Kelly discusses restructuring, embodiment, and codependency (Kelly, 2007). Restructuring addresses the changing nature of the web. First, the web linked computers to the web; currently it links computers to web pages. Kelly believes the structure will evolve to connecting a computer directly to the data it seeks (Kelly, 2007). He predicts embodiment will occur when all programs connect to the web. These certainly may happen. As the technical aspects of the web are not my forte I cannot comment accurately if these two will happen. Embodiment certainly sounds a lot like cloud computing, so this may already be happening.
Codependency refers to users becoming dependent on the web for information (Kelly, 2007). Kelly believes no one will memorize anything anymore. Codependency can’t completely take hold. It flies in the very nature of the nature brain, a learning organ that can hold immense amounts of data, and needs to so the organism can survive. (Medina, 2008). We have to remember many things to get through life. To have a discussion, argument, debate, etc. requires have lots of data stored in the brain. Such activities also require executive function, the ability of the brain to hold information so that it can be accessed. For example if you are having a debate, your opponent might make a point that immediately brings to mind five points you want to make in your rebuttal. Your brain must hold those five points in working memory while you wait for an opportunity to respond. It also has to hold them in the sequence that you want to bring them up. Any situation where you have to think on the fly can’t succumb to codependency. It would feel hollow and untrue. Suppose you are in a park and you meet someone you find very interesting. You have to be able to hold a lot of information in your brain to have a reasonable conversation with that person. If you are looking to your smart phone every five seconds for an interesting tidbit to converse about that would just ring hollow. Perhaps you need to respond quickly to an emergency. Do you power up and hunt the web for what to do?
References
Kelly, K. (2007, December). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Rhymes of history. [Video]. Retrieved from: http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=5260655&Survey=1&47=5075954&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1
Medina, J. (2008). Brain rules: 12 principles for surviving and thriving at work, home, and school. Seattle: WA: Pear Press.
RugbyFootbalHistory.com. (2007). Origins of rugby. Retrieved from: http://www.rugby footballhistory.com/originsofrugby.htm
SportsKnowHow.com. (2011). History of lacrosse. Retrieved from: http://www. sportsknowhow.com/lacrosse/history/lacrosse-history.shtml
UGA.edu, (2004). History of toli. Retrieved from: http://www.uga.edu/toli/ information/History.html
Scott,
ReplyDeleteI like the comparison of sports and MMPRG. As you were talking about how the games moved between towns, I thought about my aunt's Bunco group and how they move their games from house to house. I have an uncle that does the same thing with his poker group.
On my post, you asked about my opinion on co-dependency. You make some important points on your thoughts here. It frightens me a little to think that we may come designed with USB ports in the future!
Erica
Scott,
ReplyDeleteAlthough I respect your ideology on technology, I truly love technology and all that it has to offer to society. The polarity pull between positive and negative forces on advanced technology may cause history to repeat itself on the division of believers and non-believers of technology. I, on the other hand, see technology as a great tool to aid in organizing, maintaining, and disseminating information. As for a “Co-Dependent” society, we are already dependent on planes, trains, and automobile to travel. More so, we rely heavily on energy to function with daily actives.
For example, when my community was struck by a massive Hurricane name Hugo in the late 1980’s the citizens of my community changed and became agitated with the fact that after 2 weeks we still had not electricity, which equate to no running water, no cooking, no Internet to check online banking, no paying bills online, etc... All in all, society have been dependent on many things from past to present technology.
Lynda,
ReplyDeleteI had not spelled out my ideology on technology. I completely agree with you, technology is a powerful tool. Humans are fully dependent on it. We are the one animal that does not have the tools built in to stay warm, obtain food, and protect ourselves. In our modern world, we would struggle to get through a day without it. I rely on it heavy in my teaching. I have an interactive whiteboard, use clickers, and access many tools and resource on the web. Our students are given laptops for the school year. My science teaching fully integrates those computers into nearly everything we do.
I am not down on technology (I am after all seeking a degree in educational technology). However, I do try to remain aware that, like anything, it has a down side. Perhaps that so many spend time on the net or playing computers games, contributes to the obesity and diabetes increases our country is experiencing. That is a massive cost. Just as computers and the web have many benefits, they have many disadvantages. This example is one among many costs of technology.
In Kelly's talk, I was responding to co-dependence in the sense that we would possibly walk around like empty-headed zombies that let computers and the web do our thinking for us. In my comment to Erica's blog I did mention that this is probably just my knee jerk reaction to listening to Kelly's talk.
Scott