[nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is Technology Turning into Our Enemy?

[Kirt Manwaring]

Tina,
  I don't want to swim against the current...if we're using the river
analogy, I want a good strong raft that won't flip in the rapids.  Or
a life preserver to keep me up if the raft flips over...you get the
point.  :)  For me, that's braille and my good ol' perkins braille
writer.  That handy thing always works- I've dragged it through hell
and back, several times, and it's always come through.
  And I will say this.  If you like using old technology, and it does
what you need it to...more power to ya!  But new technology's great!
Iphones are amazing.  I love my ipod touch.  Hurray for innovation and
ingenuity-remember there was a time when record players were what
ipods are now (minus some bells and whistles, but I digress).  Once
upon a time, those amateur radios Bridget was talking about were the
cutting edge of moddern communication.  Progress is good.  Invention
and updated/new technology is great.  If you like using the old
stuff...you're in enough of a minority that it won't impeed the
advancement of civilization, or anything.  :)  Use what works best for
you.
  That being said, it better damn well not use you.  There's a
difference between having an iphone, even using it a lot for fun, and
isolating yourself from real face-to-face time with other people
because of your new toy.  It's one thing to be a technology hobbiest-
it's quite another to be a technology slave.  I've crossed the line
more times than I'd care to admit.
  Have a great weekend,
Kirt

On 4/8/11, Kirt Manwaring <kirt.crazydude at gmail.com> wrote:
> Jorge,
>   Here's why I'm not so sure I agree with the wellfare system working
> the way I described.  Or, at least, these are my reservations about
> it.
>   1.  Should children have to starve because their parents are out of
> work and not looking for jobs?  I know a blind couple in their late
> twenties who get SSI, and lots of help from their wealthy parents.
> They have a child.  Is it fair to that child for the family not to be
> financially supported?
> 2.  Lots of blind people (and, I would submit, people in general, but
> especially blind people) are depressed and feel inadequett.  I know
> blind people who feel that they don't have, and could never have the
> skills to work, especially with the job market the way it is.  I spent
> some time working at an employment center a couple summers back,
> calling clients on a massive and impossibly long list and asking them
> how their job searches were going.  More often than not, the responses
> I got were shame and appathy, with the occasional person scraping by
> and working like crazy on temporary jobs until something long-lasting
> could come.  Now I'm fully aware that social security is definitely a
> contributing factor to that appathy- why bother looking for a job if
> you can survive on unemployment checks every month?  But should we let
> those people who stopped looking for work starve?  Especially when
> they have families?  It's a hard question, and it definitely goes
> beyond the scope of just blind people being hindered by technology.
> But I'll say this- I definitely think there is a correlation between
> the number of blind people on social security and the number of blind
> people not seeking work.  And when you throw in moddern technology,
> which can easily distract you for hours or even days at a time (I
> would know), it's really a devistating combination for a lot of
> people.
>   Best,
> Kirt
>
> On 4/8/11, Desiree Oudinot <turtlepower17 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Hi Ashley,
>> I'm glad to see I'm not alone in my thoughts!
>> The point about kids being overstimulated is a good one. I would also
>> venture to say that, when we were young and we learned Braille, we
>> probably became more disciplined and are better at spelling and
>> grammar as a result. Of course, the other side of the coin, the fact
>> that plenty of sighted kids who learned handwriting often have trouble
>> in those same areas, is a valid one, but I do think that blind
>> children who learn primarily through audio, whether it be with a
>> screen reader or digital/books on cassette, are at a serious
>> disadvantage in those areas. I've seen enough of it in action to know.
>> I have a couple of friends who took that route and are now suffering
>> for it. They come to me and ask me to proofread their college work
>> because they know my strengths in those areas. By the same token, I
>> feel disadvantaged that I didn't get to know a system like the Opticon
>> because i struggle with handwriting. I've been totally blind all my
>> life, and though I have been dilligently practicing recently to write
>> my signature under the guidance of someone reliable, I know there's a
>> lot of room for improvement. I feel that if blind people have a
>> concept of print letters because they had to look at them, they are
>> able to write neatly, which is a plus.
>> Another analogy that comes to mind as I'm writing this is video games.
>> When the Atari system came out, people were stoked because it was the
>> first of its kind. Never mind the fact that the graphics were as basic
>> as they possibly could be. Now, if someone pulled one of those out of
>> storage, blew the dust off it and invited their friends to play, they
>> would be laughed at. Why is this? I personally think it's ridiculous.
>> Things do work, no matter how old they are. Newer is not always
>> better.
>>
>> On 4/8/11, bookwormahb at earthlink.net <bookwormahb at earthlink.net> wrote:
>>> Desiree,
>>> I'm in my 20s and I actually agree with much of what you say!
>>> I am a fan of old technology too. I respect it.
>>> Gee I thought I was the only one who had a colleection of records!
>>> I like older technology for several reasons. First, its simple; second
>>> its
>>> durable as you say; third, its
>>> is sometimes quicker and lastly it gets the job done.
>>> I have a notetaker for taking notes. Like you, I just use my cell phone
>>> for
>>> making phone calls!  Not the bells and whistles that most use.
>>> I'm with you; I'm not getting the IPhone.
>>>
>>> I still use cassettes to play and record notes and lectures.  An
>>> advantage
>>> I
>>> see is the ability to tone index sections.
>>> I still have an old fashioned brailler from my school days and use it.
>>> I also use CDS which are becoming out of date too.
>>> Problem is if old technology breaks, now a days no one can fix it or its
>>> pretty expensive.
>>> They just want you to buy the new technology. So I take good care of my
>>> old
>>> walkman, stero system with cassette player/CD player and brailler.
>>> I think society is too dependent on new complex technology.
>>> Its causing kids not to write with a pencil much anymore.
>>> Its causing kids to be overstimulated and lots of other consequences.
>>>
>>> Ashley
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Desiree Oudinot
>>> Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 5:50 PM
>>> To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list
>>> Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is Technology
>>> Turning into Our Enemy?
>>>
>>> Hi,
>>> This is a very interesting topic indeed, and I have a few thoughts on
>>> not only the issues raised in this message, but also the direction of
>>> technology in general.
>>> As a society, we are becoming more and more dependent on various forms
>>> of technology, from those that are helpful to our advancement to those
>>> that are just plain ridiculous. I am 21 years old, which might come as
>>> a shock because of what I'm about to say, but here it goes anyway:
>>> simplicity goes a long way. In other words, I don't mind having a cell
>>> phone that just makes calls. I don't mind having a laptop for going on
>>> the Internet and a note-taker for doing just that, taking notes. I
>>> don't even mind using a slate and stylus on occasion when I need to
>>> make labels or write down an address or phone numbers. I collect vinyl
>>> records because I honestly believe their sound quality is superior to
>>> that of today's digital overproductions. I don't maintain this
>>> collection for its value but for the place it holds in my heart. I
>>> don't need an IPhone for its supposed "convenience"--if people thought
>>> laptops were portable when there was nothing else, they still are. The
>>> thing that I think a lot of young people, both blind and sighted, take
>>> for granted is that there wasn't always one device at your fingertips
>>> that you can virtually do anything with. Though, regrettably, I wasn't
>>> alive to see it, there was a time when carrying a Braille writer to
>>> class was the norm, and using an Opticon was a privilege. I have a
>>> deep respect and appreciation for older technology because if people
>>> made it work before, there is absolutely no reason why things must be
>>> so convenient. When a 13-year-old girl cries because her IPhone broke
>>> (and let's face it, today's technology is made cheaper than the older
>>> stuff was, making the parts oh-so-complicated but all the while less
>>> durable, so that you keep shelling out all your cash to fix it), she
>>> thinks it's the end of the world... but why? Is it really necessary to
>>> have hundreds of thousands of aps available at your fingertips?
>>> I know I'm probably going to start a riot here with that last
>>> statement. I've been told by several other blind people that it's
>>> people like me who are trying to halt the advancement of technology.
>>> However, it's not that I won't try to use an IPhone if a day ever
>>> comes that that's the only option available, but for now I'm going to
>>> stick with what makes me comfortable. Is that really such a crime?
>>> People have said I'm an old soul, and think I'm strange, for the views
>>> that I hold, and there's probably a lot of truth to those accusations.
>>> However, I see no rhyme or reason to change, nor do I really want to.
>>> I've been down that road, thinking I was a misfit, and trying to deny
>>> my roots, but the truth is I can't. I love my laptop and my Braille
>>> Note as much as the next person. I keep them updated and running
>>> smoothly. So truthfully I'm not that far behind the times. My cell
>>> phone may be a simple older-model Nokia, but it does what I want it to
>>> do, and more importantly, it does what a phone was made to do: make
>>> calls, though I have nothing against texting, as even I must give into
>>> the pulling tides of some of today's innovations.
>>> Now, about the fact that people's comfort with this fast-paced,
>>> too-convenient technology is making them more lazy... I believe there
>>> is some truth to these claims. Things like podcasting, Skype and
>>> blogging allow a person to feel empowered and noticed in a way that
>>> was previously unavailable. When a person gets so many hits on
>>> downloads of a podcast, it might allow them to feel they're making a
>>> difference, and in some ways they are. The thing is, both the
>>> listeners and the creators need to realize that there's something more
>>> in life than the small world of their "accomplishment." The Internet
>>> may seem vast, but can quickly become a busy, cluttered little world
>>> indeed if you let it. It's just as easy to get lost in the seemingly
>>> endless maze of websites as it is to get a big head because people are
>>> hearing your voice.
>>> I hope I haven't been too offensive with this, but it is a subject I'm
>>> very passionate about and have a lot of opinions on that most people
>>> don't want to hear, so I'll understand if you guys don't either. I do
>>> hope, however, that I've provided at least a little food for thought,
>>> and haven't induced anyone's "cyber-rage" to unbearable levels.
>>> Thanks,
>>> Desiree
>>>
>>> On 4/8/11, Bridgit Pollpeter <bpollpeter at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>>> Hello NABSTERS,
>>>>
>>>> This was posted on another list.  It is a topic I find interesting, and
>>>> one we should consider and discuss.  I am curious to hear student
>>>> opinions, and what your experience has been regarding technology.  Is
>>>> there a balance in how we use this technology?
>>>>
>>>> One of the things I like in your note was your observation that "We now
>>>> have the opportunity to explore a future of our own making.  Jobs,
>>>> school and families are not dreams we long for, but are realities
>>>> within
>>>> our reach."
>>>>
>>>> One of the questions I've been struggling with is how to start a
>>>> dialogue, probably in the Braille Monitor, about whether these are
>>>> still
>>>> the widely-shared dreams of blind people. I read the statistics about
>>>> our unemployment, and in my job searches have certainly encountered
>>>> discrimination, but I can't tell you of very many Missourians who are
>>>> actively out looking for work. Neither can I tell you about many who
>>>> are
>>>> employed.
>>>>
>>>> In my younger days there were blind people who were smart and
>>>> articulate
>>>> who simply would not tackle the challenge of going to get a job. Some
>>>> of
>>>> them were amateur radio operators and spent their days doing good by
>>>> taking Western Union style messages and sending them free of charge
>>>> across the country and the world. The message might be as simple as
>>>> happy birthday or as complicated as "I'm going in for surgery tomorrow.
>>>> I will let you know how it goes. I will appreciate your prayers." Still
>>>> other amateur radio operators would connect their telephone and radio
>>>> and help people talk to loved ones. This, of course, was before the
>>>> days
>>>> of free long distance.
>>>>
>>>> The thing I want to focus on here was that the folks who spent most of
>>>> their time doing this substituted these volunteer tasks for employment.
>>>> They were not seeking jobs. They were getting fulfillment but from a
>>>> very different source because our society, whether through SSI, SSDI I,
>>>> the Missouri blind pension, or some other program, was perfectly
>>>> willing
>>>> to give them at least a minimal level of support and didn't challenge
>>>> them with the tough question "Why aren't you employed?"
>>>>
>>>> Today I think I see our young blind folks substituting the Internet for
>>>> ham radio. Maybe they are all about building websites to communicate
>>>> something special they believe they know about blindness. Some do their
>>>> own radio shows. Some make podcasts. The shows and topics seem to be
>>>> all
>>>> over the place. On one podcast I follow, which is usually technical in
>>>> nature, one person put up a recording demonstrating how to change a
>>>> diaper, while another produced a podcast of his dog guide popping the
>>>> bubbles that are found in shrink wrap. Both were similar--lots of
>>>> rustling plastic but not a lot of information. I do not object to what
>>>> anyone wants to do for entertainment, but my concern is that these
>>>> playtime activities are being substituted for what I see as a major
>>>> life
>>>> activity and responsibility, that being to earn a living and do these
>>>> other things as time allows.
>>>>
>>>> I think the question I would like to explore is whether the work ethic
>>>> which burned in so many folks of my generation still is prevalently
>>>> found today. If not, who put out the fire and how do we rekindle it? Is
>>>> our safety net frequently being used as a means of permanent support,
>>>> and, if it is, is there something we can and should do about it?
>>>>
>>>> Some folks I know claim they had to do upwards of a hundred interviews
>>>> to get their first job. Is this still true today? If so, I'm not
>>>> hearing
>>>> about it. My fear is that, with all of the civil rights protections and
>>>> advances in technology, we still have a significant number of
>>>> intelligent blind people who aren't taking advantage of a world which
>>>> is
>>>> more receptive today than ever it has been in the past to getting us
>>>> employed and accepting us as capable human beings in society.
>>>>
>>>> I think the dream we share is worth dreaming and that what we dream of
>>>> is attainable. Are there more effective ways for us to sell this dream?
>>>> If so, how can our newsletters and our Braille Monitor help?  As I look
>>>> at the most recent issue of the students late, it is perfectly obvious
>>>> to me that some still buy the dream. The question really is how many,
>>>> and are there better ways for us to sell the dream of equality so that
>>>> more young folks act on it?
>>>>
>>>> I see technology being the downfall for society in general, but this
>>>> post presents a very serious issue.  We know far too many blind people
>>>> still refuse to believe in complete independence, but how is this
>>>> reliance on technology affecting the situation?
>>>>
>>>> What are student thoughts?  Do you see this trend, and if so, what can
>>>> be done to tackle it?  What areas do you think need work, and can you
>>>> propose any ideas to change a larger population of blind peoples
>>>> mindsets?
>>>>
>>>> Bridgit
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
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>>
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