Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Individuality or Social Isolation? The Age of Ipod

Individuality or Isolation?

The advantages and disadvantages of Apple's Ipod has been an ongoing
debate between teachers/students, employers/employees.

What's the "Ipod" motive?

“With iPod, Apple has invented a whole new category of digital music player that lets you put your entire music collection in your pocket and listen to it wherever you go,” says Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. The ipod represents the American principle of independence.

What's the problem?
"SOCIAL" ISOLATION



Teachers, specifically those in Australia and other foreign countries, feel that ipods limit the social interaction between students and faculty.

"It's important for kids to be talking to one another at school, socializing and being part of a community. That's why they come to school, to be connected." -Kerrie Murphy, Principal of International Grammar School in Australia

On the other hand, students argue back saying that ipods allow them to stay focused and calm. Nick Stubbs, a former student at the private school in Sidney says, "It's an individuality we have. The type of music we listen to says who we are."

As for Ipods in the workplace, tuning out to thousands of songs while glued to the computer screen is becoming more and more common these days. "As more employees march through the day to the beats of their own drummers, personal music players are changing the ways in which workers interact and collaborate while posing challenges for bosses who consider the devices unprofessional and disruptive, employers and workplace experts say." -Chicago Tribune

As for the positives:

David Ormesher, founder and chief executive of a communication's firm in Chicago says this:

"Rather than isolating co-workers, music offers common ground. They share playlists on the office network and everyone winds up playing each other's music — jazz, classical, hip-hop, world music. You learn a lot about each other just by checking out playlists."

As you can see, there is a varying range of opinion with regard to the Ipod and whether or not it promotes individuality or social isolation.

To each their own.

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