After the Challenge

The Tech-Free challenge was more tedious than I had anticipated. This was mostly because I discovered that battery powered clocks are a portable technology, and therefore I was forbidden to look at them during the challenge. Not being able to use clocks did "drastically alter” my lifestyle, which I did not expect would happen with this assignment. I did not think that I would be pushing myself as much as I did, mostly because not using clocks was nearly impossible. I also went to our restaurant right before the end of the challenge, and had to sit staring at my food for 20 or so minutes until 6:00 P.M (when the time for the challenge was up), just in case not eating at restaurants was one of the rules of level four. I suffered more than I needed to in the challenge and obsessed over it like I do everything else. This is what made the challenge more difficult than I expected. Other than that, I faced most of the challenges that I knew I would face during the Tech-Free time, like constantly forgetting that I could not use my E-mail. My dependency on technology for homework was an issue like I predicted, one example being that I had to go without calculators on my math homework, and multiply fractions using only paper and pencil. I also wanted to E-mail my chemistry teacher because I believed I had found a major flaw in my lab. I restrained myself, however, and E-mailed her after the challenge. I was surprised in general at how much I assumed I could get from the internet or from another person through E-mail. I was so dependent on the idea of the computer being able to answer all my questions. Because of my deficiency in cooking skills, I also anticipated the problems I had in making lunch on Saturday. For a while I ate nothing at all, but then I problem-solved (with help from my mom) to heat up pasta on the stove.

At least for the first night of the tech-free challenge, I felt generally unhappy. I was more absorbed in my work than I would be if I were using technology. This was an adverse effect because I thought that disconnecting from technology might disconnect me from school, or even relax me, like when I am vacationing in Maine. Apparently the technology is not so much the problem. During those tech-free hours, I was not as happy as I usually am partially because I did not have that small outlet of receiving E-mail or slumping in front of the television as a way to let go of everything for even a few minutes. This could also have been because I was so stressed over doing the challenge “right,” and therefore quite obsessed with the idea of not using technology. I also did not have the clock to monitor how much time I spent on everything. These feelings were something I did not expect, and they made me realize that I rely on technology for a release more than I had suspected. I also realized that it is hard to experiment with not using technology on a school assignment since it makes the experiment itself quite stressful.

I wish I had thought to ask whether we were able to use clocks before the challenge. Once the challenge had already begun, I could not exactly E-mail my teacher to ask her that question, and it was very obnoxious to complete homework not knowing how much time I spent on each assignment. Other than that, there is not much that I think I should have thought about. I would not have wanted everything to be perfectly planned out, because the authenticity of this experiment would be lost. For instance, it was an effective choice not to have completed my math homework or all my chemistry homework before the challenge, because it showed me the problems I would face in not using the calculator.

My life would become quite different if I continued this challenge for a week or a month. There is no great effect if I do not check my E-mail for 24 hours; I can always read E-mails later in the weekend. If I stopped having this kind of connection for a long time, however, I would have to stop my asking of questions over E-mail to my teachers. Perhaps this would force me to become more independent, and more often accept that coming into school without the right answer will not completely ruin everything. More likely I would ask a lot more questions in school and be certain that I understand every part of the assignment before I got home. Going without technology for a longer period of time would also mean that when I want to get in touch with someone I do not know, I would have to call them, rather than using the E-mail address from their website. I am so used to slipping off an E-mail, safe in the knowledge that I have made an effort to contact someone and further my work, but leaving it up to them to respond. It is much more comfortable for me than having to construct a conversation with a stranger. My use of books would also increase if I had to go without technology for a long time, since there would not be a way to access information using the computer. I would likely use people more as resources as well, talking to my parents and depending more on their answers than before. As far as food, I would probably need to learn to prepare food more easily since there would be no microwave to heat up last night’s dinner. It could also mean my parents would not preserve as many leftovers, because it would be more tedious to heat them up, and they could go to waste.

I learned from the challenge how dependent on technology I really am, and this mostly relates to E-mail or Internet. Checking E-mail has become a physical need, and I automatically think of the computer when I want to get to answers. These are reasons why I am in front of the computer so much, just in case I need to check on a fact, do some research, or see what Mr. Neal has posted on his homework website. I think of E-mail as actually doing homework because people could E-mail me for junior internships or about colleges. I am addicted to the way that technology helps me work more efficiently, and ensure the correctness of the work that I do. In contrast to this, I also learned that my dependency on technology is a way for me to relax in some circumstances. When that tiny bit of relaxation (mostly receiving E-mail) is taken away for 24 hours, it does affect me. The need to go online or to E-mail people is certainly upsetting, and it is starting to make me feel like a machine, however, taking technology away did not impose any kind of peace on my life or make me any less stressed about my work.

From the way I felt during the challenge, I wonder if this challenge was really a fair test of how lack of technology affects me. Because there was homework to do, and no technology to relieve me from it, I was stuck doing work for most of the challenge. Maybe in order to really observe what it would be like to live without technology, I would have to do away with homework, too. Otherwise, my homework seems to block everything I could have gained from the peacefulness of not having technology.

During the Challenge

The first conflict in the challenge began when I asked my dad if a clock was a portable electronic. He said it was. All throughout dinner I had to keep my head down because we have clocks at both ends of the kitchen. When working at my desk, I was constantly jerking my head up to try and see the time, because I wanted to keep track of how long I was spending on each assignment. As it was, I probably spent a large excess of time annotating my English reading because I was not tracking myself. There were no alternatives to clocks, besides following what everyone else was doing. Another impulse I had was when I automatically thought to go to my parents’ computer to receive E-mail after dinner. I wasn’t hoping to accomplish a task; I just wished to be entertained for a brief moment. Again, there was nothing to replace E-mail, only continuing on without it. I had the same urge when I needed a break later on. Because I was so exhausted, I just lay down flat on the floor and listened to my breathing with my hand on my stomach. It was a way to distract myself, since I could not distract myself from work using technology. A few times, I wanted to E-mail a teacher to ask questions about the work, but resisted. The computer was right in front of me, though it was off, and the connection seemed so accessible.


Other challenges arose with calculators and television. I needed a calculator for conversions when completing my chemistry homework. I solved the issue by working out simple math by hand, but I moved onto the next assignment rather than use long division. It is sad that I can no longer do basic math without a machine. Finally, hearing the background of a movie and the reactions of my family watching it was not pleasant. I was stuck downstairs, unplugged and alone. There was nothing I could do to change this, and no alternative to give me the sensation that I was watching television. My idea of an alternative was simply to continue on working. If I had decided to watch television, my only goal would have been relaxation. To be fair though, I usually work without break on Friday nights even when I do have technology, so the lack of technology really only emphasized the issue.


One piece of technology that I actually used during this time was an electric pencil sharpener. I didn’t forget about the challenge, but I wasn’t sure if something plugged in would be deemed “portable.” I felt I had no time to look for a regular sharpener, although I did search briefly. I also intentionally looked at the clock once, to gauge how much time I had spent on homework. I could not resist. The clock seems to schedule my whole evening, telling me when it is time to stop and start something else, or at what point to panic because it is so late.


The second morning of the challenge I woke up wondering if our Martial Arts class was still at 11:00 A.M, and wanting to go online to check it. I dealt with this just by gaining more confidence that I knew the time of the class. That same morning I almost peeked at my sister’s activities on the computer, because she was looking up movies and I wanted to contribute to the decision. However, I quickly averted my attention so as to distract myself from this prospect. There was not any alternative besides that I went without that bit of entertainment.


On the way to Martial Arts, I again yearned to use a piece of technology. I always listen to CDs in the car, because they help me relax and reflect. Instead, I ended up having a conversation with my mom and sister. My sister began to sing songs aloud, taking requests from the “audience.” During the car ride home, a similar issue arose because I wanted to call my dad to remind him of something. My mom quickly cut in to remind me that I was not allowed to do this. The call was not necessary, so not making it was the only option. When I arrived home, more troubles ensued, as my mind flickered back to the idea of receiving E-mail almost every 5 seconds. I consistently chastised myself for this and never forgot for more than a split second. However, it surprised me how often I thought of checking the E-mail and made me realize how many times I use technology superfluously. There was no need to make up for the lack of E-mail because I rarely have a particular reason for checking it.


The only time today that I used technology (on the second day of the challenge) was for looking at the clock. I certainly looked at the clock unintentionally when I was just waking up, since it is on the wall right across from my bed. I do not think there was any way to avoid this use of technology, because I would always have glimpsed the clock unthinkingly when just waking up (my sister refused when I asked if we could take it down for 24 hours). When I was leaving for Martial Arts, however, looking at the clock was fairly intentional because I needed to figure out how much time I had left to get dressed and ready. Still, I made an effort not to peek, and I think I only managed everything on time because everyone else knew what time it was. In the afternoon I looked at the clock several times, solely wanting to see when I needed to get ready to leave the house. These instances were a lot like E-mail in that I had no control over the impulse of looking at the clock. My family and I seem to be ruled by the hours, which limits our ability to look at the task itself, rather than how much time we have to complete it.


For Saturday lunch, I had a strong desire to just pop something like pizza or pasta into the microwave. Instead, I poured pasta and sauce into a pan on the stove, and heated the sauce and pasta together. I stirred with a big wooden spoon for a while, and then forgot about my lunch and almost burned it. I did manage to save the meal, however, and it tasted almost the same as microwave heated food.

Before the Challenge

I will complete this challenge at a level four for 24 hours. This will push me to go beyond my comfort level in technology use, mostly by taking me away from the computer. I tend to check E-mail obsessively, and much of my homework is based around the computer and the Internet. I will have to give up these habits and do my homework as best I can without the aid of a computer. I will also have to cut off communication with my teachers and friends by not using my E-mail. This will be especially challenging because I E-mail my teachers almost every night with questions about homework. Since I am doing the tech-free challenge Friday evening to Saturday evening, I will also have to give up the leisure and relaxation time associated with watching television or listening to music in the car, and find other ways to take breaks. I wonder if I will even be able to find a way to relax without the excuse of television, or some other form of technology. I am not very unique or creative in my food interests, so not using microwaves could also cause a lot of hassle for me. I will often just heat up whatever we had for dinner on Friday for a Saturday afternoon lunch. The challenge might require me to make my own food, or to choose another option from the refrigerator.

I expect this tech-free period to be challenging, but not impossible. I am pushing myself to a certain extent with my technology usage, but not so far that I would have to drastically alter my lifestyle for the period of the challenge. The biggest thing being taken away is the computer, and it would be a much bigger deal to halt my schedule and try not to use cars, or work in the dark without electricity. I even sometimes enjoy a lack of technology. When I vacation in Maine every summer, my technology use is very minimal. My time is taken up with reading for long hours, or treasure hunting for sea glass on the beach (although we do have motorboats and microwaves). I never feel like I miss technology during this time, only very relaxed and content. Of course, in Maine, I am physically detached from my home, so it is easier to ignore all the technological nuisances that reside there. There is no way to forget that you are not supposed to be using technology. Despite the fact that I enjoy a lack of technology, and I have not pushed myself to the limit with this tech-free period, there will be some very irksome times within the challenge. For example, I check my E-mail every day when I get home, and I will likely forget that I cannot do this. I will probably have to turn off my computers to make sure I do not accidentally click something. I think it will also require some problem solving to find information without using Google, and I will have to do more pencil and paper work since I cannot use a calculator. Not using technology will be challenging not so much because I want so badly to use the technology, or because I like it, but because it is a habit that will be hard to break.



I want to learn from this challenge ways to be separated from technology. I noticed recently that I always sit at my desk to do homework while the computer is on. Why? What if I am handwriting my work? Why do I need that computer sitting in front of me and turned on? It has become routine, just in case I randomly need the computer for some purpose. It reminds me of what Postman in Technopoly says about technology beginning to control us, rather than the other way around. I would like to use this challenge to get a handle on my technology use, mostly with homework and E-mail, and teach myself that there is really no reason to have the computer on when I don’t need it, or to always receive my E-mail when I do not know who I expect to send me anything. I need to be more objective with my use of technology, and not assume that the way I use it is the way it must be. Who knows, maybe it will even help me cut down on the number of hours I spend on assignments.

Response to Technopoly

The first parts of Technopoly are about the way that society has changed from tool-using to technocratic to technopoly. Neil Postman makes the argument that being in a technopoly has led us to leave our culture behind, and that where once technology was made up of tools to support our beliefs, now technology is our beliefs. One example of this is the way we judge everything as "science" and place facts at the core of society. This comes from having technologies like computers which make available a seemingly infinite amount of information. Postman argues that we are technopolizing things that do not relate to information and facts, for example, the way experts can study how to make friends, or how people call the study of human reactions to certain situations a science. He argues that this emphasis on information, and technopolizing everything has caused our culture to lose its way. We no longer have a cohesive belief system that guides us, which, Postman argues, is dangerous. Society has lost its way because of the dominance of technology. I agree with Neil Postman is some regards, because I think that society is becoming too dependent on technology, especially things like Ipods, cellphones, and Myspace or facebook. (By the way, it was not my choice to write a "blog" about this.) In this way, we probably are losing traditions and culture that could be more important, because our technology uses are draining us of real interactions with each other. Rather than connecting with our neighbors, we are connecting with people living miles away from us and not even hearing their voices. However, I think that Postman goes a little too far. Social Sciences, even though they can be a way to technopolize things that cannot be portrayed in numbers, are important. It is not that they tell us anything new. For example, we could have guessed that people obeyed authority. However, social sciences bring to light certain things we might not have considered, and make it so that we cannot ignore the facts. A study that tells us that so many people would obey an authority without questioning what they are doing, forces us to believe that this could be a factor contributing to situations like the Holocaust, and something that should be focused on and changed. Although I think the emphasis on technology has become too great in our culture, I am not sure that it is worse that we have more beliefs available. Postman does suggest a solution to technopoly, and I think he is right in that there is a way to manage all this information we recieve. If we are able to choose our beliefs, and organize what we hear from society, we will have more freedom of belief than a technocratic or tool-using society. Postman suggests that we use schools to organize the information and teach specific beliefs. One of the best themes that could be used in schools, he says, would be "Ascent to Humanity (187)." This would have schools focus on the history of every subject. I agree with Postman's idea that subjects should be taught with a history, since it would give them more relevance to the student. However, there are a few things Postman leaves out. The most obvious solution to over-use of technology in my opinion is nature. Nature gives us a base, which cannot be contradicted by any amount of information, and I think it is the most logical way to ground people so that they do not get lost in all the facts. Also, I think that a school philosophy should be focused more on the individual, and on finding yourself, rather than entirely on the history of the subjects the students are taught. Neil Postman gets at a significant problem in society, however, he forgets the more positive freedoms and information that can be gained through technopoly. His final conclusion as to how to solve the situation of technology could also use improvement.

Response to Modernization Course

Part of this unit is about analyzing our technology use so as to be able to look at it objectively. This relates to modernization, because we are observing the way that our world has changed and developed with new technologies over time, and whether we think we are on the right course. Should we be going along with it? We are considering this partially by making our own tech-free challenge, and seeing what it would be like to live in a world without technology. The rest of the unit will look at modernization in relation to utopias. This will involve designing or thinking about what our own Utopian communities might look like, (how much technology would there be?) and reading books about dystopias. In these books and the rest of the unit we will connect to the way to best use technology and the way it affects how communities and utopias/dystopias are created. How does a community change based on its technology usage? Should we change our own technology usage to change the ways that we live? Are we in a technopoly?