This week's class topic involved internet democracy. Today specifically we talked about the question of whether the internet expands our horizons by allowing us to interact with those whom we do not share the same beliefs (which according to Sunstein, we don't) or whether sharing our views in common spaces with those who have similar beliefs as we do helps to build relationships and expand beliefs (as the echo chambers article states). This argument got me thinking about the iPad, and where it fits in with these two opposite viewpoints. Although the echo-chambers article does not specifically mention polarization, I would have to say that the concept of the iPad is more in tune with Sunstein's idea. You can personalize the entire thing to be exactly what you want. Your music, your homepage You can choose applications based on your interests. It also seems like a multi-tasking device. You can look at pictures, read a book, listen to music and check the score of a baseball game all in the same instant. This is only adding to our generation's ability to be able to multi-task. The fact that it is mobile and more readily accessible than a laptop makes the ability to multi-task even easier. You can use in on a train or in a restaurant. The iPad is said to be "changing the things we do everyday". However, the only way it could connect people is if they are comparing it with each other. It has become another victim of polarization, and is furthering Sunstein's view that we are not expanding our horizons enough.
I agree! The applications not only on the I-Pad but on the I-phone as well allow those to really personalize the way they communicate. With all the choices, users can buy whatever they want to and then will only have to rely on what is on their screen. They won't feel the need to go to additional websites that might have differing opinons. This is a major victory for personalization and those who strive to only listen and interact with like-minded people.
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