Am I a cyborg?
A cyborg is defined by Donna Haraway as a cybernetic organism, a hybrid of machines and human. I would deny it when I first reached this concept. It’s just doesn’t make sense to see myself, a person with flesh and blood, a machine-human hybrid. As I studied more, I understand that a cyborg doesn’t necessarily have a machine incorporated into the body but it has a machine emotionally and intellectually interacted with its mind. It is true to me when I’m on Facebook and MSN, managing the digitized self on the Internet. And I’d check email frequently as it serves as an antenna to receive and give response to the outer world. Thus I’d see myself as a cyborg now. It’s hard to avoid being one when you live in a city when digital devices are around you and you depend on them to carry on your living.
How I see this weblog?
Compared to discussion time in tutorials, I think it’s a good platform for us to express our points of views in clearer way. We type it out in complete sentences and can refer to previous points anytime. What’s more, we can do research and refer to resources on the Internet for a rich discussion on the topic. This is only the ideal case. Honestly, I seldom go to this blog and it’s hard to explain why.
How I see this subject?
I think this is an interesting subject which provides eye-widening theories on self. The theories seem to be far-reaching in the beginning. This is no longer the case when numerous examples and explanations have been provided in lectures and tutorials. The readings are especially easy to digest when key concepts have been clearly illustrated in lectures. The abstract concepts become concrete especially when they’re delivered in images and videos. This gives me a new angle to see the world around us.
What inspirations do I gain from the unit?
This unit inspires me to think about the value of human. What defines human? Many questions pop up my mind when I put spot on this fundamental question. If the literacy and the wooden handcrafts are the traces defining the existence of human in the past, what defines human in our generation would be computer programmes and electronic devices invented? If human natures like empathy and uniqueness are what makes a person human, would computerizing practices like putting codes on people or overuse of computers a way to dehumanize people unconsciously? To have an electronic companion like Doraemon would be possible in the future? If so, it would be great!:)
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