Technological Abundance and Naturelessness Are Not Synonymous

In the possible near future could you imagine your only source of naturalistic views being shown through virtual reality simulations? Could it ever be equivalent as taking a walk through the woods? 

Thinking about nature brings thoughts of beautiful natural patterns, stillness coupled with wilderness, and even a breath of fresh air. Almost all your senses are used: you hear the birds, can smell the earthy dirt, touch the natural fauna. I think of times when walking through the woods and finding wild raspberries, and the joy of the experience of eating one.

However, when I think about nature through technology… It’s just… different. I can't image technology advancing to a point where you can grab a virtual wild raspberry and taste the flavor. This is scary because our future seems to be advancing to a point of only having virtual nature. We are using natural resources at an alarming rate. Future opportunities to take a walk through the woods seem quite bleak.

Thoughts on nature's depletion and the rise of technology reminds me of the 2012 movie Cloud Atlas. In Cloud Atlas there is a timeline/storyline about New Seoul (fictional), which takes place in the year 2144. The movie depicts bleak, gray apartments-almost reminiscent of a cement cage. There is little furnishings and amenities shown in the space. However, a few seconds into entering the depressing emptiness of the character’s apartment a technological wall is turned on which emerges the room into an image of naturalistic views. The wall transforms from depressing to peaceful and beautiful. There are vivid colors and romantic nature depictions. The images take up every inch of the walls to portray a vastly larger, outdoor themed, apartment. When shown the city of “New Seoul”, there doesn’t appear to be nature in sight but rather like every available outdoor surface is either gray or equipped with electronics (screens, lights, etc.).

The depictions within Cloud Atlas and the trajectory we as a species are using natural resources and destroying wildlife makes one think about a life where the only place we can see actual nature is through a virtual screen.  Professors Friedman, Kahn Jr, and Borning at the University of Washington Information School, specializing in human interaction design, wrote an article titled “Value Sensitive Design and Information Systems,” which overviewed a study reviewing interaction with real nature versus nature through a screen. They measured physiological data (heart rate), performance data, video data which studied eye movement, immediate physiological equipment analysis (to study effects), and social-cognitive data (50 minute interviews). They found that real nature garners physiological and psychological benefits, while comparatively nature through a screen had negative connotations. lesser benefits

New Seoul’s dystopian future view brings up a ringing issue: we are using natural resources and becoming heavily dependent on technology. When thinking of this type of dystopian future, it brings to light the ethics of saving natural resources and wilderness areas for our future generations. If we continue down this linear progression, will our only option to look at screens of nature?

The Friedman, Kahn Jr., and Borning article showed that looking at nature on a screen negatively affects psyche. Without any of these resources left, will we maintain a healthy psyche? Our values should align with creating better technology, but still maintaining the serene beauty of nature, which have been shown to have positive effects on psyche.

We can have both: technological advancements and the preservation of nature. But we have to be weary in our actions, politics, and capital investments to ensure we are giving nature a chance. Let's gift future generations with not only amazing technology, but a place to escape and be free- within nature.