Talking to Machines and Devices More Than People. Danger or Destiny?

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It's official, "studies show we like talking to machines more than people". Yikes! Is that a compliment to technology or a dig at people's priorities.

Many people now talk to their machines and devices more than most of their relatives. Not to mention people who live next them them (neighbors).

It would seem like a weird science fiction movie, if it wasn't so subtle, convenient and even comforting.

In fact, a Pew research study was done that revealed fewer than half of American adults now know most or all of their neighbors. Personally, I think the number is higher, especially in mid to larger cities and if you defined "know" as opposed to "know about". Big difference. If you applied that scenario I'd guess the number is much higher.

Do you find that alarming? The new normal? Or is human contact or engagement overrated?

Is Facebook, Twitter and Forums like this the blame? Or are they the answer for our need for human contact and engagement without having to form relationships?

Are we growing closer to this scenario? Mooh -ha--ha-ha!

As always I welcome you comments, disagreements or complaints.
  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Though I'm a very social person and go out a lot and interact with people face-to-face, I can still say that I still probably spend more total time talking to people via Skype and text, using my iPhone, my laptop, or my PC (yes, I still use one of those lol).

    I think that's just the way we're heading.

    Like most things out there, though, too much of some thing might not be good for you. Let's take video games, as one example. I like them and play them from time to time, but I have a friend of mine who plays 40 to 60 hours of War Of Warcraft (among others) every single week.

    So 99% of his social life and entertainment are video games. He's been doing it for so many years that, in my opinion, it's affected his social skills and how he perceives reality and other people. I've known the guy for a long time and he has definitely changed. I mean, this is how he communicates with most people now, through video games. Is it the only culprit? Of course not, but it's definitely had an impact.

    Who knows? Maybe 100 or so years from now we'll all be living our lives virtually.

    RoD
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by Rod Cortez View Post

      I think that's just the way we're heading.

      Like most things out there, though, too much of some thing might not be good for you. Let's take video games, as one example. I like them and play them from time to time, but I have a friend of mine who plays 40 to 60 hours of War Of Warcraft (among others) every single week.

      So 99% of his social life and entertainment are video games. He's been doing it for so many years that, in my opinion, it's affected his social skills and how he perceives reality and other people. I've known the guy for a long time and he has definitely changed. I mean, this is how he communicates with most people now, through video games. Is it the only culprit? Of course not, but it's definitely had an impact.

      Who knows? Maybe 100 or so years from now we'll all be living our lives virtually.

      RoD
      I'm starting to know more people like your friend. You can place video games in the activity, facebook, Twitter or even Porno. And the scary part is the people see it as normal, anything different that involves people is out of their comfort zone. Being around people in social situations (without a device) is almost creepy to them.

      I even find myself having to tear myself away from technology and talk and listen to people more, as a descipline.

      I can see a "Technology Anonymous" sort of industry as a future growth market. The need is definitely here. But there's not been enough repercussions for people to seek it ... yet!
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      • Profile picture of the author tagiscom
        True, l talk to my Laptop all the time, here are some examples!

        • $%%^ machine!

        • Stop freezing you %^^&!

        • What, l can't save my graphics l spent the last hour on, you piece of %^&!

        • Updated my FF browser, and as usual the videos are crippled, piece of #$$%!

        • FireFox won't let me update Flash, eventhough it tells me to update it so my videos will play without the song and dance routine, $%%^ browser!

        And my favourite!

        • Why is this annoying pop up graphic for t-shirts appearing now and then? Great l have to waste more valuable time trying to find this piece of #$$% program and remove it, hopefully!


        But l do have a foam, red stress cube closeby, always better to throw that than the Laptop!


        But under normal circumstances l don't talk to it!

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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    It drives me nuts to see someone on text, etc when they are out with other people.

    I know both of my immediate neighbors and the guy next to one of them. I speak to friends out of the house every day. Yet this can be a tough one, because I have friends stretched all across the US. I try to talk to them periodically, too. During the summer my weekends are filled with outings with other people and I don't always even take a cell phone with me.

    Being able to connect for long distances is awesome, but it seems to me it would get extremely isolated if you didn't at least keep up with the neighbors or go out with others now and again. Maybe that's one of the reasons why our society is imploding.
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    • Profile picture of the author The Niche Man
      Originally Posted by HeySal View Post


      but it seems to me it would get extremely isolated if you didn't at least keep up with the neighbors or go out with others now and again.
      I think "isolation" is what many in this technology age is moving to and farther away from relationships, especially close ones.

      For example, this evening the normal scenario in most family homes is kids isolated in room on computer or cell phone, father isolated in one room watching t.v, wife is isolated in bedroom watching t.v or on laptop. Dinners are often isolated. Just think to most children 21 and under, that's normal.

      Everyone is isolated with their technology. I'm not saying it's all the way bad or good. I'm just noting the paradigm shift in normalcy.
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  • Profile picture of the author HeySal
    That does seem to be the shift. I think it has its place, but we need to remember the same balance with our technology as we do in every other part of our lives. I'm not seeing as much of that balance now. It's funny, too, when you move and you introduce yourself to a neighbor, they seem to like it so much to meet and know who lives next to them. You get a few crabby appletons here and there, but I think most people are starting to feel a little bit cut off and really respond well to someone building a link with them in the real world.
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    Sal
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