Since I started working on my oral history project, I’ve had trouble figuring out how I would present the memoir to my grandmother in physical form. After seeing and hearing some of my classmates’ presentations in class (the second round of these presentations), I was inspired by the personal and sentimental significance of their physical memoirs. I realized that I wanted to present my memoir to my grandmother through something that could symbolize a part of her past and present, but also symbolize something that connects the two of us. I had a couple ideas in my head by the end of class and I guess we’ll have to wait until next week to see if any of these ideas come to fruition! After the oral history presentations, our class moved on to a discussion on the book This Chair Rocks, by Ashton Applewhite. One thing that stood out to me during the discussion was Applewhite’s use of terms and vocabulary such as “olders” and “youngers” to refer to older people and younger people. I like the idea of changing the vocabulary that we use when addressing populations and matters in regards to aging. Perhaps, using words that don’t carry objectionable tones, as Ashton would describe them, could contribute to diminishing some of the stigma we see in society today against aging.
Lastly, another interesting discussion we had as a class was on a current event presentation about how robots could be used as companions for aging persons. In providing some social support and helping in the completion of daily tasks, such robot companions may have the potential to improve the quality of life of people who use them. This to me, also raised a question of, who CAN use them? Who will have access to these robotic companions? If these robots do become available to the public, I imagine that they’ll be attached to a hefty price tag. But then again, I also wonder, if these robots could be proven to significantly improve the quality of life of persons that utilize them (particularly in regards to basic needs for life), would they then be seen as something that everyone should have the right to have access to? Whose lives will be improved? Who will be making these decisions? To me, these “futuristic” robotic companions seem like an innovative and promising idea and could very well accomplish what they are meant to, and yet their potential integration into society bring about broad and complex concerns.
Lastly, another interesting discussion we had as a class was on a current event presentation about how robots could be used as companions for aging persons. In providing some social support and helping in the completion of daily tasks, such robot companions may have the potential to improve the quality of life of people who use them. This to me, also raised a question of, who CAN use them? Who will have access to these robotic companions? If these robots do become available to the public, I imagine that they’ll be attached to a hefty price tag. But then again, I also wonder, if these robots could be proven to significantly improve the quality of life of persons that utilize them (particularly in regards to basic needs for life), would they then be seen as something that everyone should have the right to have access to? Whose lives will be improved? Who will be making these decisions? To me, these “futuristic” robotic companions seem like an innovative and promising idea and could very well accomplish what they are meant to, and yet their potential integration into society bring about broad and complex concerns.