More often than not, I think of myself as a human who has not been affected by technology. However, living in this digitally saturated world leaves no room for the denial of technology’s active, and sometimes overwhelming, role in my life. I find myself constantly turning to one form of technology to another, whether it is my laptop, iPod, or Blackberry. I cannot even fathom making it through ten waking hours without having access to a screen of some sort. Sad, but true.
Although I would ideally like to be classified as a “natural body”, my inability to go through daily life without technology makes me more of a “modified body”. Peters defines the modified body as one “that uses technology as either a necessity or as a commodity.” I can definitely identify with the former. I willingly utilize technology, but do not internalize it or allow myself to lose the essence of being human. Perhaps the most important point made about the modified body is that “technology offers something to the user, but at a certain price.” I fully and somewhat reluctantly acknowledge the cost of making technology such a main focus in my life. My inter-human relationships have become less personal, and my life more abbreviated and sped up. I hope to regress from or at least remain in the state of the modified body instead of progressing to the next level.
When I wrote my own post, I identified as having a "natural body," but after reading this entry you made me rethink my stance. To some degree, don't we all have "modified bodies"? I'm sitting in my room, typing away on my laptop which I use to maintain contact with my friends, family, and professors. It's also a frequent tool for my entertainment, organization, and so many other things. Laying on the desk next to me is my cell phone, open from reading a text message, another necessary form of communication for me. I like to think that technology has not become a part of me, but your description has brought me to realize that maybe it has.
ReplyDeleteI agree that with all of the technology available in society today we certainly are becoming less and less of the "natural body". I, however, most identify with the enhanced body. I guess that are opinions differ in that I am ok with integrating technology into my body as long as the mind is not affected. Allowing a blind person see or a deaf person hear is, in my opinion, an acceptable use of technology.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you realized that you (and I think most people of our age) have progressed from the stage of the natural body to the modified body. Most people find it hard to accept this fact. As you said, most teenagers spend at least one quarter of their day using some sort of technology. But I disagree with the fact that you find it a commodity. Seeing the way that society has developed recently, the use of technology can be seen as a necessity to keep up with the developments of life and the society around us. I find it to be a very sad truth that most humans now depend on technology to get by.
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