Tasks (Extend)

1. Read the transcript of Sherry Turkle’s video, “Connected but alone?”

https://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_connected_but_alone/transcript?
language=en

2. Write a three-five paragraph essay containing your reaction of the message

conveyed in the transcript of the video. Your essay will have the following
components:
 The summary
 Two or three major points from the video that you want to discuss in your paper.
Three major points could be lessons learned, specific idea you agreed on and
specific idea you disagreed on.
 Provide each point with a real-life example/s as a support.
 Relate your points to your field of study.
 Use the following format: MS Word, short bond paper, Times New Roman, font
size: 12, 1.5 spacing and 1-inch margin on all sides .If there is no way for you to
encode your essay, write legibly on a short bond paper or pad paper.

Rubric for Reaction Paper

VGE GE SE LE N
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)
1. The purpose is communicated clearly.
2. The paper contains the required components.
3. The major points are stated clearly.
4. The major points have sufficient supporting details such
as relevant data or examples.
5. The paper uses effective transitional and cohesive
devices.
6. The paper is free from grammatical lapses
7. The mechanics are correct.
8. The paper follows the format.
TOTAL
GRAND TOTAL /40
 “Our little devices, those little devices in our pockets, are so psychologically powerful
that they don’t only change what we do, they change who we are,” a striking claim by Sherry
Turkle in her TED Talk titled “Connected, but alone?” Sherry Turkle delivered an eye-opening
speech that has the capacity to evoke every person in the modern world. Throughout the video,
Turkle argues that technology gives us the impression that we control them, but in reality, it is
the other way around. She explains how this technology redefines connection, creating a huge
trouble not only on how we relate to each other, but also on how we relate to ourselves according
to her. And because we are so immersed in using it nowadays, we are now neglecting it’s effects
to our communication, until to the point that we are already “sacrificing the real conversation just
for mere connection,” as what Turkle says. As a technology-loving person, her talk definitely got
me cornered, and as a result, I ponder upon every bit of what she says and leaving me three
golden realizations related to my life.

My first realization is the sense of being “alone together”. It is a hard pill to swallow that
people nowadays are getting used to be physically present with each other, but also mentally
absent. And I am embarrassed to admit that I have been in such situation many times. For the
most part, the situation corresponds with my friends and I. However, just recently, I am surprised
that it is already happening to my family. My parents, who often insist my siblings to not use
phones while we are eating together, are having their own happy time in front of the table.
Meanwhile, my brother is watching in his own phone and my sister is chatting with her friend.
My response is very simple: get my meal and go to my room. In retrospect, I could have told
them that we must at least have a decent talk while eating together. But I just could not bring
myself to say such thing because I, too, have done it many times. Nevertheless, now I realized
the essence of conversation to make our bonds stronger and the next time I would be in such
situation, I will be the one who will tell them the right thing to do.

My second realization is the point of avoiding in-person conversations. According to

Turkle, some people do not want to talk in person because they do not have the full control on
what they say, so they prefer texting. Although I am more introverted than extroverted, talking to
my loved ones and close friends is still far better than texting them. However, there is a part of
my life wherein I avoid talking in-person, even to my family. I am literally just going to open my
mouth if they ask me something. So, I spend those years of my life just by with my phone.
Looking back now, I wonder how much time I have wasted. I could have at least told them how
is my day, how did I perform in school, or how lucky I am to have them. One might say “You
could have just text them.” Well, my past self would like to, but my present self would prefer
talking to them. I realized that even though you cannot control what you say while talking in-
person, it still accentuates your love to the person you are talking to. Hence, your bond to them
will be further strengthen, leading to a better relationship.

And my third realization is the “I share therefore I am” regime. Using technology to share
what we feel at the moment is truly not a bad thing. However, what it potentially does to our
connection with other people and even ourselves is a different story. I remember one of my
Facebook friends who posts a lot what she feels at the moment. I cannot even count her posts in a
day with all my fingers and toes combined. Then one day, she messaged me directly to my
account. She told me how lonely she was and how hard she is going through. So I advised her
that she needs to spend more time with her family and friends and avoid social media. In that
experience, I realized that we try to overcome our problems by running away. We even say to
ourselves that “we can solve it” but in the end, we complain. This is because to solve a problem,
we first need to face them. My friend thought that by posting a lot will solve her problem of
loneliness. But the truth is it will only make her lonelier. For me, the only moment that we can
overcome loneliness is when we feel accepted, and our love ones can definitely help.

In relation to my chosen profession, it is very impossible discard technology because

technology itself is our core of study. As a future electronics and communications engineer, I
believe that technology is vital to communication, specifically for long-distance, mass, and
tracking purposes which my chosen field specializes. In spite of that, my in-person
communication with my soon workmates is far more essential because in the first place, if I and
my workmates will not communicate, we can never accomplish our work, thus, no technology
will be made. To sum it up, the use of technology is indeed widespread in the modern world.
Although we can enjoy thousands of its benefits every minute, we still need to be cognizant
about its downsides. The real problem is not the technology but us. Hence, we must have the
self-discipline to control ourselves in using technology especially in communicating. In
conclusion, I want to leave my own saying, “Technology is a double-edged sword; Use it wisely
and you’re left unscathed; Use it wrongly and you’ll lose yourself.”