Ben - The Modified Body

I feel that I identify most with the modified body. I do not have technology physically attached to me, as in the case of the patient with the skull cap. However, the technology that I use and depend on every day does have both physical and financial impacts. From the physical standpoint, I rely on technology to wake me up in the morning. Sometimes, this means getting up earlier than my body would otherwise. Often, I will have to get up really early in order to get in some last minute studying, which can have tremendous physical repercussions later on in the day. While technology does not directly cause the low energy, tired feeling that I feel later on during the day, my reliance on the alarm to get me up in the morning has an indirect physical impact.

Financially, it costs money to purchase and maintain the technologies that I rely on everyday. For example, I have an iPhone. An iPhone initially costs money for the device itself. Then, I have to pay for the wireless service. I rely on my iPhone for organizing my schedule and keeping up with my emails. Another example that many college students are familiar with is the laptop. I have a laptop that I rely on everyday for homework, keeping up with friends and family, and just keeping my life organized. Laptops are a major expense. There is the laptop itself, the costs of making sure that I have the most up-to-date software, and the costs of repairs and upgrades when necessary.