How to Rise Above Addictive Technologies to Find Real Freedom
On this episode, software engineer and author Doug Smith concludes his conversation with host Robert Marks about the false promises of technologies like VR (virtual reality) and AI. Smith and Marks discuss the Apple Vision Pro VR headset and the promotion of spirituality in its marketing. They explore the idea of AI spirituality and the belief in the singularity. The conversation touches on the writings of Marshall McLuhan and Jacques Ellul, philosophers of technology who predicted the current impact of technology on society. The conversation rounds out with the importance of leading a disciplined life and the need to be cautious and mindful of the impact of technology on our lives.
Additional Resources
- Follow Doug Smith at ThatDougSmith.com
- Doug Smith writing about Apple Vision Pro
- Doug Smith’s Book: [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires, and How You Can Break Free (UnIntentionalBook.com).
- MMN Podcast: The Grandfather of VR: Thomas Furness on Virtual Reality
- Robert J Marks. Abandoning Reality: Getting Lost in Oculus Quest’s VR (Mind Matters News)
- Doug Smith on How To Get Off Big Tech’s Screen Drug (Mind Matters News)
- Doug Smith: Will we surrender our free will to screens? (Mind Matters News)
- Doug’s recommended books:
- Marshall McLuhan, The Medium is the Message.
- Jacques Ellul, The Technological Society (1954)
- Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death (1985)
