The Pedestrian Technology

Every year, thousands of pedestrians are injured as they walk in cities. Some researchers say 1 out of 10 of those injuries are caused by a “distracting mobile device such as a phone or portable music player” (“Walking While Looking down”). Undoubtedly, the risk for injury in a crowded city increases greatly when technology is a distraction. In this day and age, technology is all over the place, no matter where you are in a moments time, technology is all around you. Lots of times technology is used positively, but more often than not, technology is not used wisely and safely. This subject is certainly up for debate. The entire world needs to join as one and understand that if the human race continues down the technological path it

Nicholas Carr is “an American journalist and technology writer” who attended Dartmouth College and Harvard University. Over the past decade, Carr has examined and studied the different impacts that computers have on our life and the “social consequences” of this new technology (Carr 123). In “A Thing Like Me” by Nicholas Carr, the author claims that technology is overpowering and dominating our lives. Carr expands on this idea further by defining it as people using “tools that allow them to extend their abilities” (Carr 124). To help with his argument, Carr uses a historical narrative about the creation of computer software, named ELIZA. Carr uses the creation of ELIZA as a way to get his point across to the reader. The creator of ELIZA, Joseph Weizenbaum, programmed a system into the computer that essentially allowed ELIZA to be able to have conversations with virtually anyone.

When people are talking on a cellular phone and walking around, they tend to lose the sense of what is going on around them, which leaves them blind to any potential threat because of carelessness, and they miss the offer that is given at that moment in time. In this article, “Disconnected Urbanism” by Paul Goldberger from the textbook on page 235, Goldberger discusses about people’s usage of cellular phones — today’s one of the most effective technology in the world that have changed people’s lives — talks about how the cellular phones are impacting people who living in a densely populated urban area, how people are now becoming disconnected from the world around them, and what are causing to their ability to perceive space. He talks about the seriousness of technology in the world to the readers with persuasive and pessimistic phrases from a subjective point of view. In his overall narration, he compares and contrasts between two different main objects to persuade the readers.

Ray Bradbury’s “The Pedestrian” is filled repeatedly with imagery. These descriptive phrases of imagery provide vivid details that make the story easy to imagine, so real and visual. Bradbury’s writing comes alive to the reader. This short story is about a peaceful man, walking by himself, who is picked up by the police and thrown in jail. Imagery helped readers understand the setting of “The pedestrian.”

The science fiction works of “Harrison Bergeron”, by Kurt Vonnegut and “The Pedestrian”, by Ray Bradbury are sarcastic portrayals of futuristic societies that are controlled by authoritative governments that have completely made their communities equal. Each of these stories take a look at the prospect of promoting sameness and conformity among all people, and questions the effects of the forced elimination of citizens’ individuality in order to maintain equality.

Thesis: In a short story titled “The Pedestrian”, written by Ray Bradbury, Bradbury uses the setting to display a lonely, sad mood and person vs society conflict as he battles the lonely streets.

Being obsessed with technology can destroy a society, and people’s relationships in it. Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 to keep the future from turning into the dystopian world in the book. The characters in the novel are attached to technology more than their own families. Everyone is caught up in television, and they do not stop to see what is going on around them. The firemen burn books and houses instead of putting out fires. Montag finally starts to notice how messed up his society is when he has conflicts with different people. In the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury he uses both internal and external conflicts to hint to the audience that life is more consequential than worrying about the technology.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like living in the year 2053? In the story “The pedestrian,” by Ray Bradbury, there were many things that you could learn. The man Mr. Leonard mead was having a walk, like he always does, but suddenly a car pulls up and it was a police officer and comes and arrests him, but this was no ordinary police officer.

In the past few years humans have spent much more time indoors with their technology than outdoors. Televisions, computers, and smartphones tend to draw greater numbers of people inside their homes, just as humans did in the futuristic world of Leonard Mead where no one left their homes at night. (“The Pedestrian”). Children especially have been infected with the media bug, much like Peter and Wendy, who are unable to stray away from their virtual reality in “The Veldt”. It is understandable that many-particularly older- people believe that technology is affecting how human naturally interact with each other and their surroundings. Technology definitely is affecting how humans communicate and interact, but that does necessarily have to be a negative thing. For instance, the popular social media application Skype, has kept over 74 million people from around the globe connected with one another. Despite humans spending much more time with their devices, like in “The Pedestrian”, many are not using this time to mindlessly stare at the television. Skype is just one example that connects people who may be a long distance apart, but will still spend an average of 100 minutes a month (“Skype Company Statistics”) still keeping in touch with one another. While some do use their their screens to block out the people around them, a majority use their smart phones and computers to keep connected with their

In many of his pieces, writings, and novels, Ray Bradbury reflects the immense reliance and close connection that humanity has with technology. He also depicts the dangerous effects that could come from having this relationship, such as a loss of independency and self-control over one’s mind and actions. If humanity were to continue to allow technology to have this disastrous power and control, society’s downfall is certain and destined to come.

The 1951 original written work by Ray Bradbury (“The Pedestrian”) was, at some point in time, later adapted into a short film. Although both the film and short story shared many of the same elements, there were still several noticeably apparent differences; for one, the film had chosen to introduce an entirely new character into the plot. Serving as a contrasting figure for Mead - a “foil”, of some sorts - Robert “Bob” Stockwell had assisted in providing much more insight in the dystopian world (i.e. experiencing the “outside” world after being inside so long, as was seen in the film). Whereas in the original story, no such insight was provided - Mead was, instead, only just an ordinary individual (unintentionally) caught amidst the confines

The setting in this story is very significant because it portrays many aspects of a dystopian society. The idea of individualism is where being an individual is not normal in this society. Mr. Mead was shown as an outcast because he disagreed with the majority of the people. Sitting inside watching TV is the ideal evening for everyone in this population in the future. While Mr. Mead thinks otherwise and enjoys the fresh air while also having his thoughts to himself, “If he closed his eyes and stood very still, frozen, he could imagine himself...a wintry, windless Arizona desert with no house in a thousand miles,” (pg 174) In the beginning of the story Mr. Mead walks down the barren city sidewalks of this city where he lives and this really shows the setting of a dystopian society. No one walked anymore; no one had the time to, no one wanted to, so Bradbury shows imagery on how no one does this, “The cement was vanishing under flowers and grass. In ten years of walking by night or day...he had never met another person walking.” (pg 174) In the middle of the story, an officer finds Mr. Mead and tells him to stop, “‘Stand still. Stay where you are! Don’t move!’ (pg 174) He halted.” Once the officer pulls him

Bradbury focuses on technological advancement to symbolize humankinds’ reliance on technology. Also, Bradbury using the poem by Sara Teasdale is symbolic to the story, as it was written as a warning to humans that nature will always survive over humanity. The short story is not hesitant in critiquing machines that take the place of human emotion and thought, which is very common element to many other of Bradbury’s

Fahrenheit 451 takes place in a dystopian society where knowledge and critical thinking is considered to be different. The novel revolves around the main character, Guy Montag, referred to as Montag throughout the novel. Montag is a firemen, which means that in his society he starts fires rather than puting them out. A ban was put on books by society the people because they were seen to create a form of inequality, and contained controversial content. This was replaced by modernized technologies such as wall televisions. Montag questions his beliefs when he encounters his new teen neighbour Clarisse, who exposes him to what being social really means rather than society’s interpretation.

Bradbury believes that technology is a benefactor when it comes to the aid of people’s lives. However, Bradbury is also wary of the unintentional hazards technological innovation may cause, and fears technology that seems to replace human responsibility. Bradbury sums up his doubts, stating that technology should never come at the expense of human life. These ideologies are displayed throughout the following short stories: “The Veldt,” “There Will Come Soft Rains,” and “A Sound of Thunder.” Each story contains the underlying theme that technology must be wielded with great care.