Fixation on Technology

            To be completely honest, I am slogging through Neuromancer by William Gibson because of his technological language and dense descriptive language. I’d rather read about punk computer hacker Lisabeth Salander in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo who lives in the real world than about punk cowboy Case who lives in a virtual world. So, what do I really think about Neuromancer? I'm not sure if I even have a thorough understanding of what has occurred in the first part of the novel. However, I do know that as a cyberpunk novel, Gibson is expressing dark ideas about human nature, technology, and their respective combination in the near future. Twenty-seven years after its publication, it's interesting to see which of Gibson’s predictions about cyberspace, a world that he created, have come true. 

            For example, in Neuromancer, Gibson emphasizes the increasing presence of technology in the daily lives of humans. The characters in the novel constantly utilize, wear, and discuss various forms of technology. Case repeatedly uses a “deck” and “trodes” (this word is not googleable but they are goggles) to “jack into” cyberspace. Other characters insert tiny chips called “microsofts” into the spot behind their ears. Microsofts form a direct neural link and have the ability to transfer any information to the brain. If you're Paris and you never spoke a word of French before in your life, wouldn't it be great to use a microsoft and suddenly be fluent? Bonjour mes amis! I think Gibson envisioned a useful technological advancement, however, this chip doesn't exist…yet.

            Since 1984, the prevalence of technology in our daily lives has dramatically increased. In fact, I would venture to say that in 2011, humans are fixated on technology. Look around you; technology is everywhere. Think of how you live? What would you do without e-mail, texting, Microsoft Word, and the Internet? Yes, of course you would survive, but you might be helpless. Is this a sign that people today are too reliant on technology? Maybe. Also, we can't lose sight of the importance of human contact. There is no face to face in Facebook, so, rather than messaging your friend, meet him or her for coffee.

            Even though sometimes I feel as though I have narcolepsy when I read Neuromancer, I do think that Gibson was a visionary in his prediction of how influential cyberspace and technology would become in our daily lives. I also think that there still a lot more technology to come.