Final Reflection
As I stated in my conclusion: Especially today in these tough economic times, many are being forced to live on the streets. Technology is very much a part of our lives. It seems not to matter whether or not you have a warm bed, clean clothes and food, access to the Internet is easy to get (hotels/motels, public libraries, cafes). We are all cyborgs; it does not matter if we have roof over our heads or not. While having access to expensive items used to be a luxury, today having access to a computer with the Internet is the norm.
- We may have an email address instead of a street address.
-This has been my leading idea for my paper.
-According to the research that I have found, it doesn’t matter.
-Internet access has become available.
I have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the idea of homelessness and how those that fit into that category are still using the Internet as a resource. Some use it to relax and escape life on the streets by playing online games, watching TV shows and listening to music. Some are using it to find shelters, job opportunities, and to connect with others. I was surprised to find how many people have blogs, others post their own videos. Evidence by those without homes shows that a lack of financial stability doesn’t indicate feeble mindedness.
Some hide the fact that they are homeless by communicating by email or by phone, which leads me to cell phones. It is fascinating to me how many people who do not have a home have a cell phone. Thinking about it is instant communication between the cell phone holder and a potential boss or family member. In doing the research I have found it interesting how many people are connected and wired.
My favorite part of this project was talking to two volunteers who work at a women’s shelter in Denver. Obviously they provided the most current information. One of the girls that I spent a lot of her time working in the computer lab and saw the many uses of the Internet at work. She also provided assistance and answers to any questions that the visitors had. When I asked these girls about technology and how it effects the women who come to their shelter, they were so excited to talk and share what they had observed, which provided encouragement for the paper and continued research. It really broke down the barrier of reading words on a page and connecting with people.
Through writing this paper, there is a surprising amount of research that can be done in the future. Some of the articles that I read, although only a few years old, but may be dated. In the future, I would love to capture the stories of the people mentioned in the paper on film. Even though my project has changed over time, it still points out the cyborg in everyone.
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