I created a word cloud that represented my understanding of technobiophilia,;how humans interact with nature through technology. My word cloud consists of words like “Technobiophilia”, “Nature”, “Digital Age” and “Human Connection” which I feel highlights technobiophilia’s main argument that technology can be used as a mediation between humans and nature.
One thing that stood out was the theme of sustainability. Words like “Climate Change”, “Biodiversity” and “Environmental Awareness” suggest that technobiophilia can inspire eco-friendly behaviour. Oe et al. (2022) state that “Interacting with nature in cyberspace could evoke a sense of awe towards nature in the real world and encourage environmentally friendly behavioral change”. In short, interacting with nature through technology, can increase mindfulness about the environment. What’s surprising about this is the contradiction that many of the same digital technologies consume vast amounts of energy and natural resources. Technologies like virtual experiences require data centres that run on non-renewable energy contributing to carbon emissions and electronic waste.
I added “Digital Inclusion” and “Urban Development” in my word cloud as they reflect how technology provides those in urban environments access to nature. Oe et al. (2022) argue that digital technologies “facilitate interaction with nature in virtual spaces, reminding us of our biophilic tendencies”. As a Ugandan, this feels outlandish . Nature isn't something we struggle to access, it is ubiquitous.Western societies rely on digital tools to connect with nature while countries like Uganda lack access to such technologies. Did we trade digital access for real world nature? The digital divide was apparent to me during this module. Those with wealth and infrastructure get both nature and technology whilst others are left with only one or the other.
To conclude, my word cloud captures what I understand to be the duality of technobiophilia. It connects people to nature and promotes environmental sustainability, at a hidden environmental cost. It also highlights how the digital divide shapes nature experiences worldwide, making technobiophilia less universally applicable than it claims to be.
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