Cloud. Depending on the context, the word 'cloud' brings to mind several different concepts. It may make an individual think of the meteorological collection of gases, solids, and liquids that floats in the sky above us. It may make one think of a visual collection of words, such as the one pictured above - ie. a wordcloud. Or it might make one think of the nebulous space in which we now store information on the internet.
The above word cloud was created using the first chapter from Sue Thomas's book, Technobiophilia: Nature and Cyberspace (2013). Thomas defines technobiophilia as "the innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes as they appear in technology" (p. 12). Thomas shares how when we created cyberspace and the internet, we took nature along with us. First, in metaphorical language, such as the above described 'cloud', among others (ie. bug, virus, mouse, stream, web, etc.), then later in sounds and pictures of nature that we have uploaded to the virtual space.
One of the most prominent words in the wordcloud created from Thomas's book, is cyberspace. According to Thomas:
Cyberspace, however, is completely different from both the internet and the web. It is neither machine nor code, nor is it tied to any specific technology beyond the connecting force of the internet. In fact, cyberspace is all in the mind. It is a thought, an ecosystem, a collective imagining. (p. 7)
For Thomas, people do not need to choose between technology or nature, but to explore ways of mixing outdoor life with technology. This would allow us to utilized technology and the enjoyment it brings us, while still allowing us to connect with the natural world we come from, that we still desire and need for our health and wellbeing. The word cloud highlights these concepts through the prevalence of words like 'technology', 'nature', 'new', and 'world'.
Reference:
Thomas, S. (2013). "A Place So New that Some Things Still Lack Names,” Technobiophilia. Bloomsbury Academic. https://www-bloomsburycollections-com.login.ezproxy.library.ualberta.ca/monograph-detail?docid=b-9781472596758&pdfid=9781472596758.ch-001.pdf&tocid=b-9781472596758-chapter1
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