Digital Nation Response 2

This section of the documentary highlighted both positive and negative effects of technology. It showed how the growing use of laptops in middle and high schools helped students take part in a more interactive learning experience. In the example at the Bronx Middle School, it even helped to cut down on the amount of fights between students and the general chaos that normally took place in the halls and more. It did create somewhat of a distraction and I thought it was funny how the vice principal could open up the students' screens on his computer and catch them on photobooth and more. I think my own high school would have benefited from having students use laptops because it is good preparation for college where we rely on our computers for the majority of our work and communication. The other positive display of technology was with the portion about "Bubbe." I really enjoyed this segment about Bubbe and her online cooking show with her grandson. I think it would be beneficial for more elderly people to learn about the internet. Being able to use the internet will help them stay in contact with people, provide entertainment, and keep their brains active.

On the negative side, I think that the idea of "Second Life" and World of War Craft is a little ridiculous. I was surprised that companies actually used the Second Life program to conduct business and meetings. The executives created avatars and met up in conference rooms online instead of in person. The Second Life creators even lacked real desks/offices and phones at their headquarters and instead had elaborate offices in their Second Life world. The use of online socializing extended into the gaming world with World of War Craft. I was unaware of how popular World of War Craft was. The film showed scenes from a convention where these online friends were able to meet for the first time. I was shocked that people had built relationships that grew into marriages just from meeting on World of War Craft gaming missions. Sometimes it feels as though technology is taking over our lives. Finally, the documentary covered the military's use of technology. I was taken a back that they have the capability to use drones in combat. I think that this use of technology may have distanced the men from the actual severity of war. I think this practice is dangerous, especially seeing as there have been civilian casualties in a number of these cases.

The second portion of this film successfully depicted the two sides to the good and the bad of technology. After watching it, I came away questioning how much is too much? ..and has technology gone too far?