Alone Together : Why We Expect More From Technology and Less From Each Other

From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. As the digital age sparks increasing debate about what new technologies and increased connectivity are doing to our brains, comes this chilling examination of what our iPods and iPads are doing to our relationships from MIT professor Turkle (Simulation and Its Discontents). In this third in a trilogy that explores the relationship between humans and technology, Turkle argues that people are increasingly functioning without face-to-face contact. For all the talk of convenience and connection derived from texting, e-mailing, and social networking, Turkle reaffirms that what humans still instinctively need is each other, and she encounters dissatisfaction and alienation among users: teenagers whose identities are shaped not by self-exploration but by how they are perceived by the online collective, mothers who feel texting makes communicating with their children more frequent yet less substantive, Facebook users who feel shallow status updates devalue the true intimacies of friendships. Turkle 's prescient book makes a strong case that what was meant to be a way to facilitate communications has pushed people closer to their machines and further away from each other. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. From Booklist With the recent explosion of increasingly sophisticated cell-phone technology and social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook, a casual observer might understandably conclude that human relationships are blossoming like never before. But according to MIT science professor Turkle, that assumption would be sadly wrong. In the third and final volume of a trilogy dissecting the interface between humans and technology, Turkle suggests that we seem determined to give human qualities to objects and content to treat each other as things. In her university-sponsored studies surveying everything from text-message usage among teens to the use of robotic baby seals in nursing homes for companionship, Turkle paints a sobering and paradoxical portrait of human disconnectedness in the face of expanding virtual connections in cell-phone, intelligent machine, and Internet usage. Despite her reliance on research observations, Turkle emphasizes personal stories from computer gadgetry’s front lines, which keeps her prose engaging and her message to the human species—to restrain ourselves from becoming technology’s willing slaves instead of its guiding masters—loud and clear. --Carl Hays ## From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. As the digital age sparks increasing debate about what new technologies and increased connectivity are doing to our brains, comes this chilling examination of what our iPods and iPads are doing to our relationships from MIT professor Turkle (Simulation and Its Discontents). In this third in a trilogy that explores the relationship between humans and technology, Turkle argues that people are increasingly functioning without face-to-face contact. For all the talk of convenience and connection derived from texting, e-mailing, and social networking, Turkle reaffirms that what humans still instinctively need is each other, and she encounters dissatisfaction and alienation among users: teenagers whose identities are shaped not by self-exploration but by how they are perceived by the online collective, mothers who feel texting makes communicating with their children more frequent yet less substantive, Facebook users who feel shallow status updates devalue the true intimacies of friendships. Turkle 's prescient book makes a strong case that what was meant to be a way to facilitate communications has pushed people closer to their machines and further away from each other. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved. ## From With the recent explosion of increasingly sophisticated cell-phone technology and social networking websites like Twitter and Facebook, a casual observer might understandably conclude that human relationships are blossoming like never before. But according to MIT science professor Turkle, that assumption would be sadly wrong. In the third and final volume of a trilogy dissecting the interface between humans and technology, Turkle suggests that we seem determined to give human qualities to objects and content to treat each other as things. In her university-sponsored studies surveying everything from text-message usage among teens to the use of robotic baby seals in nursing homes for companionship, Turkle paints a sobering and paradoxical portrait of human disconnectedness in the face of expanding virtual connections in cell-phone, intelligent machine, and Internet usage. Despite her reliance on research observations, Turkle emphasizes personal stories from computer gadgetrys front lines, which keeps her prose engaging and her message to the human speciesto restrain ourselves from becoming technologys willing slaves instead of its guiding mastersloud and clear. --Carl Hays 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. 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. 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 CONTENTS 8 AUTHOR’S NOTE 10 INTRODUCTION 20 PART ONE The Robotic Moment 40 1 nearest neighbors 42 2 alive enough 54 3 true companions 72 4 enchantment 86 5 complicities 102 6 love’s labor lost 122 7 communion 146 PART TWO Networked 168 8 always on 170 9 growing up tethered 190 10 no need to call 206 11 reduction and betrayal 230 12 true confessions 248 13 anxiety 260 14 the nostalgia of the young 284 CONCLUSION 298 EPILOGUE 316 NOTES 326 INDEX 368 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