igeazle portable/travel desk
It can be used in a variety of settings; its applications are endless.

Within our reach 24-7 is some form of digital technology like a smart phone, a tablet or laptop; what does it all mean?

The way we communicate has drastically changed; our dependence on these electronic devices is slowly eroding some of our core principles or values. The point is to be aware of what is going on so that we can provide better solutions before things become irreversible. The intent of this article is not to go against technology rather to mitigate the negative effects of such. However, most of our work and what we do depend on technology.

Professor Bugeja Director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University puts it this way in his forthcoming book by "Interpersonal Divide in the Age of the Machine”.  He explores what might happen if machines are allowed to dictate our life. These machines are almost ubiquitous; they range from smart phone to robotics to virtual reality. Due to our dependence and reliance on these machines, we will start developing the universal principles of technology, such as urgency, a need for constant updates and a loss of privacy. Many have already experience a fear of missing out (FOMO).

"We are losing empathy, compassion, truth-telling, fairness and responsibility and replacing them with all these machine values," Bugeja said. "If we embed ourselves in technology, what happens to those universal principles that have stopped wars and elevated human consciousness and conscience above more primitive times in history?"

Need for technology and media literacy

There are great dangers associated with adopting these values. The proliferation of fake news is just one of the many examples of how this shift has already influenced our culture. Technology provides continuous connection to our social media. The primary news sources for many Americans are through their social media feeds. However, social media feeds tend to harbor news stories that reflect our individual beliefs and values; there are limited viewpoints on a broad spectrum. It is an easy way for fake news stories to spread.

Here are some ways that you can spot some fake news.

  • Be skeptical of some news headlines (Bait clicks)
  • Pseudo URL (a look alike URL)
  • The source of the information (is it coming from a reputable, respected source?)
  • Images (are there inconsistencies, edited, do they take these images out of context to make you believe otherwise)
  • The dates are important (when was the news published, printed?)
  • Check multiple sources with similar news story. (are they saying similar things)
  • Some news is just false to begin with. It is time to think critically about what you read. (common sense)

"The business of journalism is already feeling the effect of living in a world of correlation without causation," Bugeja said. "We understand what happened and how it happened, but we don't understand why it happened."

It is important to be literate about what is going on. It is one of the many reasons Bugeja wants colleges and universities to require students take media and technology literacy courses. It is important for students to know where to go to find credible news stories, and open their minds to information from multiple sources, not just those that confirm what they already think or believe.

"We need these courses so that people know where to go for facts and how to deal with technology. If you do not assert yourself over technology, it will assert itself over you and you will be doing what the machine asks you, rather than you telling the machine what to do," Bugeja said.

There is no easy short-term fix for the future, Bugeja said, which is why we need to temper our use. He says the long-term solution is through education.

Machines are not human

The impact of technology is not just on the philosophical and intellectual, but also the impact of technology on business, behavior and everyday activities according to Bugeja. Business and industry increasingly rely on machines or robots to do the jobs of humans. Bugeja says this shift can improve efficiency, safety and the company's bottom line, but he questions what will happen to those individuals who lose their jobs to machines.

Many can witness the impact of such across many universities. Machines have altered behavior in the classroom, dining hall or simply when walking across campus. Technology becomes a distraction that keeps students from focusing on their studies and limits interpersonal interactions. The temptation to respond to an alert from social media, the notification of a text message have greatly increased safety concerns.

"We introduce new gadgets by saying they will make our lives better, which is true, but there are also dangers," Bugeja said.

It is imperative to raise awareness about the dangers of living in a world dominated by machines. There must be a delicate balance when it comes to the use of technology. One must not feel pressured to respond immediately to an email or a text message.

Work Cited:

Iowa State University. "Technology is great, but are we prepared for the consequences?" ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 18 April 2017. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/04/170418114346.htm

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