Present Shock

This piece on NPR was right up my alley the other day. I sat in the car in the driveway of my house finishing it, thus confirming the 'driveway moments' that NPR listeners talk about.

One of my favorite things to research in my free time is how technology affects the way we live. Since the birth of the web, the advent of mobile technology, and high-speed Internet, our lives have changed considerably. Douglas Rushkoff does a remarkable job of explaining some of the inherent problems that we now have because we are constantly connected. And yes, we do hear about this quite a bit. Multitasking is ruining us! We're texting while driving! These are problems that we must face and Rushkoff discusses some of those problems in this piece.

For example, he discussed digiphrenia, which is the concept of trying to live in the real world, the Facebook world, the Twitter world, the email world, all at once. Do you show the same face? Do you adjust what you post for who you are friends with?

He also brings up the point that social networks now bring our entire cast of characters together in one place. What does the kid you knew in 2nd grade have to do with the colleague you started working with 6 months ago? Should you be friends with both of them on Facebook? Should there be different circles of friends, like on Google Plus? Weird, wild stuff. Check out the interview below.

Interview: Douglas Rushkoff, Author Of 'Present Shock: When Everything Happens Now' : NPR