this doesn’t have anything much to do with anything, but I found it amusing and semi-relevent
{ 17 }
Comments
Stehpanie Prather | 25-Apr-07 at 9:07 pm | Permalink
This cartoon is pretty funny, and I think it speaks to our discussion in class about how we are struggling to keep our power over technology.
I think this is all a sign that technology is bad for our self-esteem. The way we design techological devices to be an expert at one thing brings doubt to us. I, personally, forgot how to do long devision until recently because I’d used a calculator for so many years. This made me feel sad and mathematically impotent. In a way I resent calculators for thinking they’re better than me at math. How dare Texas Instruments take long devision away from us, it’s a theory that we developed as humans. How dare this device know truth and I do not. If we have devices that deliver truth what’s the point in searching for it? What’s the point of life if we have technology doing all the work?
This cartoon reminds me of anthropomorphism, which we briefly discussed earlier in the Web site.
When your computer does something like keep pulling back on a CD, it physically feels like it’s purposefully fighting you. And you know that the computer doesn’t really care about whether or not the CD stays in, but on your end, it might as well be saying, “MINNNE!”
Anthropomorphism is interesting to consider, as it coincides with the Turing test. Is a machine really thinking and feeling just because it’s acting as if it did?
Stehpanie Prather | 25-Apr-07 at 10:09 pm | Permalink
I enjoy entertaining the idea that the machine is actually thinking. It completely challenges the religious principles that teach us we most sophisticated living things and always will be.
While machines are not “alive” they could very well be thinking. If humans became the dominant species on earth by having big brains, it makes logical sense that machines who are better than thinking than even us will overtake us.
To Stephanie’s (first) comment- I know the feeling about not being able to do long division (or whatever) without a calculator, but it doesn’t bother me. Or, I’m annoyed at the principle that I’m helpless without a calculator, but I’ve never felt like math is my strong suit and I’m going into a language-related field now where I’ll never need to be able to do long division (or any math, hopefully). I’m not sure what to say for people (like you) who are in between; I have engineering friends who can do all sorts of math with and without calculators for whom it doesn’t make a difference, and there are people like me who could care less. I know that in my future field, technology will actually be the enemy because everyone knows that online or computerized translators suck, and it’ll be my job to translate things correctly, and I’m not sure where that falls either.
To Erin- I think that with our current devices, we can give them as much character as we want. I don’t think that they really have feelings yet, but it definitely feels like your computer crashes just to spite you, or AIM prevents you from opening a message window because it wants to see you frustrated. I think since we know that they can’t think for themselves yet, we can attribute much more to them than we would be able to if they had more defined personalities; you wouldn’t accuse your friend of purposely trying to thwart you if they happened to leave something in your way, but you can make up whatever you want about the computer which had even less to do with bad intentions.
This cartoon is quite funny because looking at how much of technology I use everyday, I can say that I am very depended on it. On the other hand, I also think I could get by without using technology for a day. I am not saying that my day would go by just as smoothly but I know it would be do-able. For example, over the summer, I go camping with friends for a few days and we use very minimal sources of technology. Also, as discussed earlier, doing long division for me is not impossible. When I cannot find my calculator, I usually do it by hand anyways. There are functions that I would not be able to perform without a calculator such as finding the log or the anti-log of some number. Calculators help us take tests in the time limit that is given to us, and hence allow us to learn more material throughout the year in any given math class. With more material we learn, the more advancements we can make, which leads to more discoveries and more technological advances…you see, one big circle!
Amanda Bleatman | 26-Apr-07 at 8:29 am | Permalink
Technology does not always give you the truth. Yes, for a calculator you can get a direct truth, but can technology provide truth through the understanding of poesis? Can technology ever have the potential to modify something natural in the world and respond to it in a meaningful way? For example, can robotic arms take a piece of clay and sculpt a form that allows the clay to move freely and keep the imperfections that is inherent in the property? I’m not saying that technology can’t provide a type of meaningful art, but maybe it’s the meaning and knowledge that humans put behind it that makes it meaningful. I don’t think technology takes truth away from us. We just have to focus on which type of meaningful truth we search for.
When we first learned to do mulitplication and division, we had to learn the basic facts up to 10 or 12, and then had “Fast Fact” quizzes. We learned long division and had to use it until about 7th or 8th grade and after that we were allowed to use calculators. Last year, when I took calculus, there were always two sections to the tests: calculator and non-calculator. So, it was still necessary to know the basic facts on our own. My brother, however, is currently in 4th grade, and they can use calculators ALL the time. They had to memorize the basic facts at one point, but they did not emphasize having to know them, so now my brother cannot recall simple facts that I know off the top of my head, such as 6 x 7. I think it is interesting to consider whether younger generations are becoming less intelligent because of today’s dependence on technology, or whether it has been determined that there is no need to understand the basics if there are machines that can do it for us.
Amanda Jakstas | 26-Apr-07 at 10:33 am | Permalink
I think this flyer is a great representation of technological position we are in today. Sometimes I feel like I can’t control my computer, but am I always going to be able to find a way? Our dependence on technology is increasing drastically, but we are still at the po int where there is a line between us and technology. It is scary how, as Erica mentioned above, teachers are allowing young generations to depend so heavily on calculators. That makes me think that they are planning for a completely technologically dependent world.
Danielle Foster | 26-Apr-07 at 10:50 am | Permalink
This flier is very funny and reminds me of something that happened to me the other day. My printer has decided to grow a mind of its own. It will nicely be printing something and then all of the sudden it sucks in like 6 pieces of paper and jams. And then I have to try to pull the paper out while the printer is trying to suck it back in and I look like a complete fool, fighting with my printer. But if my printer doesn’t work, I am screwed. I have to print out my papers for clas, my lecture slides, my grades. I agree with Amanda that its scary how dependent we are on technology. I really think that someday all the computers and machines are going to be smarter than us….Anybody see I-Robot?
Tariq Mohammed | 26-Apr-07 at 12:07 pm | Permalink
What this picture shows is, while technology may become annoying and uncooperative at certain times, we need it to go about our daily lives. I’m not just talking about complex examples of technology (computers, cars, internet, etc.), but very simple and basic examples such as toothbrushes and shoes. We are so used to having technology readily available. If we have a lack of it, then frustration and inconvenience will result.
Does this remind anyone else of the paper jam in Office Space?
I think this exemplifies exactly what we were going through a little earlier in class relating to Heidegger and others on the possibility of robots and technology becoming too advanced for us to control completely. It’s a scary thought in some ways but this cartoon does a good job making light of the situation. It also brings to mind many personal struggles I’ve had with my own computer other technology.
This flier is funny and awfully true. Something happened to me that was similar to Danielle. My printer decided to stop working on me. Sometimes it will say the cover is open, when it isn’t. Or if it is somewhat cooperating it will start to print then just jam up. Then I get annoyed that I have to walk downstairs and pay $0.03 per page to be printed all because my printer decided it didn’t want to work today. It is pretty scary that we rely so heavily on technology now. I wonder how much worse it will be 20 years from now.
I consider myself to be pretty in touch with technology, but sometimes I just can’t figure things out. Our DVD/Video Game/Surround Sound system is pretty confusing to me and even after having used it for 9 months now, I couldn’t tell anyone what is hooked up to what and how to use the remotes to get things done. All I know is that it works. While this is harmless, I realized that in the future it will be necessary for all of us to know how things work. Technology will be so infused in our lives that if something goes wrong we will need to know how to fix it on the spot or our entire day could be shot. Also, I wouldn’t put it past electronics companies to include tracking devices in the future. We all will need to be aware of the capacity of technology.
I like when we look at funny stuff instead of thinking deeply. It’s a nice break. It simplifies things.
Chris Paolinetti | 26-Apr-07 at 8:09 pm | Permalink
This definately reminds me of the fax machine in Office Space…..”PC Load Letter, wtf does that mean?”
Sometimes I think that the entire electronics revolution was just a massive prank orchestrated by Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
Jeffery Villalobos | 26-Apr-07 at 8:12 pm | Permalink
I love ryan’s reponse. That definintely made looking at these responses worthwhile.
I agree that we are so technology dependent that it will ruin our mood for the current moment. I get so angry when I get a problem with my computer and it does not let me sign on AIM or open up my internet explorer. I have to restart the cimputer just to get it working. Now that takes what all but 2 minutes? It still makes me mad even though it is not a big deal. We are way too dependent on technology and in our thoughts that it should work all the time on the spot with no troubles. Thinking about this has made me realize humans can be, at certain times, like a 5 year old child doing anything to fulfill their Id. It is funny when you think about it.
Stehpanie Prather | 25-Apr-07 at 9:07 pm | Permalink
This cartoon is pretty funny, and I think it speaks to our discussion in class about how we are struggling to keep our power over technology.
I think this is all a sign that technology is bad for our self-esteem. The way we design techological devices to be an expert at one thing brings doubt to us. I, personally, forgot how to do long devision until recently because I’d used a calculator for so many years. This made me feel sad and mathematically impotent. In a way I resent calculators for thinking they’re better than me at math. How dare Texas Instruments take long devision away from us, it’s a theory that we developed as humans. How dare this device know truth and I do not. If we have devices that deliver truth what’s the point in searching for it? What’s the point of life if we have technology doing all the work?
Erin Murphy | 25-Apr-07 at 9:27 pm | Permalink
This cartoon reminds me of anthropomorphism, which we briefly discussed earlier in the Web site.
When your computer does something like keep pulling back on a CD, it physically feels like it’s purposefully fighting you. And you know that the computer doesn’t really care about whether or not the CD stays in, but on your end, it might as well be saying, “MINNNE!”
Anthropomorphism is interesting to consider, as it coincides with the Turing test. Is a machine really thinking and feeling just because it’s acting as if it did?
Stehpanie Prather | 25-Apr-07 at 10:09 pm | Permalink
I enjoy entertaining the idea that the machine is actually thinking. It completely challenges the religious principles that teach us we most sophisticated living things and always will be.
While machines are not “alive” they could very well be thinking. If humans became the dominant species on earth by having big brains, it makes logical sense that machines who are better than thinking than even us will overtake us.
Just a thought…
Sam Mowry | 26-Apr-07 at 7:35 am | Permalink
To Stephanie’s (first) comment- I know the feeling about not being able to do long division (or whatever) without a calculator, but it doesn’t bother me. Or, I’m annoyed at the principle that I’m helpless without a calculator, but I’ve never felt like math is my strong suit and I’m going into a language-related field now where I’ll never need to be able to do long division (or any math, hopefully). I’m not sure what to say for people (like you) who are in between; I have engineering friends who can do all sorts of math with and without calculators for whom it doesn’t make a difference, and there are people like me who could care less. I know that in my future field, technology will actually be the enemy because everyone knows that online or computerized translators suck, and it’ll be my job to translate things correctly, and I’m not sure where that falls either.
Sam Mowry | 26-Apr-07 at 7:40 am | Permalink
To Erin- I think that with our current devices, we can give them as much character as we want. I don’t think that they really have feelings yet, but it definitely feels like your computer crashes just to spite you, or AIM prevents you from opening a message window because it wants to see you frustrated. I think since we know that they can’t think for themselves yet, we can attribute much more to them than we would be able to if they had more defined personalities; you wouldn’t accuse your friend of purposely trying to thwart you if they happened to leave something in your way, but you can make up whatever you want about the computer which had even less to do with bad intentions.
Rutvi Shah | 26-Apr-07 at 7:44 am | Permalink
This cartoon is quite funny because looking at how much of technology I use everyday, I can say that I am very depended on it. On the other hand, I also think I could get by without using technology for a day. I am not saying that my day would go by just as smoothly but I know it would be do-able. For example, over the summer, I go camping with friends for a few days and we use very minimal sources of technology. Also, as discussed earlier, doing long division for me is not impossible. When I cannot find my calculator, I usually do it by hand anyways. There are functions that I would not be able to perform without a calculator such as finding the log or the anti-log of some number. Calculators help us take tests in the time limit that is given to us, and hence allow us to learn more material throughout the year in any given math class. With more material we learn, the more advancements we can make, which leads to more discoveries and more technological advances…you see, one big circle!
Amanda Bleatman | 26-Apr-07 at 8:29 am | Permalink
Technology does not always give you the truth. Yes, for a calculator you can get a direct truth, but can technology provide truth through the understanding of poesis? Can technology ever have the potential to modify something natural in the world and respond to it in a meaningful way? For example, can robotic arms take a piece of clay and sculpt a form that allows the clay to move freely and keep the imperfections that is inherent in the property? I’m not saying that technology can’t provide a type of meaningful art, but maybe it’s the meaning and knowledge that humans put behind it that makes it meaningful. I don’t think technology takes truth away from us. We just have to focus on which type of meaningful truth we search for.
Erica Yuenger | 26-Apr-07 at 8:49 am | Permalink
Regarding the whole discussion about calculators…
When we first learned to do mulitplication and division, we had to learn the basic facts up to 10 or 12, and then had “Fast Fact” quizzes. We learned long division and had to use it until about 7th or 8th grade and after that we were allowed to use calculators. Last year, when I took calculus, there were always two sections to the tests: calculator and non-calculator. So, it was still necessary to know the basic facts on our own. My brother, however, is currently in 4th grade, and they can use calculators ALL the time. They had to memorize the basic facts at one point, but they did not emphasize having to know them, so now my brother cannot recall simple facts that I know off the top of my head, such as 6 x 7. I think it is interesting to consider whether younger generations are becoming less intelligent because of today’s dependence on technology, or whether it has been determined that there is no need to understand the basics if there are machines that can do it for us.
Amanda Jakstas | 26-Apr-07 at 10:33 am | Permalink
I think this flyer is a great representation of technological position we are in today. Sometimes I feel like I can’t control my computer, but am I always going to be able to find a way? Our dependence on technology is increasing drastically, but we are still at the po int where there is a line between us and technology. It is scary how, as Erica mentioned above, teachers are allowing young generations to depend so heavily on calculators. That makes me think that they are planning for a completely technologically dependent world.
Danielle Foster | 26-Apr-07 at 10:50 am | Permalink
This flier is very funny and reminds me of something that happened to me the other day. My printer has decided to grow a mind of its own. It will nicely be printing something and then all of the sudden it sucks in like 6 pieces of paper and jams. And then I have to try to pull the paper out while the printer is trying to suck it back in and I look like a complete fool, fighting with my printer. But if my printer doesn’t work, I am screwed. I have to print out my papers for clas, my lecture slides, my grades. I agree with Amanda that its scary how dependent we are on technology. I really think that someday all the computers and machines are going to be smarter than us….Anybody see I-Robot?
Tariq Mohammed | 26-Apr-07 at 12:07 pm | Permalink
What this picture shows is, while technology may become annoying and uncooperative at certain times, we need it to go about our daily lives. I’m not just talking about complex examples of technology (computers, cars, internet, etc.), but very simple and basic examples such as toothbrushes and shoes. We are so used to having technology readily available. If we have a lack of it, then frustration and inconvenience will result.
Does this remind anyone else of the paper jam in Office Space?
Ryan Marshall | 26-Apr-07 at 12:09 pm | Permalink
I think this exemplifies exactly what we were going through a little earlier in class relating to Heidegger and others on the possibility of robots and technology becoming too advanced for us to control completely. It’s a scary thought in some ways but this cartoon does a good job making light of the situation. It also brings to mind many personal struggles I’ve had with my own computer other technology.
Kerry Phelan | 26-Apr-07 at 2:00 pm | Permalink
This flier is funny and awfully true. Something happened to me that was similar to Danielle. My printer decided to stop working on me. Sometimes it will say the cover is open, when it isn’t. Or if it is somewhat cooperating it will start to print then just jam up. Then I get annoyed that I have to walk downstairs and pay $0.03 per page to be printed all because my printer decided it didn’t want to work today. It is pretty scary that we rely so heavily on technology now. I wonder how much worse it will be 20 years from now.
Wes Gotschall | 26-Apr-07 at 3:52 pm | Permalink
I consider myself to be pretty in touch with technology, but sometimes I just can’t figure things out. Our DVD/Video Game/Surround Sound system is pretty confusing to me and even after having used it for 9 months now, I couldn’t tell anyone what is hooked up to what and how to use the remotes to get things done. All I know is that it works. While this is harmless, I realized that in the future it will be necessary for all of us to know how things work. Technology will be so infused in our lives that if something goes wrong we will need to know how to fix it on the spot or our entire day could be shot. Also, I wouldn’t put it past electronics companies to include tracking devices in the future. We all will need to be aware of the capacity of technology.
Ryan Riordan | 26-Apr-07 at 7:33 pm | Permalink
I like when we look at funny stuff instead of thinking deeply. It’s a nice break. It simplifies things.
Chris Paolinetti | 26-Apr-07 at 8:09 pm | Permalink
This definately reminds me of the fax machine in Office Space…..”PC Load Letter, wtf does that mean?”
Sometimes I think that the entire electronics revolution was just a massive prank orchestrated by Bill Gates and Steve Jobs.
Jeffery Villalobos | 26-Apr-07 at 8:12 pm | Permalink
I love ryan’s reponse. That definintely made looking at these responses worthwhile.
I agree that we are so technology dependent that it will ruin our mood for the current moment. I get so angry when I get a problem with my computer and it does not let me sign on AIM or open up my internet explorer. I have to restart the cimputer just to get it working. Now that takes what all but 2 minutes? It still makes me mad even though it is not a big deal. We are way too dependent on technology and in our thoughts that it should work all the time on the spot with no troubles. Thinking about this has made me realize humans can be, at certain times, like a 5 year old child doing anything to fulfill their Id. It is funny when you think about it.