There's no "we" in iPad

Last night I flew out of New Orleans to visit my parents for the holidays. Just like every other flight I've been on the announcer says over the obnoxiously loud intercom that its time to turn off all "electronic devices with an on and off switch." At this time, people all around me take out the blackberries, Apple devices, and e-readers in order to send that last text, refresh the company email, and check the score of a game. With the second reminder, from our friendly-sky's staff, little beeps harmonize in a chaotic arrangement as all electronics shut down for the next two hours.

Sitting in my window seat, glancing around, I think of my "Reading (w/) the Digital Human" class and wonder: what happens when humans aren't allowed to be digital? Apparently total silence.

People immediately start sleeping, reading, or waiting impatiently for when at least iPods can be turned on for music or laptops can be turned on for solitaire. I even start frantically thinking of the phone calls that I didn't make before take-off. All anyone is thinking on this flight is the fact that they can no longer participate in society. I cannot participate in society. Everyone else will be able to engage in the virtual life, except the roughy 100 people with me on flight 1001 to FLL.

Its then I realize that the virtual life is now Life. I am completely dependable on my technology. I glance down at my backpack under the seat in front of me and realize that I have with me my Mac laptop, my iPad, my iPod, my LG touch phone (not smart), my Nikon camera with two different lenses, and a pouch with all the wires, chargers, and external memory drives that come with them. I am traveling with thirty pounds of metal and wires and I never questioned not to bring them all with me. That alone tells me I am a victim of "Living" in virtual life. I also realize that these devices are symbols of ME. Its all about ME. How can I get connected, how can I get acknowledged, or get in touch with. Holly was right, I am a virtual narcissist. (Insert sad emoticon here.)

Holding a book in my lap, I then realize the upside to my travel prison. No one can bother me. All the finals, grad applications, blogging even, cannot be touched and I love the fact that theres nothing I can do about any of them. I am cut off. Its a restless feeling that actually induces relief. For two hours (at least) I can just be by myself. The businessman sitting next to me in coach can also be by himself - he's now snoring. This moment is the reason I love traveling.

"Reading (w/) the Digital Human" this semester was actually more of a sociology/ psychology class for me. It made me see the world for its dependence of technology. From facebook to e-readers, GoodReads to Blogspot, and youtube to my now favorite NPR app, I see our society as a collection of technological options. Its all about options. We live in a world with an infinite amount of portals to virtually socialize, learn, and entertain the ego. Therefore, however much you care to participate in the real world, you actually have to participate in the virtual world.

For example, if some of my friends start laughing and joking around about a certain video streaming online, I cannot participate in the merriment until I see the video. If everyone knows about a house party this Friday, but I didn't check my facebook for the invitation, I may miss the event. This type of interacting that focuses on the individual and it is one that requires constant maintenance. Keeping in the loop means you have to keep up to speed with uploads and updates. Its your responsibility if you want to be social.

Seeing that this is the next step in a type of "social evolution", this semester's class has set a good platform for next semester's class - awareness. When I started my Women's Studies minor I became more aware of our society's gender roles, when I started this class I became more aware of the reasons I use technology. Just like gender roles, we participate in our culture's expectations of technology to be socially involved and accepted. (There are many times my friends make fun of me for not having a smart phone. Sad to say, my "dumb" phone doesn't always make me accepted.)

Regardless, now that I have internet connection again and am am currently not flying Southwest Airlines, I can participate again and blog about what this class has done for me. I'm excited for next semester's class.