Technology of the self

Last fall, I went to a conference on the next generation of publishing. One of the panels I was least interested in was on emerging technology. I am so old fashioned that I have never actually sent a text message. I'm not exactly proud of my backward ways, but I don't seem eager to change them.

I walked into the presentation late, stealing a few extra minutes in the kitchen with my friend Lil making fresh coffee. When I arrived, the presenter was discussing a kind of technology that would allow people to walk into grocery stores with little scanners so that they could choose exactly which toilet paper or peanut butter or milk they wanted. In other words, they could program the device with their values and the kinds of choices they wanted to make. Then they could use the device to scan the toilet paper choices available and the device would choose the best one.

Wow. My first thought was the amount of clarity that would be needed to make a device like this work. You would have to settle on a set of values in a quiet moment at home—who am I and what do I truly care about in toilet paper? The beauty of the technology would be that you would not have to bring this coherent, rational, value-reasoned person with you to the grocery story. You only need to conjure her up in the privacy of your own home and then venture out with your device. Do I have a self like this? Am I that secure in what I value in toilet paper? 

I tend to think of myself and my values as more fluid. Some days I am all about saving the environment and other days I am all about convenience. The device would force me to program my best self into it. The upside would be a more coherent set of values. The downside would be the loss of my spontaneous and circumstantial response to the world--my fluid and ever changing identity. 

Comments

[sdgsd]

The debate continues as to which are better hair replacement unit, human hair wigs or synthetic hair wigs.moncler jackor , In the end, most people are able to come to the same general consensus: for a natural look, nothing beats a human hair wig.bijoux , For price, synthetic wigs as hair replacement are best.pandora , Here are some more benefits and disadvantages of human hair wigs and synthetic hair wigs as hair replacement.uggs australia ,

1. Longevity of hair replacement unit- Human hair wigs last longer than synthetic ones, when properly cared for.

2. Hair replacement Styling - You can use hot styling tools, like curling irons and blow dryers, on human hair wigs, but not on synthetic ones!

3. Heat - Similarly, if you have a human hair wig, you do not have to worry about standing near heat sources like hot, open ovens and barbecues and fireplaces.

4. Dye - You can style and dye your human hair wig however you choose. Of course, it is not recommended that you dye your hair replacement wig multiple times, because doing so could potentially damage it.

5. Natural styles - Because you can continually change the style of a human hair wig, it makes a much better option for anyone who plans to wear it as hair replacement often. It is much more natural to have a different style every once in a while.

6. Natural feel of the hair replacement unit- Human hair wigs feel much more natural when you run your fingers through them ?after all, they are made from natural hair!

7. Breathability - Wearing a synthetic wig can make your scalp perspire because of the lack of breath ability. Human hair wigs breathe much better.

8. Keeping the style of the hair replacement unit- A benefit of a synthetic hair wig is that it will keep its style, after being washed. You must style your own human hair wig after it has been washed.

9. Price - Another big benefit of hair replacement synthetic hair wigs over human hair wigs, as mentioned before, is the low price.

10. Remy - There are, of course, inexpensive human hair wigs. But it is important to note that most of these hair replacement wigs are likely made from hair that has been processed and stripped of the cuticle. The best human hair wigs, like most products, are the most expensive ones. These are the ones that are hair replacement monofilament wigs made from emy?or uropean?hair.

Why must many of the human hair wigs undergo such processing? Well, most of the hair used to make wigs comes from Asian countries like China. Therefore, most of the hair donated is black and straight. Of course, not every one wants a hair replacement wig made from straight, black hair. Some people want blond hair wigs or wavy hair wigs. To get these looks, the hair must be processed ?it must be bleached and chemically treated. This processing damages the hair. Remy human hair wigs are made from hair that still has the cuticle in tact. If you are spending a great deal of money on a human hair wig, you want to be sure that it is a Remy wig or a European one.