After reflecting on this week’s reading from Duncan J. Watts, I got to thinking… How connected are we? Which networks am I a part of and how do they survive and thrive? How does the behaviour of individuals aggregate to a collective behaviour? And, just like power and transport networks, how do the social networks deal with a failure in the system? How do they resume their place in society? At what stage is the evolution of networks too advanced… or can they be too advanced? And, when is too much technology too much?
Some would argue that as long as something is changing in a way that assists us, it is evolving. I would argue that we are heading in an astronically technological direction, where our otherwise tangible networks are being virtual. In this sense, is there a point where inventiveness is excessive?
Watts argues that “no amount of inventiveness or energy is excessive if it results in the creation of leisure, the increase of personal freedom or the provision of physical comfort”. But, at the point where we are couch potatos sitting idly with phones glued to our palms with supposed networks at our fingertips, are we really taking part in networks? Or, is this taking part?
Technology is the produce of a “relentless engine of civilization”, constantly searching for meaning, for innovative solutions to everyday tasks, and for efficiency.
The power system is said to be the most critical resource in the world today. It enables the use of things like aircon, computers, phones, power tools and television.
Watts says that “electricity is a fact of life so basic that we cannot imagine being without it”. In the morning when I get ready, I wake up to an alarm set on my iPhone, run a hot shower (made hot with an electric water heater), put on my clothes, eat breakfast (toast from an electric toaster because I don’t like cereal) and grab my charged phone, charged iPod and my phone charger and set off to work. Even stripping my day down the basic movements during morning, the steps I take to get ready, the things I put in my handbag… electricity is present in almost all of these steps.
Watts also said that “if we are forced to [be with out electricity], it can be so tremendously destructive [that we act] in the most primal fashion”.
The other day, I was sitting on the train, when a particularly frantic woman got on. She threw her bags down and began pulling her bag apart looking for something. She was breathing aggressively and stomped her feet loudly, muttering a series of swear words under her breath and began hyperventilating. Confused, I looked away to try and give her some privacy. But, out of the corner of my eye, I saw her pull a small black item from her bag which she clutched so tightly I thought she’d break its screen. She sat back, her bag’s contents splayed around her and nestled her smart phone.
WOW. And, you don’t call that primal? Tell me we’re not going too far again. I dare you.
Studies have shown that through our ability to remember tasks and facts with our original network carriers (our brains) are being replaced by phones.