Skin has become inadequate in interfacing with reality. Technology has become the body's new membrane of existence.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that our physical bodies are no longer sufficient to engage with the complexities of reality; instead, technology serves as the new interface for our experiences.
Nam June Paikβs quote reflects on the transformative power of technology in our lives, implying that our traditional human senses and physical interactions are inadequate for fully engaging with the modern world. As we increasingly rely on digital interfaces, technology takes on the role of an essential extension of our existence, reshaping how we perceive reality and interact with each other.
In practice
In a discussion about the role of technology in modern communication, one might use this quote to emphasize how our interactions have shifted.
Our life is half natural and half technological. Half-and-half is good. You cannot deny that high-tech is progress. We need it for jobs. Yet if you make only high-tech, you make war. So we must have a strong human element to keep modesty and natural life.
Because primarily of the power of the Internet, people of modest means can band together and amass vast sums of money that can change the world for some public good if they all agree.
Technology will move faster than governments, so don't legislate before you understand the consequences.
Essentially, every technology you have ever heard of, where electrons move from here to there, has the potential to be revolutionized by the availability of molecular wires made up of carbon. Organic chemists will start building devices. Molecular electronics could become reality.
As technology increasingly takes over knowledge-based work, the cognitive skills that are central to today's education systems will remain important; but behavioral and non-cognitive skills necessary for collaboration, innovation, and problem solving will become essential as well.
The Linux philosophy is "laugh in the face of danger". Oops. Wrong one. "Do it yourself". That's it.
We no longer think of chairs as technology; we just think of them as chairs. But there was a time when we hadn't worked out how many legs chairs should have, how tall they should be, and they would often 'crash' when we tried to use them.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.