Technologic.

Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. You name it. With growing emphasis on social media, we are beginning to lose touch with our natural human interactions and physical connections. We can hide behind a screen and say things we normally would not say. For some people, it may be the only human “contact” that they engage in. The movie, Wall-E, demonstrates the growing technological phenomenon. All the humans are tuned into their TV or computer monitor. They sit in hover chairs, never walking for themselves. Continuously, they communicate through video chat, even though their communication partner may be sitting right next to them. Their growing ignorance to the world around them keeps them from realizing the pool or other activities offered to them upon the cruise.

The irony of it all is that two robots, Wall-E and Eve, weres the spark to reinitiate contact between a few humans. The technology and the emotional connection they shared was the starting point to promote humans to physically interact. Wall-E chases Eve down throughout the ship. He runs into things and causes damage, but these mistakes cause the humans to “wake up” from their technological dream. For example, Wall-E wants to move past a woman on the train. She is tuned into her screen and does not even acknowledge Wall-E until he causes a scene. Her and another man are interrupted by Wall-E at different points in the movie, which bring them together. Their physical interactions are the first real human contact in (we assume) a very long time. We see a growing interest in engaging in human contact as these two humans connect. They splash around in the pool, which they previously had no idea existed.  Eventually, all of the humans get out of their hover chairs and finally contributes to the well-being of humanity and earth’s conservation.

While kids watch the movie, they see all the cool robots. When parents watch Wall-E, they have the opportunity to take a valuable message about the direction in which technology is headed. As mentioned before, social media sites take up hours of time that used to be for human contact and creating relationships. It is a real issue that our society faces. This technology could truly hurt us in the development of our social abilities. Wall-E tells a story that is a very possible direction that our future may be headed. There are many programs out there that want to promote getting off the internet and going outside. Nintendo Wii has hourly reminders to “get up and go outside!”  Nickelodeon has a day of no television shows which is meant to promote going outside to play. Wall-E is another movie that brings awareness to our growing attachment to technology. As helpful as technology can be in many cases, there cannot be a reliance on it. Our attention needs to shift back to the natural world and physical connections.