Navigating Boundaries Between Life and Death in the Digital Age
DIGC 3600 – Unit 3 Reflection | Dr. Meryl Krieger
University of Pennsylvania
The limits we set for happiness, success, and productive boundaries are not fixed; they evolve over time and vary widely across cultures. As Stern (2020) highlights, “Through history, we’ve sort of moved the goalposts of what does it mean to be alive, what does it mean to be dead?” (pp. 0:05 – 0:14). This observation underscores how cultural and technological shifts continuously redefine our understanding of fundamental boundaries such as life and death.
These shifts are evident in the realm of extended reality (XR) and digital remembrance technologies, which focus on creating digital legacies. These technologies challenge traditional boundaries by offering new ways to preserve memories and identities and raises critical questions about how we define and manage even our most—seemingly—defined boundaries, those between life and death.
Critical thinking and education are essential in navigating evolving boundaries. For instance, Stern urges us to consider the implications and unforeseen consequences: “Wouldn’t you rather just let your dad go than have some malfunctioning version of him?” (Stern, 2020, pp. 11:02 – 11:04). A question encouraging critical evaluation of potential downsides, helping make informed boundaries.
Culture also plays a role in how people set and maintain boundaries. Li (2022) notes that “National culture influences users’ privacy attitudes and behaviours in their interaction with technologies” (Li, 2022, p. 267).
In conclusion, the limits we set for happiness, success, and productive boundaries are dynamic and context dependent. By embracing education, critical thinking, and cultural sensitivity, we can better navigate these evolving landscapes implementing boundaries that respect the complexities of our lives.
Bibliography
- Li, Y. (2022). Cross-Cultural Privacy Differences. (X. P. Bart P. Knijnenburg, Ed.) Modern Socio-Technical Perspectives on, pp. 267-282. doi:https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-82786-1
- Stern, J. (2020, 12 15). How Tech Can Bring Our Loved Ones to Life After They Die. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRwJEiI1T2M
