Globalisation Series #2: Is technology shortening our attention span?

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These are a list of things that have integrated into the lives of millions, if not billions of people, in the 21st century. These technological developments have made communication easier, provided instant entertainment, and are intended to make our daily lives “easier”.

But have they?

There is no doubt that to some extent these technologies can be beneficial. E-mail, texting and phone calls have made communication rapid and instantaneous, with potentially anyone on the globe. Facebook has facilitated the creation of social networks, linking co-workers, friends, family and classmates online. Twitter too is a social networking website, and also serves as a microblogging site, allowing users to publish their thoughts to their Twitter network in 140 characters. iPods and television have given us entertainment and music whenever we desire it.

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I’m sure you already know all this and I won’t bore you any further.

My point being, is that these technologies have served purposes that have benefited many people today.

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However, these technologies have their benefits and their “cons”. Through these technologies, and other forms of media, we are bombarded with enough information every day to overload a laptop computer, with the average person “deluged” in an estimated 100,500 words per day. We are also bombarded with an estimated 3,000 advertisements per day on Television, on the radio, on social networking sites, not to mention all the billboard advertising present in the physical world. It is hard to escape this information flow of data, as using technology is necessary for many workplaces and schools. For example, checking our University e-mail is an expectation and requirement for many University students!

Due to this constant barrage of data, information, and advertising, I find that my mind needs to maintain a higher level of stimulation. I can’t simply check my e-mail, I need to be on Facebook too. I will be chatting to a friend online while doing my homework. I cannot simply just read a magazine, I need to have music in the background or be watching television at the same time. Multitasking has become second nature to me, and it is because my mind now requires more stimulation in order for it to be satisfied and comfortable.

There have been many concerns from many academics that technology has been weaking our mental abilities, shortening our attention span, and can even rewire our brains. Although technology has been associated with such life impacting, negative consequences, do we still ignore these because of our reliance on it?

Are we too relient on technology to give up on it now?

Globalisation Series #1: Is this the template of life in modernised society?

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There seems to be a shortage of hours in a day. I don't get the recommended 8 hours sleep every night. I eat too much fast food because I'm never at home, or because it is fast and convenient, or I do not have the time to cook. I tend to fill my calendar with as many activities as possible, such as shopping, eating out or catching up with friends, although I struggle to keep up with my basic commitments (e.g. work, uni). I am incredibly enthusiastic about shopping and purchasing clothing and items, but I may not even use or wear what I purchase.

However, I'm not completely ignorant about the potential consequences or underlying causes of my lifestyle. I know getting enough sleep is crucial towards my wellbeing. I know my diet is full of sodium, saturated fats, sugar and preservatives, which will potentially lead to many health problems if I don't change what I eat. I prefer resting at home with a good book, rather than constantly being out of the house and busying myself with anything and everything. I am also aware that I am exposed to countless advertising messages in a single day, by corporations who will try to manipulate my purchasing habits for a buck. I also know that excessive consumption will not make me any happier.

Barbara Kruger's "I shop therefore I am"

But then if I know all of this, why do I live the lifestyle that I do? We'll get back to this question.

Perhaps all of these lifestyle traits stem from the phenomenon of social acceleration, which is described by William Schueuerman as "a decrease in the amount of measurable units of time necessary for a particular activity or experience." Social acceleration ties hand in hand with economic acceleration, and both social and economic acceleration include the heightened tempo of everyday life, which refers to "an objectively measurable intensification of experiences and activities that we engage in during a given period of time." Schueuerman also mentions that there is more leisure and free time in this present day and age due to technological advances, and that economic growth leads to consumers having more buying power. In turn, firms persuade and push consumers to buy more goods, which results in a paradoxial situation, in which a "harried class of consumers" drown in material goods, who spend more time purchasing rather than enjoying the actual product.

Now back to the question. Why do I still live this kind of lifestyle?

I know what is a lifestyle that is healthy and ideal for me, which may involve a more relaxed and a slower pace of life, but perhaps subconciously, I want to keep up with societal norms, and I may be afraid to fall behind those around me. Do you think that's the real reason why myself, and many others, choose to live a busy life?

So I have not posted in a while ...

... and there are some incredibly embarrassing posts ...
(such as my past love for Taylor Lautner) but I'll leave them up there for your amusement.

It's been a year since I last posted, thus my posts may have a different slant these days ... and I will be presenting to you 5 short posts on my views regarding world processes and the phenomena of globalisation.

To be honest with you, these posts were actually for an assessment (they call it "edu-blogging") but I quite liked what I wrote about. So I'll present them right here :)