Questions:
- What does the presented mean by “plugged in lives”?
- To what extent do you agree with the statement that “those little devices in our pockets, are so psychologically powerful that they don’t only change what we do, they change who we are”?
- Where and when do you think it is inappropriate to text? During board meetings? During classes? On a date?
- What might be the consequences of overusing technology for communication?
- Do you agree with this statement: “Human relationships are rich and they’re messy and they’re demanding. And we clean them up with technology.”?
- Do you prefer texting rather than talking? In what situations?
- How often do you feel that nobody is listening to you? Would you like to have a digital assistant capable of listening and reacting to what you are saying?
- Do you find it amazing that an elderly woman took comfort in her robot companion?
- Do you agree that all of us have these three dreams: “One, that we can put our attention wherever we want it to be; two, that we will always be heard; and three, that we will never have to be alone”?
- According to the presenter, how does connection leads to isolation?
- Do you feel that you, personally, need to develop more self-aware relationship with technology?
Vocabulary:
heady = having a strong effect on your senses; making you feel excited and confident
the heady days of youth
In those heady days, we were experimenting with chat rooms and online virtual communities.
to customize = to make or change something to suit the needs of the owner
People want to customize their lives.
to lament = to feel or express great sadness or disappointment about somebody/something
A 50-year-old business man lamented to me that he feels he doesn’t have colleagues anymore at work.
to short-change = deprive somebody of something by deceit
And when we do, one of the things that can happen is that we sacrifice conversation for mere connection. We short-change ourselves.