After receiving feedback for my essay draft so far - it is clear that I am not connecting with my topic and that I am really struggling to put forward an idea/opinion on my chosen subject. I think the trouble lies with how I haven't been able to narrow down my findings, and with my topic of "the impact of technology on society" so large, I am a little daunted by it.
Knowing that my essay needs to have a more specific area of interest, I decided to start again from scratch, keeping in mind my broader subject of technology but focusing more on smartphone technology and the impact of this on todays society. This is a really relevant topic, and should enable me to focus on many areas in terms of possible addiction to this digital device, nomophobia (the fear of being without mobile phone contact), mental health implications and how social media plays its part in the need to stay connected.
New Books and Research
Starting from scratch has meant a trip to the library and here are some of the really helpful books I have found to help inform my research and the new version of my essay.
Having briefly taken a look through all of these books (and used up all my page markers), I feel the most helpful book so far is 'Mind Change' by neuroscientist Susan Greenfield. Although the research in this book and Greenfield's findings aren't specific to that of smartphone technology, a lot of the results from the tests carried out are really relevant. I found her study into dopamine and our tendency to feel addicted to technology and the "need" to stay connected, may be linked to this neurotransmitter stimulated at the time of action and subsequent reward - the same transmitter stimulated when taking drugs such as heroin, cocaine and nicotine - making them so addictive. I feel these findings will play an important role in my essay and putting forward my argument and opinions.
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Library Notes:
(Main books of interest in keeping with subject theme)
Book Title: Author/s: Library Dewey Decimal Reference
(DEW):
Future Minds Richard Watson 306.24
Mind Change Susan Greenfield 306.24
Cell Phone Culture Gerard Goggin 306.24
The Technology Society Jacques Ellul 306 ELL
Digital Culture Charlie Gere 306.24
The Internet and Society James Slevin 306.24
The Internet and Society B. H. Schell 301
You Are Not a Gadget Jaron Lanier 306.24