Welcome to Tech Turn-Off 2011

The Tech Turn-Off: April 25-May 2, 2011

(The week prior to the turn-off, please read: Pre-Tech Turn-Off and log your media use) 

Okay, now, I am asking you to refrain from using many of the newer technologies that have become a part of your everyday life. Just as surely as these technologies have become a part of your everyday life, so they have transformed it too. But is this transformation good in all cases? Or might it be bad?  We can discuss this theoretically, of course, but experiencing life without these technologies is the only way we can really begin to understand their effects.  Think of it as a week’s vacation back in time, or, like Bernard and Lenina visiting “the reservation” in Brave New World.

This experiment is meant to address the subtle, yet all-sweeping effects of newer media.  If you could, at least for yourself, keep something like the Brave New World from becoming a reality, would you?

For 1 week, I want you to go without:

  • TV (including movies)
  • Movies (at the theater)
  • Computer (not including school-related programs, like Word Processor)
  • Internet (not including our class blog, of course, or necessary sch00l-related research)
  • Video Games (on Playstations, Wiis, phones, or other gaming consoles)
  • iPods and MP3 Players (includes phones, discmans and walkmans — if they still exist)
  • Text Messaging
  • Social Networking (like Facebook, MySpace, or Instant Messaging)
  • Every other function on your phone except person-to-person calls

Get started

Somewhat ironically, I am asking you to record your observations on a weblog.  Check out Directions for responding to Blog Assignments to get started!