for society to shift with he technological advances because the introduction of the electronic world changes the way we gather our information, how we communicate, and conduct our daily lives. The McLuhan reading was very interesting and I found myself agreeing with a lot of the statements. The reading forced me to take a step back and to evaluate the change technology has had on society and my life as well as to acknowledge that it is a world wide revolution.
Here are the key points I found interesting and would like to explore…
“Our time is the time for crossing barriers, for erasing old categories – for probing around.”
I believe that this sums up the age of technology perfectly. We are able to go further and are capable of so much more than ever before. Literally we have the world at our fingertips and with that more power than ever before. Gone is the “snail mail”, we can communicate with someone across the world in a instant and all it takes is a few hits on the keyboard. Our ancestors couldn’t have dreamed of such wanders and I think we should reflect on that fact as well as how privileged we are to live in this generation which is the golden age of technology. I am a Disney fan and a quote that comes to mind that I think describes this situation perfectly is from Aladdin. The Genie said that he has “all the power in the universe, but itty-bitty living space” and that is exactly what technology in my mind is.
“Today’s child is growing up absurd, because he lives in two worlds and neither of them inclines him to grow up.”
Technology is all about innovation, creativity, and freedom of expression. So why should we grow up? If we look back in history kids had to grow up too fast,usually at 16 teenagers would be married and starting a family. Now a days we have the luxury of staying a “kid” for a few more years and that is a beautiful thing. However I believe that you can always be a kid at heart! Especially since technology provides so many options. Since technology is constantly changing and updating we are continuously learning, exploring, and letting our mind wander which is exactly what “kids” should do…expand their minds! Technology is a way for everyone to grow and develop and not remain stagnant. I guess Peter Pan was onto something…”never grow up”!
“All media are extensions of some human faculty- psychic or physical.”
I found McLuhan’s wanderings of how things such as clothes and wheels are just extensions of ourselves brilliant. I have never thought of putting such pairings into such perspective, but the longer I dwell on it the more I realized it was true. We invent things such as clothes and cars, to not only express our personality but to enhance our lifestyle.
In my opinion MUSIC is the extension of the SOUL. That is quite a dramatic correlation, but one I feel strongly about. Music has the power to move you, to stir up something deep from within. Music makes you feel and that is a beautiful thing!
“Time has ceased, space has vanished.We now live in a global village..a simultaneous happening.”
I personally can relate to this quote and I feel like it is a spot on description to what technology has brought on. When I am online time seems to blur by and before I know it the day has come to an end. There is so much to do, so much to see, so much to discover, that you can spend endless hours in front of your computer. You go into another world essentially with a tap of a button, and the only difficult thing is getting back out and embracing reality once more. The entire world is connected with technology and I really do feel like we are part of a global village!