The document discusses the social impacts of emerging technologies such as video games, social media, communication devices, and virtual reality. It argues that these technologies can potentially cause social isolation and neurosis by replacing face-to-face interaction and human connection with interaction through screens. While technologies have benefits like keeping people connected, the document warns they may disconnect people from the real world if overused and could become addictive. As virtual reality further advances to create realistic virtual worlds, it is posed as a technology that could fully remove people from physical reality and society.

1. Social Impact of Technology
Emily Brett
Zack Clendinning
200197272
Thursday April 10th, 2014

2. 5 Growing Technologies Causing Social
Isolation and Neurosis
1. Video Games
2. Social Media
3. Communication Devices
4. Virtual Reality

3. Social Isolation and Neurosis
Social Isolation
- Social isolation refers to a complete or near-complete lack of contact with
society. It is usually involuntary, making it distinct from isolating
tendencies or actions taken by an individual who is seeking to distance
himself from society.
Neurosis
- relatively mild mental illness that is not caused by organic disease,
involving symptoms of stress (depression, anxiety, obsessive behavior,
hypochondria) but not a radical loss of touch with reality.

4. Video Games
I believe that video games cause social isolation and neurosis because people
who are addicted to gamming often encounter situations where they have
to choose whether to interact with the real world or continue living in
their virtual one. An addicted gamer who loses sleep because he's playing
so much simply doesn't have the energy to invest in relationships. Lack of
sleep may also make him irritable and difficult to be around.
Even though video game addiction is not yet a diagnosable disorder there are
clear signs pointing to its involvement with social isolation and neurosis.
Beneath is a link to a video describing how.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY49S_jGNgE

5. Video Games
Pros
- Better Vision
- Exercises the Brain
- Can be used to assist in education
- Can increase your attention span
Cons
- Can cause sickness such as social isolation and neurosis
- Can become highly addictive
- Can give of a false expectations of life
- Can be violent

6. Social Media
I believe that social medias such as facebook and twitter are causing people to
have social isolation and neurosis. This is because being able to connect
over a piece of technology now from where ever you are is not the same as
face to face interaction. Social networks are more like mutual isolation
networks that detach people from meaningful interactions with one another
and make them less human. If individuals cannot learn to interact and
develop meaningful relationships outside the narcissistic, soap opera-
environment of the Facebook "News Feed," then society is in for some
major trouble down the road. Beneath is a link to a video explain why
social media causes these symptoms.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PletnSWYVJU#aid=P9b26HwS32w

7. Social Media
Pros
- Creates new social connections
- Helps keep in touch with friends/families far away
- Great way to find out news
- You can always find great support through social media
Cons
- Causes social isolation and neurosis
- Can disconnect people from the world if they are to connected to social
media
- To much misinformation
- The main cause of less face to face connection

8. Communication Devices
Communication devices are a huge factor in social isolation and neurosis.
Having a device that allows you to communicate with someone anywhere
at anytime completely takes all human interaction away. This is the biggest
problem because people now are obsessed with being more connected to
others through their smartphones than who they are physically with in the
real world.

9. Communication Devices
Pros
- You are always connected to friends and family
- You can use apps to help/guide/entertain you when needed
- More than a phone
- Can have real time conversations instead of waiting for replys
Cons
- Very distracting
- Can become addicting and a necessity
- Can cause a person to be very impatient
- Can cause social isolation and other mental disorders

10. Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is not a huge cause of social isolation yet but I feel over the next
couple of years this will be the main causing factor. Virtual reality is
computer-generated simulation of a three-dimensional image or
environment that can be interacted with in a seemingly real or physical way
by a person using special electronic equipment, such as a helmet with a
screen inside or gloves fitted with sensors.
This technology will be completely taking people out of the physical world
and putting them in the virtual world. I think this will be a huge problem
because anything can be created in the virtual world and people will much
rather spend their time there then in the physical.

11. Virtual Reality
Pros
- Communication can be more productive and enjoyable
- It can help patients from recovering form strokes, phobias and other illness
- Can help practice for real world situations without the consequences of real
life
Cons
- Decrease human interaction in the real world
- Certain training programs wont have the same results as the real world
- Completely disconnects people from the real world
- Gives people a false view on life

12. Conclusion
In conclusion to my project I have a better understanding of the new
technologies coming out and how they will affect society. As Things such
as video game addictions and social isolation are not a huge deal due to
technology at the moment, with the how fast pace technology is going it
wont be long before people can completely disconnect their self's from the
world and be able to do as they please with no consequences or rewards in
the virtual world.

13. References
1. Video Game Addiction." Social Consequences of Gaming Addiction. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 9 Apr. 2014.
2. Place in PR." A Place in PR. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
<http://aplaceinpr.wordpress.com/2011/03/10/pros-and-cons-of-
owning-a-smart-phone/>.
3. Social isolation." Definition of. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014.
<https://www.boundless.com/sociology/definition/social-isolation/>.
4. Technology obsession creates isolation from society." The Blue Banner.
N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Apr. 2014. <http://thebluebanner.net/technology-
obsession-creates-isolation-from-society/>.