The reading by Judy Wajcman is about the paradox that has shaped the 21st century lifestyle. We are constantly innovating and developing new, ever faster machines with the aim to make our modern lives easier, less stressful but simultaneously it seems that we have less and less free time at our disposal and constantly feel “pressed for time”. This is something most of us struggle with, which made it relatable to me personally.
It was almost funny to read the prediction by John Maynard Keynes about technological advancements will have on our lives. Work shapes how a person uses their time, but now that the standard eight hour, five day a week roster erodes the clear distinction between “work time” and “my time” has blurred which allowed work to interfere into personal time but consequently has allowed personal time to invade work time. This is especially true when you consider the fact that the same way we can get an email from work demanding our attention despite not physically being at work, we can access social media sites during work time on our devices.
Wajcman’s reading addresses our accelerated pace, pressures on our time, constant connectivity, and lack of intimacy in the age of social media. We all must learn that it is not about speed; it is about being better and using the tools to this end rather than being used by the tools. I am for this because I do not want to be one of the mindless drones staring at screen but absorbing nothing while the real world moves around them.