The concepts that will be discussed in this blog self and community. The virtual social network Goodreads creates a particular low sense of a post-human cyborg identity compared to others.
Goodreads provides a platform to engage within a virtual reality
that operates as if it would in real life. The only difference is that we can’t
physical touch or feel anything within the virtual realm. Kuttainean (2017)
suggested that the power of network narratives allow a technique of ‘shadow
biographer’, we as users start to create a fake image of ourselves that allow
us to communicate with false information. This action presents a social dilemma
which most people don’t notice or we are too busy creating our own false image.
For example, the show ‘Catfish’ explores how being a ‘shadow biographer’ can
turn multiple lives upside down when the truth is exposed. I would think shows
like these starts to affect people and their decisions in how they present
themselves in the virtual reality world.
Amber Case (2011) explains in this TedTalk that human society is turning into
cyborgs. Our advantages in technology is allowing us both physically and
mentally to communicate faster. With this advantage however, comes the same
communication problems we already experience in the virtual world. In this
reading, McNeil (2012) also touches on how online lives structure a certain way
of thinking that relate to the concept of ‘posthumanism’. Posthumanism is a
concept that developed in the twenty-century, it describes the challenge
between human and non-human. This concept can be linked to a binary pair real/
virtual. The difference between real and virtual is the physical ability to
touch, feel and communicate to others or objects. One way to describe the difference
between human and non-human is again the fact that there is a difference in the
way we can communicate successfully. However, in the twenty first century
people are starting to think the virtual world is better than the living in
reality, no matter if there is a loss of ‘proper communication’. This impact
can heavily be seen in the real world with people constant use of mobile phones
and other technology devices. Which leads to the question of we’re even human
anymore or are we if fact slowly turning into cyborgs?
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| Image Credit: Videoblocks. (U.N.). Robot, cyborg open palm, infotainment system, network. car connect internet, social media service. global network future car technology. |
Goodreads is a virtual reality in
which communication is major key component. Users interact with authors and
others to discuss ideas, new releases or to comment. This communication
showcases the notion of society inhabiting qualities of a cyborg. Goodreads
also raises the point in the decrease of real life book clubs and physical
interaction between people. One advantage of virtual reality is the access
to millions of more people in different locations, allowing for the creation of
the perfect post-human cyborg identity. With more
advantages in technology human kind becomes one step closer to a cyborg
identity and although some of us chose to not to believe that we are ‘cyborgs’
we all have a little piece within us.
Reference List;
McNeill, L. (2012). ‘There is no ‘I’ in
network: social networking sites and post-human
auto/biography.’ In Biography 35.1 (Sections (Post)human Portraits & Collective
“I’s”)
Kuttainean, V. (2017). BA1002: Our space;
Networks, narratives and the making of place, week six notes [PowerPoint
Slides]. Retrieved from https://learnjcu.jcu.edu.au/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_84764_1&content_id=_2759369_1
Videoblocks. (U.N.). [Image]. Robot, cyborg open palm,
infotainment system, network. car connect internet, social media service.
global network future car technology. https://www.videoblocks.com/video/robot-cyborg-open-palm-infotainment-system-network-car-connect-internet-social-media-service-global-network-future-car-technology-bf1t9h5vgix1g0uwt/
Case, A. (December 2010). Amber Case: We are all cyborgs now. [Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/amber_case_we_are_all_cyborgs_now
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