Do We Own Technology?

Sherry Turkle, an MIT technology professor, has recently published a book entitled, “Alone Together:  Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other.”  I learned about the book by referencing the UMUC med-lounge causing me to attend a free webcast conducted by Ms. Turkle on September 28, 2011.  The essence of Ms. Turkle’s argument is that we must see technology as a partner and recognize its potential costs in the form of what she terms “addiction.”  Turkle makes the premise that as we ramp up the volume and velocity of communication facilitated by technology, we frequently become overwhelmed across the generations.  She describes these impacts as a new-found preference to avoid emotional exposure, impairment of critically important collaboration and innovation, and increased difficulty in developing mentoring relationships and learning experiences.  As still another example, Turkle states that the new technologies inhibit people from talking with each other in the form of successful negotiation and conflict management. 

Instead of becoming so wedded to technology, Turkle argues that we must value solitude for its regenerative and creative powers.  She confirms significant research that multi-tasking degrades performance, although interestingly she states there are times when it is necessary subject to one’s willingness to have performance degrade.  In the workplace Turkle discusses a need for staff to slow down, find sacred spaces, and establish new institutional rituals.  The Internet and all its permutations is not viewed by Turkle as the enemy, but instead a tool that must be managed.  Turkle states, “Just because we grew up with the Internet, we assume the Internet is all grown up.”  Her supposition from this statement is clear, the Internet offers the potential for powerful affordances and yet also the potential for serious costs. 


I found the presentation provocative and powerful; an important new perspective that should be further explored from the standpoint of distance education.