The Machine is Us/ing Us

People across the globe use computers and internet technology every single day. It is a machine--or is it? We teach the machine everyday and yet the machine is us--or at least, people identify themselves through the machine. We have the ability to express ourselves through the machine to others and the machine learns from us. However, we are a diverse population of people--co-owners of the machine--with diverging worldviews. With our words, we spread love, hate, fear, confusion, peace, knowledge, segregation and unity. And, yet, we all have different perspectives on what those concepts mean and who should know their definition and for what purpose.

Technology changes so quickly--how do we keep up and prepare our students for the ever-changing future of technology? Other questions also run rampant in my mind: If we are the machine and the machine is learning from us, what are we teaching it and what exactly is it learning from us? People believe what the machine tells them. Where is the authority? Where is the privacy? Who governs the machine and who governs ethics? Does the machine identify us? What are the limits to what the machine can do and how do we know if we have gone to far?

After watching this video, I felt a sense of fear and panic (and a little motion sickness from watching it at hyper speed!). However, it has not stopped me from continuing to use my computer, technology in general, or the internet. I think it is because I see that it makes things easier for me to do. I can also see the importance of engaging in the use of technology in order to belong to my society. Therefore, I suppose that means that the machine is using me--influencing my culture--in order for me to continue to belong. Scary.