week 7 - Personal Network

Within the last few years, particularly because I am pursuing a major in Computer Science, I have cultivated a central concern that is constantly being brought back to my thoughts. In this class, as we are attempting to critically look at technology as a socially driving force, that concern is pretty prominent and is always at the back of my mind. What it essentially boils down to is the idea that our generation's ability to remain in touch with a large number of people through such short lived interactions has severely shortened our attention spans as well as our patience. While doing this assignment, this topic was unfortunately all I could really think about.

My own personal network consists mostly of the people who I happen to be seeing a lot during any given season of the year. For instance a typical day for me would include interactions with my peers and professors within the classroom, interactions with one of my bosses at one of my jobs, a phone call or two with my dad, and brief in passing conversations with my roommates. As far as my online presence, I will passively skim through Facebook probably two or three times a day, I will check emails and on a rare occasion send emails, and I will probably carry a few short conversations over text messaging. Overall, my personal network is maintained through direct contact. I am all about quality time and I am inclined to value the people and situations that fit easiest into my routine. Therefore, my attention is given out to those major priorities like schoolwork and work work frist, then whatever time and attention I have left to give out must come with some ease for me.