Digital life in films like The Matrix and Minority Report might seem far removed from our current reality filled with e-mails, phones, laptops, Wi-Fi, and RFID technology. However, the influence of the digital world is so profound that living without these elements has become almost an “impossible mission.”
Many people feel restless if they don’t call, text, or log into the virtual world at least once a day. “Technology is becoming a ‘necessity’ rather than a ‘choice’ for humans. We are bound to the virtual world and accept it as a change in our way of life,” says Larry Rosen, co-author of the book TechnoStress: Coping with Technology @Work @Home @Play (TechnoStress: The Impact of Technology in Work, Family, and Entertainment).
In 2004, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that about 62% of Americans owned a mobile phone. The consulting firm Yankee predicted that this percentage would rise to 82% by 2009. By April 2006, approximately 73% of adults over 18 were using the Internet, an increase from 66% in January 2005. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, e-commerce revenue reached $25.2 billion in the first quarter of 2006, a 25.6% increase from the same period last year.
The Internet has also provided opportunities for millions to share, connect, and express themselves in ways they cannot in real life. The Pew Research Organization reports that 31% of adults in the U.S. have met their partners through dating websites like Match.com or Yahoo Personals, with many establishing long-term relationships, even leading to marriage.
Online communities such as Second Life and The Sims Online allow people to freely create virtual profiles with names, jobs, and even partners that have no relation to their real lives. Massively multiplayer online role-playing games like EverQuest and Entropia Universe also give players the opportunity to invest and take risks in virtual economies. “The virtual world is always beautiful and enticing, and there’s nothing wrong with it as long as people don’t spend 80-100 hours a week immersed in it,” Rosen comments.
While research is still ongoing and no definitive conclusions have been reached, some psychologists warn that excessive self-expression in the online world may hinder conventional communication skills, leading to feelings of isolation, and especially a loss of patience. “We feel anxious when we have to wait, even for a short time. Some people even get annoyed when the other person talks slowly or when they don’t see a reply to a message,” Rosen explains.
“Kids today can talk to each other anytime, constantly attached to their iPods and quickly logging into MySpace or instant messaging services. They no longer view these as technology applications; they see them as the air that sustains them,” remarks John Horrigan, a research expert at Pew.
Email allows people to send and receive information rapidly, while instant messaging creates real-time conversations. However, this has led to a phenomenon of “screen communication,” where language and conversational styles differ so much that many people are losing their sense of humor and may easily misinterpret face-to-face interactions.
Looking further ahead, Barry Steinhardt, the Chief Technology Officer of the American Civil Liberties Union, expresses concern that one day, “all our activities, words, and thoughts will be easily recorded and controlled.”
Even today, global positioning systems (GPS), cameras, RFID chips, and email censorship tools are prevalent worldwide. A simple search for a person’s name in an online search engine or phone directory can easily reveal their address. By accessing local websites, one can find out the value of their home and how much tax they pay…
“Society and the economy are gradually becoming virtualized and will be completely digitized. Whether it’s in 20 or 50 years, this will happen,” Steinhardt asserts.
