The contemporary human experience is heavily influenced by both the anticipation and the trepidation of technological advancement; most clearly identified in the genre of science-fiction, where cybernetics is often depicted as leading to the alienation of individuals from the environment, each other, and themselves.
We do not have to look far to find the changes that technology and their accompanying interfaces have made on our social activities. Web based socialising has become widespread, with marketing companies taking the lead on trying to capitalise on this untapped source of market influence and earnings, and Social Networking Theory has been adapted for modelling everything from web applications to corporate strategies.
In general, people eagerly engage in this activity; replicating their physical lives online and in many cases remaking themselves as they would prefer to be seen. The translation of communication within complicated interpersonal relationships into web based communication is currently problematic, poorly defining gradients of intimacy and undermining the value of ‘real life’ relationships through the potential for deception.
This study looks to investigate the effect technology has had on the intimacy within relationships, to look at how it can bring groups closer together, or create a barrier between normally very intimate pairings or groups. We will be looking to apply the Social Network theory as a device for redefining how our expectations of intimacy are interpreted through technological means.
Just changed the 2nd and 3rd paragraph, after looking at the first one again, I understood that you meant that it was about how the media portrays the extreme effects of technology to have led to a lack of intimacy? (or alienation...)
Anywho, I think we're all good, and its not meant to be perfect :P
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