Chapter 10 A Thing Like Me

Chapter 10 A Thing Like Me

Joseph Weizenbaum had created a new type of software that would almost have a conversation with the person using it. However it does not have a real conversation, it just changes the original sentence to seem like an appropriate response. To me this seemed like a conversation with a therapist.”If a person typed the sentence ‘I am very unhappy these days.’ The computer would need only know that the phrase ‘I am’ typically comes before a description of the speaker’s current situation or state of mind. The computer could then recast the sentence into the reply ‘How long have you been very unhappy these days’” (pg 202) Therapists just ask you why you feel that way, or how long you have felt that way in this case. Therapy is used to bring you to the conclusion all on your own, and the computer program will respond using things you say without generating new ideas causing the person to figure things out almost by themselves. This is one of the times I feel that Carr is in favor of the technology. Carr sees the good use of the ELIZA program and how it can be used to help people.

It is clear, that I am not the only person who saw the program this way because so did the psychologist Carl Rogers. The program ELIZA could be used to help many people with mental illnesses or even just people under a lot of stress. I feel therapy has a positive effect on people because what they had really needed was someone to listen to them. If more people used a program like this, then maybe it could help people who do not have time to see a therapist or who just have some stress in their lives.

This program also reminded me a lot of the new iPhone application Siri. A person using the iPhone can simply ask Siri a question and she then will give an appropriate response. The difference is that Siri gives more of a human response. Unlike the ELIZA program, Siri is able to actually answer questions using information found on other applications and from the internet. Although Siri cannot be used as a form of therapy, it is still a helpful application for people who have a hard time using smart phones.

Although Carr may seem to like the idea of the ELIZA program, he then goes on to talk about how technology becomes and “extension” of ourselves. “Every tool imposes limitations even as it opens possibilities” (pg 209) Even though such programs are helpful for people, it makes us dependent on the programs and harder for people to do things on their own. Continuous use of the program ELIZA would in time make some people feel they needed to talk to her to cope with everyday things, and not learn how to work through things on their own. This also has the same effect with the iPhone application Siri, if people are using Siri to do things for them then how will they know how to do such things on their own? I can see why Carr is continuously going back and forth on the internet and technology, they are a helpful resource but should be used in moderation to prevent dependence.

 

-Alexandrea White