Man vs Technology by BACAT Exhibition 2018

THE FIGHT FOR HUMANITY

Shanique McFarlane

MAN

MACHINE

Resisting Dig ital Dominace VS

Man vs Technology

CONTENT

Chapter 4 : Social Media

Chapter 5 : Smart Phone

Chapter 6 : Camera

The End?

Authors Note

Chapter 1 : The Evolution of Technology

Chapter 2 : Television

Chapter 3 : Computer

TIPS INSIDE from everyday users of Technology.

Bibliography

AUTHOR’S NOTE Shanique McFarlane Thank you so much for reading Man Vs Technology. I feel like this idea has been in my head for so long now! This story all started on a faithful day in February when I got robbed of my cellphone in Half Way Tree (HWT), I was devastated. I craved the use technology and it led me to question “Am i too attached to my devices?” Technological interaction has now dominated both online and off line conversations. In a society where interacting and over sharing on line is the norm, you’re more likely to speak to your friends and family through electronic devices than face-toface. I wanted to make this book about the five persons who struggled with technological addictions at one point in their lives. I wanted to portray their stories uninterrupted and unfiltered. I wanted each reader to feel comfortable getting to know each individual. Their stories are layed out as of their were having a conversation with the readers, recanting this aspect of their lives.

The impact the advance of technology has had on our every day is undeniable. We may claim that technology, at this point, may have partially taken over our lives however, what is of apex importance in today’s complex dynamics is the fact that we ably control our outputs on the very crux of our technical dependence “Technology is always created by humans and in turn re-defining what we can and will do. Every single technological change is now impacting humanity in a much deeper way than ever before because technology will soon impact our own biology, primarily via the rise of genome editing and artificial intelligence. Technology is no longer just a tool we use to achieve something - we are actually (as McLuhan predicted) becoming tools (ie. technology) ourselves.”

Man vs Technology

Resisting the urge to check your phone or shut down Netflix after another cliffhanger Stranger Things episode should be a simple matter of self-control. But according to so-called whistleblowers such as Tristan Harris, a computer scientist who founded the Time Well Spent movement, and Adam Alter, author of Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked, we humans are totally overpowered. But what causes humans to get addicted to technology? Each chapter in Man vs Technology will delve to find out what whats so addictive about each technology.

Man vs Technology

....STOP LIVING YOUR LIFE ON AUTO PILOT”

.....PUT THE TECHNOLOGY DOWN”

...CREATE REAL CONNECTIONS”

Man vs Technology

Chapter 1

EVOLUTION OF TECHNOLOGY Have you ever thought about how far we’ve come in our ability to connect with others and how far we’ll go? Over the last decade, technology has progressed in every field imaginable. From nanotechnology to remote-controlled contraceptive chips, technology really has expanded and changed at a rate faster than ever. Only a few years ago I remember owning one of those classic Nokia Brick phones, but now Smart phones are capable of acting as standalone computers: from having ultra-fast 4G connection to a motion coprocessor capable of recording how many steps one takes in a day. We officially became homo sapiens approximately 200,000 years ago. With the emergence of sophisticated language, we were able to communicate with each other face to face in a way that allowed for the emergence of civilization as we now know it. Of course, this connection was limited to, well, shouting distance, but it was a start.(Taylor 2010) About 4,000 years ago, humans developed their first means of non-face-to-face communication with the discovery of smoke signals and then, about 2,500 years ago, drums. Then, around 1835, Samuel Morse invented the telegraph, setting the stage for the greatest period of technological development in history. Alexander Graham Bell’s patent of the telephone in 1876 enabled humans to converse directly over great distances as if they were in the same room.(Taylor 2010) The facsimile followed closely in the wake of the telephone, paving the way for the immediate transmission of something other than voice. For the first time, documents could be shared at a rate far faster than through the mail and its been progression ever since,

Man vs Technology

t’s commonly argued whether we should limit the extent to which we trust machines to keep us alive. It’s great that Dialysis machines and other forms of life support are used to keep people alive, but advances in military technology have resulted in controversy: military drones are used to bomb cities in the Middle East whilst their pilots are sitting in a control room somewhere in the United States disconnected from reality similar to a video game. Robert Szczerba writes, “The advancement of technology generally evokes a range of emotions in people from all walks of life. Some view technology as a great evil that slowly diminishes our humanity, while others view it as a way to bring the world closer together and to help solve some of our greatest challenges.” There are two sides to every story and with new technology, there’s the good and the bad. Technology has eroded the social skills of many teenagers due to the influx of smartphones and tablets. Attention spans within teenagers are declining according to a study made by the University of Michigan.

The study found a 40% decline among students in every definition of empathy among college students. This was compared with their counterparts 20 years previous, with the biggest decline coming after the year 2000. Leon Watson of The Telegraph went as far as to say that “even a goldfish can hold a thought longer”. “Technology is increasing our capacities and providing us with newly sophisticated ways of thinking,” He goes on to say ““In a way, it’s automating work we used to have to do for ourselves painstakingly. It’s taking stuff we had to do consciously and slowly and making it happen fast and automatically.”(Chalmers,2017) So as we delve deeper into man vs technology youll see I’ve broken down the technologies to include: television, computer, social media, smart phone and camera. The next chapters will reveal how addictive these technologies got for these persons and how they over came it .

Man vs Technology

HOW TO DETACH:

elevision addiction has been conceptualized and discussed since the 1970s, it’s pre-dated some of the behavioral addictions that have since overtaken it in terms of scientific research and widespread acceptance, such as internet addiction. Although early research into TV addiction was limited, the concept of TV addiction was relatively well accepted by parents, educators, and journalists, as television watching became more common, particularly among children. Parents have intuitively known and discussed the need to monitor and mange their kids’ screen time, long before the rise of the internet. The Radio Corporation of America started manufacturing color television sets on March 25, 1954, at its Bloomington, Indiana plant, helping to usher in “the wonderful world of color.” Since that time, the number of households with TVs has steadily risen. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the number of homes with television sets increased from 87% in 1960 to over 98% in 2001. Most homes have more than one (2.4 per home on average), totaling 248 million in the U.S. alone—and most today do not remember a time without television. 12

Man vs Technology

So do you think youve got an addiction to your television? Need help detaching a little? Well your’e in luck this book will guide you and give tips to help you detach a little bit from your television. Well the first tip is of course is 1. Facing the Problem. You cant solve your problem without admitting that you have one which is something no one ever wants to do. Trust me, I know that guilty feeling all too well and ignoring it wont make the problem go away. The problem with millenials, yeah I’m talking to you its that we like a temporary fix to our problems. Face the problem, learn about yourself. You got this. 2. Try Small Sessions Without It. Here comes the hard part, try an hour without your tv, your Netflix account even youtube yes; even youtube you might face some resistance, but if you tell yourself, “It’s just an hour” or “It’s just a day”, then you know you can get through this period of discomfort. The key is to make the period seem like a small challenge but a very feasible one.

3. Say no to Titanic for the 100th time. We already know how the story goes Rose selfishly lays on the door while Jack freezes to death. The movie ends the same way each time. Though the comfort in famaliarity is nice RESIST IT. Try engaging in a outdoor activity, involve your family in a game night. Cliche I know, reading this you might remmeber your mom calling you to put the phone down the phone and go outside but why not engage in something thats healthy for your body and your brain. 4. Involve Your Friends and Family For Support. Who better to hold you accountable than them? It’s always better to be open and honest and having a listning ear makes it even better. Who knows you might find out television addiction is more common than you think. A simple text reminder and calls will be great. The key to overcoming any addiction is having people there cheering you on. But dont take my word for it, on the next page you’ll meet Shara Lee Walcott. Reading her story will give you an insight on how she over came her tv addiction. So what are you waiting for? Turn the page already

“WE CANT DATE IF YOU DONT HAVE A TV” Half the battle of TV addiction is acknowledging the problem and making the commitment to change. Robert Kubey and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi in their book “Television Addiction Is No Mere Metaphor” stated “In its easy provision of relaxation and escape, television can be beneficial in limited doses. Yet when the habit interferes with the ability to grow, to learn new things, to lead an active life, then it does constitute a kind of dependence and should be taken seriously.” When you do the math, it’s rather shocking. Six hours per day adds up to 2190 hours over the course of a year, which equates to 91 days. Sitting in front of a television. Hypnotized. Tuned in, but zoned out. Living in a make-believe world while the real world passes by. Many have experienced this exact sensation of being drawn into the TV. Turn a TV on and conversation and physical activities stop. Before you know it, the entire day has disappeared. In 2004, the average adult spent 1,669 hours watching television that is the equivalent of 70 days a year. 13 years of the average person’s life will be spent in front of the television

Man vs technology

Delve into the mind of Shaunell James below as she shares her story; Raw , uncut , unedited. Her words, Her life

Shaunell

JAMES

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here was a time in my life when I wasted nearly six hours of my day watching television. As evening rolled around, I’d plant myself on the couch, turn on the television and vegetate till I fell asleep near two am. Ten hours later, I’d wake up with the TV still on, feeling no morerested than when I went to sleep. When you do the math, it’s rather shocking how much time I spent wallowing infront of the televison Although I failed to recognize it at the time, it’s clear now that watching television had become a full-blown addiction for me. An escape mechanism that I used to distract myself from the problems, fears and challenges I was refusing to deal with in my life.

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t thank the Universe for bringing Samatha into my life. She provided the inspiration, encouragement and support to help me see beyond the challenging circumstances of my life at the time. Besides the inspiring example of how she was living her life. One day I sat down and wrote out an inspiring vision for the life I wanted to live and the person I wanted to be. As you might imagine, my vision didn’t include watching six hours of television every day. Still, my addiction was well-established. So, while my heartfelt vision statement was a great place to start, I knew it was going to take more than words on a page to begin turning that vision into reality. What really helped me during my detox was some pretty simple things that felt tedious at the beginning.

I used television to distract myself from the shame, embarrassment and stress I felt about some irresponsible decisions I was making and the repercussions of these bad decision. I used it to avoid facing my fear of stepping out into the world more fully, connecting with others and pursuing the higher purpose. I used it to cope with boredom and fill the void of an otherwise empty life. Sounds depression doesn’t it? Thats how it felt for me and television was just the medium for my coping mechanism.

When I first started on the road to recovery, I kept a daily, written log to document the number of hours I spent watching television each day. This helped me see exactly how much of my life I was wasting. It also helped me see where I could eliminate some TV time and replace it with more purposeful activities. At the time, it was a revelation to realize I could turn off the TV at 9pm instead of two am, get a good night’s sleep, and wake up at 4am. This freed up a good 3-4 hours in the morning that I could use however I wanted.

In short, my life was a mess, my self-esteem was on the floor it was so bad that I set a dating rule for myself, I couldn’t date a guy if he didn’t have a television. Although the television may have provided a short-term escape from that reality I was running from, it ultimately kept me locked within it. Instead of using my time and energy to deal with my problems and improve my life, I was wasting it on television.

I still live by this schedule, and my early-morning time is the most productive and creative part of my day, thank God!when I look back at all the time I wasted wallowing in self pity I felt bad and ashamed that I let it get so far but after awhile I enbraced my flaws was reminded that nobody is perfect and that we fall fall down, in this case that 40’ inch last screen tv was my down fall,my anchor deciding to take my humanity back was the best decision I made.

At this point in the story you must be wondering how the hell I got out of that situation with my sanity intact right? How did I let it get so far? and what I did to start my recovery from my television addiction. Well get comfortable and lemme tell you. It all started with me moving and getting a new roomate Samatha, she was a rather quirky individual to say the least . When I met her, she didn’t even own a television. This freaked me out and left me with several questions like: what does she do for entertainment, I never asked her those questions directly, because I was afraid too, or maybe slighty envious of her ability to detach from technolog and explore the wonders of humanity.

I finally felt like I had a purpose , finally I felt like interacting with the outside world. It felt good. I didn’t know whether to but out laugh or in tear it felt soooo good!, like getting that weight off your chest . Technology is the greatest thing we’ve seen over the past decade and its only getting started. I suggest unplug sometimes why you ask? Cause I said so lol but seriously living life trapped in front of a screen isn’t living, you’re hiding the wold is your oyster remember that. But alas, of course, life still has its problems and challenges. Its ups and downs. That’s just how life is. The difference now is that, rather than medicate myself with television, I find healthier, more purposeful ways to invest my time and energy in and with the family and friends. You should too!

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“IT GOES EVERYWHERE I GO”

CHAPTER 3 COMPUTER

What is Computer Addiction ? This addiction is characterized by an excessive desire and subsequent use of the internet or the computer that results in negative consequences socially, financially, physically, emotionally or otherwise for the user. A preoccupation with computers can lead to problems with relationships, problems with productivity or problems with self-care and hygiene.I know youre asking yourself if you have an addiction to your laptop but it’s important to note that not everyone who spend hours amd hours each day on the computer are considered addicts. Each individual situation is different and therefore, there is no set number of hours that is (or is not) considered a potential for computer addiction.

Man vs Technology

Nicholas Rushby suggested in his 1979 book, An Introduction to Educational Computing, that people can be addicted to computers and suffer withdrawal symptoms. In a publication on the National Center for Biotechnology Information website, the study, which was conducted by the Department of Adult Psychiatry in the Poland Medical University, showed that Internet addiction was seen to be quite popular and common among young people, especially those who were only children. In fact, every fourth child is addicted to the Internet. Ihit laboreribus aceatis exerovid quaeraepuda quiam hiciet quiae int rehenis eument quo tem apienda volutenda non exero inciliqui restis dolor molores alitatet harchil ipsam reprem ut offic tesequiaerum volecepudam am, cus alitistis dio

The term Compuer Addiction became more widespread with the explosive growth of the Internet, as well the availability of the personal computer. Computers and the Internet both started to take shape as a personal and comfortable medium Sitting in the comfort of your homeglued to your screen

Certain people are predisposed to having a computer or Internet addiction, such as those who suffer from anxiety and depression. Their lack of emotional support means they turn to the Internet to fill this need. There are also those who have a history of other types of addiction, such as addictions to alcohol, drugs, sex and gambling.

With that explosive growth of individuals making use of PCs and the Internet, the question started to arise whether or not misuse or excessive use of these new technologies could be possible as well.

Even being stressed and unhappy can contribute greatly to the development of a computer or Internet addiction. People who are overly shy and cannot easily relate to their peers are also at a higher risk of developing a computer or Internet addiction. So what tips can you implement to detach from your computer?

It was hypothesized that, like any technology aimed specifically at human consumption and use, that abuse could have severe consequences for the individual in the short term and for the society in the long term. In the late nineties people who made use of PCs and the internet where already referred to the term webaholics or cyberholics. Pratarelli et al. suggested at that point already to label “a cluster of behaviors potentially causing problems” as computer or Internet addiction.

1. Admit you are at risk of an addiction. More and more people in the world are becoming addicted to the internet. You are not the only one with this problem, it is becoming more and more common and more and more well known. Do not be embarrassed; find others with the same problem and help each other beat it.

2. Set aside limited time for computer use. Make sure not to turn it on too many times a week. If you have a laptop, make sure to put it somewhere that you can remember but not somewhere that you see every day. Try keeping the lid closed when you are not using it; when the computer is not looking at you, you are less likely to use it. If you have a desktop PC, try not to go near it or put something over it like a sheet. If you are using a tablet or a smartphone you can buy a cover and cover the tablet and put it in a location such as a drawer or closet. 3. Eliminate Gadgets for One Hour Before Sleep and After Wake Up You should spend the first hour of your day setting your own plans and agenda. You should be proactive in setting the direction of your day, not reactive. This way, you can determine how you want your whole day to go, not simply reacting to how other people want you to spend your day. During the first hour of your day, you can pray, meditate, connect with yourself, set your to-dos, and set your goals.

Man vs Technology

DENICA MCKENZIE “INCOMING EMAIL”

TO: READER FROM: Denica SUBJECT: My Truth, My Addiction, My Words, My Life Now this is a story all about how my life got twisted turned upside down. Sounds familiar ? A slight difference though , Im not a kid moving into my rich uncle’s mansion. Im just a girl, a girl with an addiction. Addiction to what technology you may ask the answer is my computer. Lets back track a little and lets strart from were it all began. I’d come home exhausted from schhool and . I would turn on my computer, check my e-mails, and then browse the internet That would be the plan anyway. I would usually keep browsing… and browsing… until I would finally gave up and collapased in bed sleep.

The point is, I would often almost automatically turn on the computer and then waste a lot of time pointlessly browsing websites facebook, twitter, reddit daily. Now, I’m not saying those websites are bad… but my excessive usage sure was. I knew I had to handle the addiction… but I couldn’t think of how to apply my usual methods. I couldn’t go on a thirty-day trial of not using computers, because there are some essential things I need a computer for (e-mail and blogging). Sheer willpower didn’t get me anywhere either. I would simply slip back when I was tired. I had been struggling with mild computer addiction for years, so I decided enough is enough and turned my life around. I considered: What was the positive intention behind my computer usage habits? What worked for me you ask? I made sure I had a life. I made damn sure of it because with free hours I had in my schedule I would just slip back and spend that time at the computeIt felt so good celebrating me, finally putting myself in a situatuon where I thought of myself first. It was amazing.Ive grown up with technology my whole life its basically became a crutch I used but stepping back from it realized that didn’t need it as bad as I thought I did. I got to admit being apart of real world felt nice again, it felt right and if youre suffering from the same issue like I did, unplug your computer, find a hobby , limit your screen time have real relationships and most of all have fun. Life’s too short to not be living it to the fullest!

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Man vs Technology

CHAPTER 4 SOCIAL MEDIA

How often do you use your social media?

Can you remember life without social media? What did you do before Facebook? Instagram? Twitter? Cant remember? Social media has played an integral part in our lives growing up as millenials. Social media can become massively addictive, most people I know check and interact on social sites constantly throughout the day and they have no idea how much actual time they spend on social media.

Man vs Technology

Leslie Walker (2018) defines social media addiction as a phrase sometimes used to refer to someone spending too much time using Facebook, Twitter and other forms of social media so much so that it interferes with other aspects of daily life. But it’s hard to tell when fondness for an activity becomes a dependency and crosses the line into a damaging habit or addiction. Does spending three hours a day on Twitter reading random tweets from strangers mean you’re addicted to Twitter? How about five hours? You could argue you were just reading headline news or needed to stay current in your field for work, right? Researchers at Chicago University concluded that social media addiction can be stronger than addiction to cigarettes and booze following an experiment in which they recorded the cravings of several hundred people for several weeks. Media cravings ranked ahead of cravings for cigarettes and alcohol. At Harvard University, researchers actually hooked people up to functional MRI machines to scan their brains and see what happens when they talk about themselves, which is a key part of what people do on social media. They found that self-disclosure communication stimulates the brain’s pleasure centers much like sex and food do.Sociologists and psychologists, meantime, have been exploring the impact of social networking on real-world relationships, especial marriage.Some have questioned whether

excessive use of social media could play a role in divorce. The Wall Street Journal debunked reports that 1 in 5 marriages are ruined by Facebook, noting that there appeared to be no scientific evidence supporting such data. Sherry Turkle, a researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has written extensively about the impact of social media on relationships, theorizing that they actually weaken human ties. In her book, Alone Together: Why We Expect More from Technology and Less from Each Other, she chronicles some of the negative impacts of constantly being connected by technology, which paradoxically can leave people feeling more alone. Still, other researchers have concluded that social networking can make people feel better about themselves and more connected to society. A study a few years ago from Swansea University found that people experienced the psychological symptoms of withdrawal when they stopped using (this went for all internet use, not just social media). Their recent follow-up study found that when people stop using, they also undergo small but measurable physiological effects. Study author Phil Reed said, “We have known for some time that people who are over-dependent on digital devices report feelings

Some people consider excessive use of social networks simply the latest form of“Internet Addiction Disorder,” a phenomenon people first began writing about in the 1990s

of anxiety when they are stopped from using them, but now we can see that these psychological effects are accompanied by actual physiological changes.” Whether this is true of social media per se is unclear right now, but anecdotal evidence suggests it may be. Now, this is the point in the chapter where you ask yourself the question Am I addicted to my social media? Do I sped too much time on Instagram? Fabebook and Twitter? If you feel you are becoming addicted to social media, don’t worry, there are steps you can take to beat your social media addiction. Depending on when you were born, your first encounter with social media could have been having a MySpace Page or perhaps joining up to Facebook with your educational institute. Of course there was also MSN Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger (ah, AIM), which we used to keep in contact with each other and stay up to date with all of the events and dramas of the school day just gone. There were

no smartphones or apps and iPods were used for their original purpose: listening to music on the go. The best thing you could expect from your mobile was the ability to play Snake. In the past decade, social media has crept from our computer screens onto the screens of our handheld devices. With the flick of a finger we can upload photos directly from our phones onto our social media accounts, reply instantly to messages, or see what our families and friends have been up to. With our mobiles always within arm’s reach, it can be super easy to become a little too enamoured with social media and it can negatively affect our relationships with others. So here are some tips on how to gain control of your social media addiction. 1. Meet People In Real Life You could join a club, attend a talk, organize a get-together where all your friends bring a friend, or embark on a single’s night. Whatever activity you choose, you’ll be making connections with new people in reality, which totally beats stalking your ex on Facebook. 2. Make it A Treat. Look at

social media as a treat. You might get your nails done every week, but you may reward yourself with these kinds of small treats when you feel like you deserve it. So think of social media in the same way: only allow yourself screen time when you’ve done something productive first.3. Delete extra people from your friend list. The more people you follow or are friends with on social media, the larger your news feed will be, and the more time you spend checking things out while you could be engaging in a more useful activity. Spend some time purging your friends list to only include your friends in real life 4. Prioritize. If you have an important assignment coming up, then temporarily deactivate your account. Another option is to install COLD TURKEY, which is a program that physically blocks you from various addicting sites. Remember that while social media can enhance your life it shouldn’t rule it.You’ll meet Amy Adams next who “dweet fi di likes” she talks about her addiction that lead to her having anexity and relationship problems and how she overcame it all .

Man vs Technology

Stressed and demotivated is how I would’ve described me, Shenae Brissett , I was addicted to social media. I was tired to even function properly. Although I was tired of being overworked , I just couldn’t fall asleep. You know when your brain physically hurts contemplating your mundane existence, crouching under the weight of your own expectations and ruminating over your insecurities? Unable to deal with all of this, you decide to hop on to Facebook for a while and check on how your friends are doing and awhile later, when your eyelids are way too heavy to continue, you turn that bright screen off for good. As the darkness engulfs you, and in those final moments before doing off to sleep, you realize that you’re even more sad and dejected than you already were? We’ve all been there. Don’t even try to act like you haven’t and yes I’m talking to you reading this . Social media is essentially a microcosm, where each of us showcases an ideal representation of ourselves, posting nothing but most joyful, perfect and beautiful versions of our lives. And there lies the problem. There’s no such thing as a perfect human? so why was I so in-tuned into replicating that in my own life ? Charles de Montesquieu once said “If we only wanted to be happy it would be easy; but we want to be happier than other people, which is almost always difficult, since we think them happier than they are.” and I related to that quote, its stayed with me throughought my life. For me, social media has been my life since 2008. I’ve built multiple accoounts using Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other platforms to garner attention, build communication and generate revenue. After six years of heavy social media use nearly every waking hour of every single day) I was scrolling through feed after feed , putting off events with friends, families , staying indoors where the Wi-Fi is just so I could be abreast of everything. I had the fear of missing out and it scared me. Scared me to the point where I had developed anxiety.

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I know what you’re thinking, “Suh you really mek social media run yuh life suh till you develop anexity? and the answer to that question is a resounding yes. I did that. I can own it and you can lean from my story after some self introspection I decided that it was time for a break. I was fed up with losing control of my feeds. I was upset with my d iminishing social reach

“ME A DWEET FI DI LIKES”

due to networks bursting at the seams with users. I also started to become cynical and jealous of people. So for 30 days, I quit social media and implemented a self-imposed detox. I deleted the shortcuts to Facebook and Twitter on my laptop. I turned off all Facebook notifications, turned off email notifications.Anything that had a link to a social I blocked deleted and ignored. It goingto be a rough 30 days I could telll from the start of this detox but I was determined to prove a point to myself and change the way how I interacted

with the world and the people around me. It was as though I’d lifted a 900-pound silverback gorilla from my back. I could feel myself wanting to go to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, at every waking moment. Especially with breaking news going on every second , what was going on what was I missing? My anxiety went into overdrive especially on this day because I had just posted some pictures. All that was going through my mind was it getting likes? who viewed it? was it being promoted as planned After what felt like a few grueling hours, I broke my detox I had spent 3 hours scrolling through it was then I realized how screwed up my priorities were. Another I realization came to was that how much time can be wasted browsing social networks without knowing it. After my horrible failure I decided to start fresh but I could feel myself wanting to sneak a peek at Facebook, so I decided to get up from and run an errand. I made it through the first day and by time I looked it was ten days in , not secretly checking my feed, not updating statuses, not checking feeds,it was a relief not to have those tasks anymore. I could finally focus on what I needed to be doing and it felt great. The 30 day cleanse was over. I survived it and to be honest it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. I’m not going to completely quit using social media, but I’m going to take control of my use of social media. Not being on social media for a month really opened my eyes to the feelings and motivations I have using Twitter, Facebook, etc. Immediately I felt a sense of freedom. To me, that’s a huge takeaway. It literally felt like ripping shackles off my mind and body. In a digital world we need a break from having our lives judged and commented on. Take a break from the digital work for a bit it might not be 30 days but start with a week if you feel you’re spending too much time on-line. Don’t let life pass you by

Shenae

BRISSETT

Man vs Technology

CHAPTER 5 SMART-PHONE ARE YOU ADDICTED? Smartphones give us the ability to connect with our friends and family, to news and entertainment, to websites from CNN to Number Direct, with just a tap of a touch screen. In short: they have become a crucial part of everyday life. LaMotte (2017) defines Smartphone addiction as “Smart phone addiction or more colloquiallykcnows as “NO MObile PHOne phoBIA” is a 21st-century term for the fear of not being able to use your cell phone or other smart device”. She goes on to say that “Cell phone addiction is on the rise, surveys show, and a new study released adds to a growing body of evidence that smartphone and internet addiction is harming our minds literally.I know it’s kind of scary to think that something simple as a smartphone can harm you. Cell phones are constantly being improved by expanding upon their functionalities, which in turn increases the likelihood of overuse and addiction. After all, it’s rarely the phone itself that creates the compulsion, but rather the games, apps, and online worlds it connects us to

Man vs Technology

Or you just need a little help detaching sometimes?Here are a few tip that you can implement in your life to detach from your phone and get back to the real world. 1. Recognize the triggers that make you reach for your phone. Is it when you’re lonely or bored? If you are struggling with depression, stress, or anxiety, for example, your excessive smartphone use might be a way to selfsoothe rocky moods. Instead, find healthier and more effective ways of managing your moods, such as practicing relaxation techniques.

3. Strengthen your support network. Set aside dedicated time each week for friends and family. If you are shy, there are ways to overcome social awkwardness and make lasting friends without relying on social media or the Internet. To find people with similar interests, try reaching out to colleagues at work, joining a sports team or book club, enrolling in an education class, or volunteering for a good cause. You’ll be able to interact with others like you, let relationships develop naturally, and form friendships that will enhance your life and strengthen your health.

2. Understand the difference between interacting in-person and online. Human beings are social creatures. We’re not meant to be isolated or to rely on technology for human interaction. Socially interacting with another person face-to-face making eye contact, responding to body language can make you feel calm, safe, and understood, and quickly put the brakes on stress. Interacting through text, email or messaging bypasses these nonverbal cues so won’t have the same effect on your emotional well-being. Besides, online friends can’t hug you when a crisis hits, visit you when you’re sick, or celebrate a happy occasion with you.

4. Build your coping skills. Perhaps tweeting, texting or blogging is your way of coping with stress or anger. Or maybe you have trouble relating to others and find it easier to communicate with people on line. Building skills in these areas will help you weather the stresses and strains of daily life without relying on your smartphone 5. Turn off as many push notifications as possible You don’t have to be interrupted by every “like” that your latest Instagram picture receives or with the message that your favorite podcast just released a new episode.

According to the PEW Research Center, 67% of smartphone owners have admitted to checking their phone for calls or messages when their phone didn’t vibrate or ring. This is one major sign of cell phone dependence and should serve as a warning to cell phone owners. Heavy smartphone use can often be symptomatic of other underlying problems, such as stress, anxiety, depression, or loneliness. At the same time, it can also exacerbate these problems. Staring at your phone will deny you the face-to-face interactions that can help to meaningfully connect you to others, alleviate anxiety, and boost your mood. In other words, the remedy you’re choosing for your anxiety (engaging with your smartphone), is actually making your anxiety worse. Shocking isn’t it? Its the things we love the most do us harm. How many of you can say you can function well without your phone? For some hell would freeze over for others its here nor there. Smartphone addiction, is altering the way we interact with one another. The consequences of this are very serious. Human interaction helps to develop younemotionally and behaviourally in a way that communicating over smartphone cannot. It ] allows you to see a person’s emotional reaction and distinguish between what are good actions and bad actions. Texting, talking or social networking over a smartphone cannot accomplish this.So feel like youre addicited to to your smartphone?

Man vs Technology

Hi, I’m Kendra Walcott and I’m a recovering addict. It’s been four months since I uninstalled social networking apps, three months since I last posted on Facebook, and two months since I turned off all notifications on my smartphone. Before I started the detox program, I checked my phone about five times an hour. That’s about half as often as the average millennial. Now, I’m down to once an hour. I think I got hooked because of my lifestyle .Growing up with technology and seeing it evolve over the years has been wonderful to ride along, making it easier to take to anyone from anywhere in the world gotta admit who wouldn’t be addicted to that all from a little box you can hold in your hand. I even rejected a guy once because he didn’t have a smart phone lol I belted at the top of my voice Vybez Kartel “How you fi have a gyal if you nave a phone”

KENDRA WALCOT

“HOW YOU FI HAVE A GYAL AND U NUH HAVE A PHONE?”

I was submerged in the cozy haze of smartphone addiction, and it’s hard to say how it differed from substance abuse. “Comfort kills, discomfort creates,” wrote the late French writer and designer Jean Cocteau in his personal account of opium detoxication. So, like someone trying to wean himself off a substance, I started experimenting with discomfort. That’s when I lost the Facebook and Twitter apps, which were eating up most of my screen time. I figured that out from battery use statistics. At first, I felt such acute deprivation that I had to open Facebook and Twitter in a browser. That was less convenient, and my phone use dropped a little, but I wasn’t able to completely swear off Facebook for a few more weeks. FOMO the fear of missing out ruined several mornings; I reverted to peeking for a couple of days, then forced myself to stop. As Cocteau wrote, “I am not a detoxicated person proud of his effort. I am ashamed of having been chased out of this supernatural world after which health resembled a bad movie in which ministers inaugurate a statue.” After having kicked opium, Cocteau still had alcohol and cocaine. I kept updating and reading Twitter, although I gradually cut down on arguing with people on it that had been time-consuming and sometimes emotionally draining. Now, I’m down to 30 minutes of Twitter a day. It wasn’t easy taking back control in the beginning but I decided I needed to do this for me. So I went into my phone’s settings and banned every one of the 112 apps from sending notifications. Now, I only check my personal email accounts, as well as two messenger apps, when I want to, not when my device wants me to. That means my friends must wait longer than they used to for a response. They haven’t noticed or at least they

Recovering smart phone addicts know it’s impossible to be perfectly clean: Even if you don’t use your favorite substance, you miss it. At the end of his opium essay, Cocteau wrote wistfully that perhaps “the young” might someday discover “a regime that would allow one to keep the benefits of the poppy” without getting addicted. That remains impossible for drugs but maybe not for smartphones. After reasserting control over my digital life, I’m nearly ready to take further steps in my life. I felt healthier, able to breathe easier, almost capable of relearning how to lose myself in the company of my friends and family. Its a wonderful feeling knowing you dont have an anchor of cell addiction hounding m that feel of missing out allieviated. Dont let your phone rule you. Take control of your life and put the phone down you wont miss a thing.

26 Man vs Technology

Man vs Technology

CHAPTER 7 CAMERA

Corkum (2016) say “Photography is dangerous. Just editing a photo and getting OK results is enough to get you hooked. Then you get an entry-level DSLR. And a cheap 50mm lens and play with depth of field. And you need a tripod. And an extra battery. And memory cards. And a zoom lens. And a remote. And a flash. Then you try a friend’s mid-level camera. Then you get a mid-level camera. And now you think what’s really holding you back are your lenses. You start looking at good glass and realize there is no sense investing in lenses that don’t work on full frame cameras, just in case you make the jump.

Photographers see their cameras as an extension of their life. They become obsessed and involved; finding the perfect shot , getting the perfect light , making their clients look perfect. They have the the pleasure of capturing a significant moment in time to have forever. But Is addiction one of the job hazards? Should it be added to the list of things to seriously consider when you’re thinking of turning pro? If

Your files are bigger so you need a new computer with an SSD, lots of RAM, and several external drives. You look into RAID arrays. You move up to a 27-inch monitor with wide color gamut. You need an Adobe CC subscription. And you experiment with other apps. You buy some LR presets. You need a website so you pay for SmugMug. You need to develop a backup strategy so you buy more drives and backup software. Welcome to the life of a photographer..

Man vs Technology

professional

just

amateur

photographer, here are some tips to detach from your camera 1.

You make the jump. You’ve got a full frame camera. An ultra-wide zoom, a slew of fast primes, and a 70-200 f/2.8. You’ve tried the cheap primes and the mid primes and now you’ve got the expensive primes. You’ve upgraded your tripod. You have multiple flashes and umbrellas and soft boxes. You have 8 batteries and a wallet of memory cards.

you’re

Make

plans

see

people

face-to-face.

Hiding behind the screens to communicate things that were intended for face-to-face is not only restricting, but quite frankly, cowardly. Besides, why choose 2D over 3D? 2.

STOP

capturing

the

moment,

Just

enjoy

it.

You’re there for a reason enjoy the human interaction, you might just find out you like it more than you think.

Man vs Technology

ROBERTO MINOTT “It wasn’t always this way for me” Roberto started of his story. His depiction of the last few years of his life are written in this chapter. Actually, for those who knew him knew he almost quit photography a few years ago. “I had almost lost the passion for the craft”. It is definitely one of the dangers of turning pro in any profession that starts as a hobby. Once it becomes a job and you shoot for clients anything can quickly become mundane and turn into a chore. You soon forget your camera at home on your days off, you don’t feel like spending any more time on front of you computer than you have to. I know, I’ve been there! You may be wondering how his situation made a 180 degree turn. It wasn’t just one thing or one person, but a series of events that triggered other events. “It all started with me sharing my work and ideas with the photography community and working on personal projects alongside my professional work. The more I spent making pictures or talking about photography with others, the more passionate I became about it.” It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you are running your own business and dealing with personal life, family obligations, school, etc. I made it one of my top priorities and I found the time. I not only love shooting, I also enjoy sharing ideas and tips with other photographers of all levels. It’s part of the package and it’s the most satisfying job in the world! I feel like the sky is the limit when I shoot for personal projects. I’ll do street photography one day and macro in nature the next. The world is a beautiful place and I want to see it all through my lens. My camera is an extension of me. I feel restless if one or two days go by without shooting. I live and breathe in pixels! Photography is more than a passion, it’s an obsession, an addiction. When I’m not shooting or writing, I spend my time editing photos cause I’d rather do nothing else. So, the real question is if I believe photography can be addictive the answer i’d say is yes. I do believe photography can be an addiction, but a very beautiful one. Its part of the ethos of being an artist, 30 Man vs Technology

Photography often starts as a hobby and quickly gets out of hand; it can be expensive, but of course it doesn’t have to be. It’s all about compromising.Which I had to learn the hard way.With my vivacious personality I found myself being lost behind my camera, hiding behind my lens watching life kind of pass me by, creating special moments for other persons, neglecting my friends and family preferring to stay behind a screen editing than interacting with the outside world. By the time I realized this it was too late. I was addcited. I devised a plan on how I would tackle this problem. I decided to do a detox and return back to humanity. I felt so isolated just relying on the technology around me to survive. I wont liie the detox was the hardest part of mny experience, not being able to capture shots around me, not sitting comfortably at home in my solace. I forgot what interacting with humans felt like. It was weird at first but getting out there and having conversation gave me the mental stimulation that I had been craving and didnt even know. But I couldn’t do it alone , I had great set of understanding friends that helped me during my time of need. The best advice I could give to someone going through a similar attachment to their camera is to just put it down for an hour or two ,call your friends

go enjoy a day outside interact with the human world. Whats the worse that could happen? Yoou enjoy your self? This technology is a serious thing that currently running our lives. We have everything at our finger tips, its crazy to think that with a tap on a screen your photos are being shared, viewed, liked by everyone around the world and it’s easy to get consumed in all of that. I do leave my camera behind once in a while, when it’s a special family time. Now, this doesnt mean I gave up on my passion; when I need a day to myself to do a photo walk or meet with other photographer friends, I take it and it feels great! It can be a pretty lonely hobby or job, and some people enjoy that solitude and there’s nothing wrong with that, Just remember to step in the real world every once in awhile and interact with it. There is no greater satisfaction than being with people who share your passion and your vision. Compelling stroy by Roberto Minott who overcame his addiction as he calls it with his camera. The importance of Roberto’s story is that no man is an island , no man can stay in solitude, we need people, we need human interaction and no matter how great technology gets humans interaction will always be necessary in our society.. Man vs Technology 31

THE

END

This isnt a goodbye but more of a see you soon, all good things as they say must come to an end.But I leave you with this. As technology becomes ubiquitous in our work and private lives, understanding how we interact with it is increasingly important. Addiction disorders connected to people’s interactions with games, the internet and social media are emerging as a major scientific research topic, and the findings will help shape the way we deal with changing technology at work and at home in the future.

Remember your technology does not rule you ! You are the ruler of your own life. Detach from your devices sometimes , unwind and enjoy the actual hummans around you.

Live a Real Life!! Most importantly, live a real life, interact with real people, and be awesome in the real world! Don’t stress yourself making your profile wonderful. Live an awesome life and it will automatically follow! Do exciting stuff. Write a book. Plan a trip. Whatever. Just be awesome! Most importantly, live a life that matters and you don’t have to get your satisfaction and fulfillment from likes and shares ever again!

Man vs Technology

Man vs Technology 33

1. Addictions (2018) “Computer Addiction” Retrieved from:https://www.addictions.com/computer 2. Corkum, Matt (2016) “The Dangers of Photography” Retrieved from: https://petapixel.com/2016/11/28/dangers-photography-addiction/ 3. Galer, Sophia (2018) “How much is too much time on Social Media” Retrieved from: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180118-how-much-is-too-much-time-on-social-media 4. Grabianowski, ED (2018) “How Computer Addiction Works” Retrieved from” h t t p s : / / c o m p u t e r. h o w s t u f f w o r k s . c o m / i n t e r n e t / b a s i c s / c o m p u t e r- a d d i c t i o n . h t m 5. Germanovich,Semyon (2014) “How Technology has Evolved inn the last decade” Retrieved from: http://learn.filtered.com/blog/how-technology-has-evolved-in-the-last-decade 6.

Hartney,

7. Lamey, trieved 8.Priddy, trieved

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“The

Symptoms

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Risk

Television

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“The evolution of technology: Past, and Future Rehttp://www.discovertec.com/blog/the-evolution-of-technology

“The Growing Problem of Smart Phone Addiction” Rehttp://www.techaddiction.ca/smartphone-addiction-problem.html

9.Redmond, Dylan (2017) “The Evolution of Technology in Today’s Working World” Retrieved from: https://www.socialtalent.com/blog/future-of-work/evolution-technology-todays-working-world 10.Sicinki, Adam (2018) “Are you Addicted to your Television? Here’s how to Curb your TV Addiction Starting Today” Retrieved from: https://blog.iqmatrix.com/television-addiction 11. Smith,Melinda (2018)” Addiction” Retrieved from: https:// www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/smartphone-addiction.htm 12. Taylor, Jim (2017) “The Evolution of Technology” Retrieved from : https:// www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jim-taylor/the-evolution-of-technolo_b_318843.html 13. Walker, from:

Leslie

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THE FIGHT FOR HUMANITY