Having a
philosophical studies background, I though approaching new technology on a more
rational ground was therefore an interesting path to explore.
Indeed,
nowadays technology develops at a dizzying pace. What was real fiction 30 years
ago becomes now reality. Thus, the advent of wireless phones had a colossal
impact on people's lives. And what about the introduction of the web thereon; accessing
Internet anytime, anywhere!? Consequently, the launch of Smartphones later on was
a logical continuity. Not only people can call from anywhere and have Internet access,
but also they possess a MP3 player, a GPS, an alarm clock, a dictionary and all
kinds of applications on the same device. Therefore these new cellular have the
characteristic of being multifunctional, focusing on convenience and
entertainment. Smartphones therefore bind both entertainment and technology, but
on a more philosophical ground, also screen existential questioning through diversion
and distraction.
- Entertainment
The concept
of entertainment conceived by Blaise Pascal seems the most appropriate in this
context of technology. According to Pascal, entertainment is actually a diversion. The famous French
mathematician and philosopher supports his reflection over the etymology of the
French translation of the word “entertainment”,
namely “divertissement”. It actually
makes sense: “divertissement” derives
from the Latin word “divertere” meaning
"to divert, to turn away". Entertainment is then seen as a way to
divert from heavy and existential questioning. Didn’t Romans preach over the
phrase “Bread and circuses” to reduce and distract the ever growing discontent
of the population?! History thus shows how entertainment was and is still used
to distract us; to set aside the ideas of death, life, anxiety, and political
dissatisfaction. It would therefore avert profound uncertainty, since it is the
cause of a fundamental and intrinsic fear inherent to human beings. Pascal sees
loneliness as a cause of anxiety and sorrow among most men. Entertainment and
mobile communication would thus be used to avoid what we dare not to face.
- Device
According to
the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a device is “a piece of equipment or a
mechanism designed to serve a special purpose or perform a special function”.
Hence Smartphones, being brought everywhere and used anytime, have the ability
to shape, control and assert users’ actions, behaviors and opinions, as well as
lifestyle and thoughts. Moreover, new technology also allows to virtually
project yourself and appear in several places at the same time.
Pascal's vision
of entertainment is still very relevant for understanding the current
technology phenomenon. Indeed, since entertainment is supposed to alleviate the
misfortunes of existential questions, the new entertainment tools currently on
the market, namely the Smartphones, fill the same void. As means of leisure in
the 17th century were completely different of those today, the exercise
of them differs correspondingly. Theater, or hunting especially among the noble
circles, for example, were taking place in a specific location and at a definite
time, while today we can multiply the entertainments occurring at the same moment,
in the same place. The diversity of entertainments over a single device might
explain the excessive use of this device: whenever there is a time lag or a
dull moment, we escape through our phone. We end up suddenly on the Internet, listening
to music, connecting with friends and/or playing games. Thus, we extend our
presence by using a Smartphone, both physically – where we use it – and
virtually, escaping loneliness, boredom and existential questioning. Today’s
users thus tend to avoid and flee from problems or deep thoughts by confining themselves
in a bubble, in a private world. The same observation can be made when radio
and television came out.
In brief, the link between
entertainment and device is obvious and indivisible as they use and serve each
other. Smartphones are more than communication devices, they also act as psychological
and mental runaways.
Unconsciously, "anti-smartphone" video
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