Mack R. Hicks

The Digital Pandemic: Reestablishing Face-to-Face Contact in the Electronic Age Mack R. Hicks

From sundials to digital watches, smoke signals to cell phones, the telegraph to text messaging, technology has eased many aspects of daily life. But, Mack Hicks wonders, at what price? In his provocative new book, he explores how the digital revolution has caused society to become increasingly reclusive. By robbing us of our ability to relate on a one-on-one basis, the IT movement affects not only the individual, but also the educational system, the work environment, and the social scene in profound ways. Hicks argues that the core problem is not the content of computer programs, but the actual process of computerization and mechanization, theorizing that it disrupts the balance of our primal "hunter" and "gatherer" personality types. Finally, he lays out a plan that shows how to retain the advantages of technology while taking crucial steps to reconnect with ourselves, our environment, and each other.