EXchanges in real spaces & virtual spaces

Exchanges in real spaces & virtual spaces

In these particular times where the real world is static, the virtual world quickly gained the upper hand. But how far is the boundary between real and virtual spaces becoming increasingly blurred nowadays?

Ace  Computers - Harvey Schwadron

In this satiric cartoon, we see in foreground a computers store's showcase. In it, there are computers shown and also a big billboard. Next to it, there's a man who looks intrigued by the showcase.

The big billboard says: " Welcome, Eco-Tourists! Why travel & add to pollution? Stay home & visit exotic travel web sites!"

This cartoon's aim is to show that people are becoming less and less sensitive to real spaces. Technology has become so advanced and as close as the real world that people would rather stay at home, visiting "exotic travel web sites" than travel, with the excuse of pollution. Aditionally, we must remember that internet pollution is a real thing and that even a google research also pollutes: a study says that internet activity results in as much CO2 emissions as the global aviation industry.

In this second cartoon, we identify two office desks with chairs and computers. In the computers are shown two images of different fellows who seems to be co-workers. The first one is asking the second one: "Hey Greg, you gonna be at work today?" and his colleague replies: "No, man. Workin' from home. You?"

This sketch shows the distancing between people that causes the comfort of working from home. Even thought these two compeers look a little annoyed by the fact that they don't see each other, both of them are still telecommuting.

For my part, I cannot help thinking that laziness takes over sociability. That's why they're going to keep working from home and they're going to become less and less social, until a point where they never going to see each other no more.

To my mind, there's no denying that this cartoon reveals human's spirit and the turn that society takes: telecommuting and machinery are so present in our society that work takes a whole new dimension and is more and more isolating. Even if there is the comfort of one another home, telecommuting isoles people because they are still working and not enjoying being with their loved ones at home and neither they do what they have previously done: get in touch with coworkers and build links.