technology

In class we discussed how Clark's article is attempting to redefine the cyborg as something that is becoming more of a reality that exists within ourselves and our relationship with technology rather than just something we think of as from the pages of science fiction novels. I find this definition to be slightly disturbing as it is essentially stating that humans and technology are becoming more and more reliant on one another and eventually this reliance will cause them to become completely intertwined. I also recognize that my disturbed reaction to this is completely ungrounded since humans have been the sole contributor to the rise of technology- we have done this to ourselves yet it seems so many people are unsettled by this idea of humans as cyborgs. If humans were the ones to initiate this reliance on technology- why are we so disturbed? I think part of this may be due to the fact that technology is advancing so quickly that some of the abilities of technology (memory, calculations, directions, etc) have begun to outperform our own mental abilities and we are threatened by that. The threat could also come from the fact that we have become so reliant on technology and it's conveniences that trying to wean ourselves from using it becomes more challenging over time, as of now it seems next to impossible.

As Ann mentioned in class, her computer has essentially become a form of extended cognition and without it was like going through a brain injury. I'm sure I would feel the same way as my computer is like my second brain and without it I couldn't access many of my own cognitions. I think this is also true of the internet itself, another extension of cognitions as so many individuals use the internet as a dumping grounds for their own thoughts - private or public. Some may even feel more comfortable thinking their thoughts online rather than in person thus making the internet some sort of crutch for them to lean on. Everyone seems to have their own unique past buried in the internet, separate from their real lives. Overall, I find Clark's vision of the cyborg as disturbing but also self-inflicted.