How depressing a world without nature, without human touch and interaction. I can barely fathom such a world. A world devoid of warm, dense and pugent earth, of soft skin and rough hands. Maybe we are already living in a world not entirely unlike the one Forster portrays. This dystopian fantasy addresses classical human dynamics in an absurdly [post]modern world.
Our integration with technology has already started: “…she did not notice the noise, for she had been born with it in her ears.” (p. 5) I wonder what the effects are of the toys children play with today– all buzzing buttons and flashing lights, digitized voices reciting the alphabet back to them. The nuances and inflections of live human communication lost to monotone recordings conveniently priced as 29.95 and available to digitally entertain and babysit while parents care on their own buzzing boxes, checking their email after work at home. Will these new playthings be inconsequential in today’s child development? Will children today ever really comprehend the simple past times of past generations or comprehend and appreciate silence — a silence unknown by Vashti in “O Machine!” ?
The end, while tragic is also hopeful. Vashti and Kuno reconnect, or rather truly connect sans machine. We learn that in their world can confront the fear of the unknown, the past, the world beyond the humming of electricity to know organic touch – even if it may cost them their lives.
Perhaps machines can be harnessed for our own benefit, which I believe was man’s objective. Have a look at what was done in Sweden in an experiment using what you are doing at University right now.
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> This is truly remarkable. See also the related video of the deepest bin. Great ideas!
>>>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw
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“Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.” -James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)
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