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

[humberto]

It is so shocking, and yes * very very very shocking! * to hear 
that a 21-year-old girl is playing music on those big plain old 
vinyl records.  Heck hardly few people in this population do that 
anymore!
I'd rather stick with an ipod touch, or an iPhone, if I had one, 
because it is so convenient now days.  Also whoever is not 
keeping up with this technology, quite honestly, in my opinion, 
is way far behind.

>----- Original Message -----
>From: Desiree Oudinot <turtlepower17 at gmail.com
>To: National Association of Blind Students mailing list 
<nabs-l at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Fri, 8 Apr 2011 17:50:13 -0400
>Subject: Re: [nabs-l] Interesting topic for discussion: Is 
TechnologyTurning 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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