High Touch, losing humanity in the chase for Technology
Convener: Jean Dallas
This became an ad hoc conversation between Jean Dallas and I regarding the “To What End?” question…basically are the activities we are engaged in making a difference? How are we measuring success? We felt as if the conversation tends toward the technologies and what they can do, versus what we want to do and then seeking the technologies to achieve that goal. I referenced Heidegger’s “Question Concerning Technology” and the philosophical ramifications of not choosing the appropriate technologies or letting technology drive our humanity.
What we felt was that we were all craving community, and I referenced the text “Craving Community: The New American Dream” by Todd Mansfield, Ross P. Yockey and L. Beth Yockey. While the book addresses new urbanism and the arrangement of physical space, we examined the parallels to engaging virtual spaces that fulfill the craving for community.
I also referenced my own dissertation research at http://www.digitalstoryquilt.com and the desire for people to tell their stories that become part of a community memory.
We left off our conversation recognizing that these are questions that should frame any question of technology and its uses so that our technologies don’t end up doing more harm than good.