Our Computers, Ourselves
from Invisibilia on February 13, 2015
Episode summary from Pots:
A wonderfully crafted episode looking at the ways technology affects our lives. Are computers changing human character? Is our closeness with technology changing us as a species? Some great insight into how our devices can enhance our core human capacities; how society reacts to the introduction of new devices; and how emotions (sadness, anger, happiness) can literally be transfered to others through these tools.
Episode highlights:
- 0:00 – Intro segment. A quick and funny about a man who challenged the machine that gave him a speeding ticket. The results were not what he expected.
- 6:19 – First segment. The tale of Thad Starner, a technologist who has been wearing a computer since 1993.
- 34:56 – Second segment. The story of a man who used Twitter to shame people behaving badly on the New York City subway.
- 51:48 – Third segment. A quick story about the opportunity and frustration of technology's role in a long-distance relationship. We also learn how devices may be vulnerable to that which makes us most human (in this case, tears)
- 56:32 – Outro. A lovely lullaby recorded while someone was putting their kid to bed -- draws on themes from the prior segment as well as the episode overall. Pretty terrifically charming and cute.
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