My 85-year old Dad took issue with an LA Times interview with Dr. Sherry Turkle warning about the inhuman side of technology and the dangers of virtual companionship. In fact, my parents were sufficiently worked up that they emailed me the whole article along with a list of all the benefits of the digital age from their eyes. According to Lori Kozlowski's article, Dr. Turkle, a well-known social scientist, has concerns about what she perceives as a growing tendency to rely on technology above human interactions. She also worries about what she sees as a mounting teenage anxiety over posting on Facebook, the potential vulnerability of people if they become attached to things like robots because of the human need to nurture, and the inadequacy of Twitter's 140 characters messaging relative to face-to-face interaction. I wouldn't have seen this article if my folks hadn't sent it to me, but felt it worth comment. My dad just had open heart surgery. He's doing great, thanks for … [Read more...]