NW Digest: Technobiophilia

Technobiophilia is a term coined by Sue Thomas. Thomas is a scholar, lecturer, and freelance author who has been studying the intersection of technology and culture since 2003. In her 2013 release, Technobiophilia: nature and cyberspace, Thomas brought this idea of technobiophilia to the forefront.Technobiophiliais defined as “the innate attraction to life and lifelike processes as they appear in technology”. ⁽¹⁾

Thomas expands on this definition by stating:

My research showed that, even in today’s media-rich environment, we are still pulled towards the natural world. This could mean exploring a forest trail, swimming in the ocean, or just tending your garden. But it could also be a visit to a park in Second Life, gazing an animated waterfall cascading down a screensaver, or ‘liking’ photo of a sunset shared on Facebook. Our urge for contact with nature can restore energy, alleviate mental fatigue, and enhance attention, and it is…