A NEW DOCUMENTARY ON WHETHER TECHNOLOGY IS CONTROLLING US, OR ARE WE CONTROLLING TECHNOLOGYŠ PREMIERES ON CBC-TV¹S DOC ZONE NOV. 18, AT 9 P.M. (9:30 NT) __________________________________________________________
www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2010/digitaldummies/
Winnipeg, MB (October 18, 2010) In a fascinating and thought-provoking documentary, CBC-TV¹s Doc Zone presents Are We Digital Dummies? on Thursday, Nov. 18, at 9 p.m. (9:30 NT).
One thing is certain about human nature we¹re born talkers. Our urge to communicate is universal. And now with modern technology we can meet anybody anywhere at anytime.
Today our means for communication are endless: twelve billion text messages are sent worldwide every day. Thirteen million Canadians are Facebook users.
And the number of personal computers in use around the globe is expected to double in the next four years. But is all this access to technology actually making our lives better?
Produced by Merit Motion Pictures and directed by Andy Blicq (The Secret World of Shoplifting, The Truth About Liars) Are We Digital Dummies? takes a hard look at how computers and the latest cell phone technology affect our families and our co-workers in addition to our own lives.
³I don¹t think I¹ve met a single person who says they¹re happy managing the technology pace,² says Tod Maffin, a Canadian expert on technology use. ³One of the problems with living in an always on¹ society is we perceive the need to always be on.²
Canadians interviewed for the film, including Liberal MP Justin Trudeau, say they now can¹t live without their personal devices. But many also complained that computers and especially smart phones like the BlackBerry have taken over their lives and they worry about how much time they¹re spending surfing the internet. And it is not just for personal use. Many of us have careers that depend on us being able to be reached at any time, on any day, no matter where we are.
In this provocative, fast-paced, funny and shocking documentary, Are We Digital Dummies? examines the risks associated with using our tech gear behind the wheel of the car, at home, as well as at the office where cell phone use in meetings have re-written the rules of etiquette. We discover there is growing concern that our technology use has turned us into a distracted nation. The emphasis is shifting from deep thinking to getting superficial knowledge fast and that despite what we think, we¹re not very good at multi-tasking with all those devices. Our brains simply can¹t keep up with all the modern demands for our attention.
But some people can¹t turn off their technology. They need to immediately read that next text, take that call or check their Facebook. Experts interviewed at an internet addiction centre in Washington State say that between six to ten per cent of the population that¹s online meets criteria for internet addiction.
Are We Digital Dummies? takes measure of how technology devices are affecting our personal lives, both for the good and the bad, and leaves us with an important question: ³Can we manage the technology around us or will we let it manage us?
