Alone together: why we expect more form technology and less from each other

Consider Facebookits human contact, only easier to engage with and easier to avoid. Developing technology promises closeness. Sometimes it delivers, but much of our modern life leaves us less connected with people and more connected to simulations of them. In __Alone Together__, MIT technology and society professor Sherry Turkle explores the power of our new tools and toys to dramatically alter our social lives. Its a nuanced exploration of what we are looking forand sacrificingin a world of electronic companions and social networking tools, and an argument that, despite the hand-waving of todays self-described prophets of the future, it will be the next generation who will chart the path between isolation and connectivity. \*\* In Alone Together, Mit Technology And Society Professor Sherry Turkle Explores The Power Of Our New Tools And Toys To Dramatically Alter Our Social Lives. It's A Nuanced Exploration Of What We Are Looking For--and Sacrificing--in A World Of Electronic Companions And Social Networking Tools, And An Argument That, Despite The Hand-waving Of Today's Self-described Prophets Of The Future, It Will Be The Next Generation Who Will Chart The Path Between Isolation And Connectivity. Part 1. The Robotic Moment: In Solitude, New Intimacies -- Nearest Neighbors -- Alive Enough -- True Companions -- Enchantment -- Complicities -- Love's Labor Lost -- Communion -- Part 2. Networked: In Intimacy, New Solitudes -- Always On -- Growing Up Tethered -- No Need To Call -- Reduction And Betrayal -- True Confessions -- Anxiety -- The Nostalgia Of The Young -- Conclusion: Necessary Conversations -- Epilogue: The Letter. Sherry Turkle. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 307-348) And Index. Technology has become the architect of our intimacies. Online, we fall prey to the illusion of companionship, gathering thousands of Twitter and Facebook friends and confusing tweets and wall posts with authentic communication. In "Alone Together," MIT technology and society professor Sherry Turkle explores the power of our new tools and toys to dramatically alter our social lives. It's a nuanced exploration of what we are looking for -- and sacrificing -- in a world of electronic companions and social networking tools, and an argument that, despite the hand-waving of today's self-described prophets of the future, it will be the next generation who will chart the path between isolation and connectivity. Based on hundreds of interviews, it describes new, unsettling relationships between friends, lovers, parents, and children, and new instabilities in how we understand privacy and community, intimacy and solitude. - Publisher. Technology has become the architect of our intimacies. Online, we fall prey to the illusion of companionship, gathering thousands of Twitter and Facebook friends and confusing tweets and wall posts with authentic communication. But, as MIT technology and society specialist Sherry Turkle argues, this relentless connection leads to a new solitude. As technology ramps up, our emotional lives ramp down. Alone Together is the result of Turkle's nearly fifteen-year exploration of our lives on the digital terrain. Based on hundreds of interviews, it describes new unsettling relationships between friends, lovers, parents, and children, and new instabilities in how we understand privacy and community, intimacy, and solitude.
A groundbreaking book by one of the most important thinkers of our time shows how technology is warping our social lives and our inner ones Technology has become the architect of our intimacies. Online, we fall prey to the illusion of companionship, gathering thousands of Twitter and Facebook friends, and confusing tweets and wall posts with authentic communication. But this relentless connection leads to a deep solitude. MIT professor Sherry Turkle argues that as technology ramps up, our emotional lives ramp down. Based on hundreds of interviews and with a new introduction taking us to the present day, Alone Together describes changing, unsettling relationships between friends, lovers, and families. Consider Facebook, it's human contact, only easier to engage with and easier to avoid. Developing technology promises closeness. Sometimes it delivers, but much of our modern life leaves us less connected with people and more connected to simulations of them. In this book Sherry Turkle explores the power of our new tools and toys to dramatically alter our social lives. It's a nuanced exploration of what we are looking for (and sacrificing) in a world of electronic companions and social networking tools, and an argument that, despite the hand-waving of today's self-described prophets of the future, it will be the next generation who will chart the path between isolation and connectivity Author's note : Turning points Introduction : Alone together Part one : The robotic moment : in solitude, new intimacies. Nearest neighbors Alive enough True companions Enchantment Complicities Love's labor lost Communion Part two : Networked : in intimacy, new solitudes. Always on Growing up tethered No need to call Reduction and betrayal True confessions Anxiety The nostalgia of the young Conclusion : Necessary conversations Epilogue : The letter A wake-up call from a cyber-expert: our use of technology is fueling disturbing levels of isolation, leaving us incapable of distinguishing between true human connection and digital communication