Stephen Colbert Asks Sherry Turkle: What Is There To Live For Without Latest iPhone?! (VIDEO)

Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and author of the new book "Alone Together," told Stephen Colbert "we have to put technology in its place" on "The Colbert Report" last night.

"What's the possible harm?" asked Colbert. "Let's say I'm texting and tweeting, 'Pass the salt, dear.' What's the possible harm of that?"

"Well because there are times, there are places, we need to give each other our full attention," Turkle said.

"Says you! Why? Why do we need to give each other our full attention?"

The author defended her book to a particularly aggressive Colbert by citing studies showing the impact on children who have grown up with parents who favor technology over their children, as well as the negative result of communicating solely by email. The author claims that the quality of interaction between people has deteriorated because of the constant reliance on text messages, emails and other digital broadcasts of the self.

So, what do you think? Has technology alienated us from one another?

WATCH:

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Sherry Turkle
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

Comments

[Spike5]

08:57 AM on 01/19/2011

Professor Turkle is right on target (oops, don't take that word in a bad way).

I frequently observe my 30-year-old son sitting in the same room with my 4-year-old grandson. But Dad is focused on his iPhone, not his son. He imagines they are spending time together when actually, they are just sharing the same physical space. Or we'll be going somewhere in the car. Grandma is listening to NPR while she drives, Dad is playing Angry Birds, grandson is involved with his Leapster. Not exactly like the Sunday drives of my childhood when everyone actually talked.

As Dr Turkle said to Colbert, "I'm no Luddite." But we do have to learn how to tame the technology so it enhances our sense of community without replacing the role of personal contact.

[gevan]

07:14 AM on 01/19/2011

Gosh. I don't own any iProducts. Am I dead yet?

[Spike5]

09:02 AM on 01/19/2011

Gee, if that's all you got out of the conversation, then maybe you are.

But I'm guessing that wasn't meant seriously.