Module 7: My Technobiophilia Light Behind the Word Cloud


I generated my word cloud by copying and pasting key passages from the readings that really spoke to me throughout this module. Because of this, I think it does an apt job of reflecting my interpretation, as it mirrors the words and concepts I connected with most when it comes to Technobiophilia. I chose a globe as the word cloud shape since I believe it to be a good symbol of both the physical world and the digital world (as we often use it to represent both realms); because of this, the globe icon serves as another sort of bridge between the two worlds – a common theme that has come up throughout the readings and my interpretation.

My understanding of Technobiophilia is the connection between physical life in nature and digital life in technology. This is in line with the concepts and ideas mentioned throughout the readings and is demonstrated in my word cloud through the most frequent words of nature, technology, and life. Words like well-being, re-balancing, change, and focus further the idea of Technobiophilia being a dynamic process with great potential in both our personal and collective lives. For example, Technobiophilia can be achieved through individual actions that re-balance our lives through more interactions with nature - from plants on our work desks to being out on hikes (The Journal); Technobiophilia is represented through various forms of nature inspiring technological advancements, like African termite mounds inspiring Mick Pierce’s Eastgate Centre (O’Connell); and Technobiophilia has huge potential for things like climate change, through empathy with virtual worlds and raising global awareness (Oe et. al). If you look closely, these key takeaways of mine from the readings can be pinpointed throughout the word cloud.

I did not always feel so optimistic. Initially, I had been very skeptical about Technobiophilia. I thought of it as a justification for our slow favouring of technology over nature. However, after the readings, and viewing my word cloud, I see that nature is still the key focus, but that focus is being re-defined with a newly technological world. My word cloud also helped me see Technobiophilia as a dynamic process that still needs a lot of focus and conceptualizing as we slowly learn to re-balance “life by choosing more nature, not less technology” (Thomas). I now hold a more positive view of the relationship between technology and nature and see how they can even form a mutually beneficial relationship if we, as human mediators, continue to try and balance the two in our lives. 

Works Cited

O’Connell, Cathal. “Technologies Inspired by Nature.” Cosmos, 9 July 2018, cosmosmagazine.com/technology/technologies-inspired-by-nature.

Oe, Hiroko et al. “Technobiophilia: Nature and Human Interactions in the Digital Age.” Cogent Arts & Humanities, vol. 9, no. 1, Dec. 2022. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2022.2068823.

The Journal of Biophilic Design. “Technobiophilia - Life, Nature and Technology.” YouTube, 17 Apr. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcb7debi4wE.

Thomas, Sue. Nature and Wellbeing in the Digital Age, Amazon Kindle, https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XS85C26/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&linkCode=sl1&ta g=technobiop08b-21&linkId=212ce712bbeec36f26677071ec9f8907, Foreword. 

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