Sherry Turkle was spending a postdoctoral year at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology when she encountered the pioneers researching computer science, robotics and artificial intelligence -- and discovered her life’s work. A psychologist with psychoanalytic training, she has spent the subsequent decades at MIT, teaching, writing and TED talking about the human dimensions of our digital culture. Initially captivated, Turkle has taken an increasingly dark view of technology’s impact on human relationships as she sees students retreating behind texting and families seemingly forgetting how to put down their phones and talk. Her most recent books, "Alone Together" and "Reclaiming Conversation," argue that although we’ve come to expect more from our devices and less from one another, we can change that dynamic. Interviewed by journalist Paula Span, Turkle talked about the irresistible allure of sociable robots, the peril of baby bouncers equipped with iPad slots and the reason she’s not her daughter’s Facebook friend. Plus, Pokemon Go.
Paula Span, a veteran journalist, writes the New Old Age column for the New York Times and is the author of “When the Time Comes: Families With Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions.” She teaches at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she bans laptops and cellphones during class.
Cover design by Adil Dara
Paula Span, a veteran journalist, writes the New Old Age column for the New York Times and is the author of “When the Time Comes: Families With Aging Parents Share Their Struggles and Solutions.” She teaches at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where she bans laptops and cellphones during class.
Cover design by Adil Dara
