TASK THREE
REFLECTING ON IT
Olivia s3167443
In task two, the idea of the examining alternative uses to an item deemed useless was explored. I investigated the White Pages, as hard copies of phone directories are becoming increasingly unused in today’s society as individuals are opting to use the internet instead. This provided me the opportunity to recycle this type of annual waste into a series of ornamental pieces that would efficiently serve another function. I then began to consider the broader consequences of replacing the existing phone directory system with a swifter online option. This exchange of technique has eliminated the interaction between the individual and the product, essentially withdrawing an entire experience. The true significance behind a phone directory has partially diminished, as the action of physically seeking a directory then looking up a number has been replaced by the internet doing the search for you, within an even quicker time frame.
When examining this issue from a much broader prospective, one must question what will be the consequences of replacing an existing efficient system that involved human interaction to an online service? What manufacturing qualities will be lost, become extinct? Many daily actions once completed by individuals have been replaced by technological services and networks. Although this is beneficial in such a fast paced society, it creates many social issues, effectively preventing necessary cultural direction and development when we are confining our methods to online limitations.
To attain any form of social or cultural innovation, we must surround ourselves with various types of practices and skills. How do we create newer innovations when we confine our research and skills to technological resources? Replacing the tangible White Pages to an online service, is symbolic of how we limiting the way we could further develop the function of the service, instead preventing it to only further develop on an online platform. The benefit of hands on experience is overlooked, denying many the opportunity to expose themselves to first hand ideas and understandings that a computer screen can not offer. For many centuries, creatives have seeked their ideas and concepts from practical experimentation and manufacturing. Technological advancement is certainly necessary; however it will restrain the opportunity for designers to further develop and influence any culture making.
Technological progression has witnessed the demise of human action with products. These systems have evidently been replaced with web services. Yes, the internet is an abundant source of information, however individuals are routinely turning to it for all solutions and needs. This behaviour restricts individuals creatively, as it also restricts from fully appreciating of design. For example, if you are looking at purchasing custom designed furniture. In the past, you would visit the manufacture and look and touch physical samples and materials and gain a full appreciation for what is to be made. However, today it is too easy to make choices such as texture and colour from an assumption and a click of a button. How are meant to progress creatively in a society where there is minimal relations between individual and product, as consumers become less willing to appreciate manufacturing?
When we replace existing products, with technological replacements, we lose a series of craftsmanship that only experience and time can teach. This may see the decline of true handmade skills. When we halt manufacturing products, an entire production chain is gone. When examining the loss of the manufacturing stage of phone directories, we are sacrificing the knowledge we have attain of the paper making production. A loss of craftsmanship consequently exposes the following generations to limited knowledge and inferior techniques when manufacturing. When we get rid of the tangible object, we also dispose of the skills needed to use the object. This is common problem that will only continue to make future generations even more unwilling to participate in simple everyday activities, for example straightforward skills such as looking up a number in a phone directory. Another current day example are the navigation systems presently found in many cars. These highly effective units serve a highly practical service, however, it no longer allos people the opportunity to utilise their map reading skills. The unit does all the thinking for you, all the user is required to do is submit data. This sort of behaviour is becoming increasingly common and concerning.
Observably, the internet has been the key player in the demise of social interaction. It seems that it has replaced many of our daily tasks, making the journey and experience of doing these tasks obsolete and meaningless. On a social level, the rise of technological networking witnessed the downfall of necessary communication. Face to face contact is becoming eliminated, as it has evidently been replaced with services such as email or text message. Though technology has without doubt had a positive influence on the accessibility of communicating, one must consider what is too much? Everyday actions are becoming insincere, there is that human connection that can not be obtained through a sms or online. It restricts you as a person, preventing you from presenting your true self to the world. Instead it can allow you to hide behind a username and obtain any identity you desire. It takes us away from our reality of life as we are absorbed in social network websites, causing us to divert our time and energy from convincing website and interactive experiences. Once we are finished with these experiences, we lead ourselves back to our reality and everyday life. Meaningful communication is a thing of the past, as we continue to lead lifestyles that are becoming increasingly egocentric and uninspiring. If we are not communicating face-to-face, how are we meant to evolve creatively if we are utilising our time sitting behind a computer screen instead of embracing the opportunities that await us in the ‘real world’?
Since technology will obviously be with us for many more generations, one must question how do we design technology that perhaps has more meaning? Individuals will clearly continue to spend time online as they expose themselves to even newer technologies, which to a certain extent becomes even more meaningless. As discussed above, our interaction with internet has seen us deprive ourselves of activities not in front of the screen. Perhaps we can create this cultural innovation through meaningful technological design? The internet for example creates a virtual environment where notions are discussed globally and freely. However, it is our responsibility to turn this type of discussion into realistic actions. The role of culture makers must respond through observation, while considering psychology and values. These types of traits can not be attained from a virtual reality. You forge your own creations online, allowing individuals to create unrealistic notions. Design forums or message boards for example, can be seen as meaningless since they provide an opportunity to discuss however create an environment for worthless absorption.
By transferring current systems to an online environment, we sacrifice many key aspects of design and thinking. Whether we should perhaps consider leading a not so dominant technological future is something that has no answer, however we must acknowledge we are forfeiting generations of skill and thinking. When we combine all of the elements discussed above, many forms of technology have created deprecation for person-to-person interactive systems which may one day be the demise of humanity and its values. If we progress in a future of online services, individuals will continue to lose the appreciation of design and innovation, as they become content with technology taking care of their responsibilities and everyday tasks.
REFERENCES:
- YP Talk, 2009, Production, viewed 16 October 2009, <http://www.yptalk.com/index.cfm>
- The Story of Phonebooks, 2009, Starting on the right foot, viewed 16 October 2009, <http://earth911.com/blog/2009/01/12/the-story-of-phone-books>
- Tuscaloosa News, 2009, Social interaction evolves with technology, viewed 16 October 2009, <http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20090802/NEWS/907319954?Title=Social-interaction-evolves-with-technology>
- The European Association for the study of Science and Technology, 2009, Knowing the Sociology of Technology viewed 16 October 2009, <http://www.easst.net/review/dec1996/pollack>
