Google Public Policy Blog: Google D.C. Talk February 24 - Breaking Digital Dependency: A Conversation with William Powers

Google D.C. Talk February 24 - Breaking Digital Dependency: A Conversation with William Powers

Friday, February 11, 2011

Posted by Jenna Wandres, Public Policy Communications
Obsessively checking your smart phone. Responding to email while you're on a beach vacation. Taking a Sunday morning conference call. You know the symptoms of 'digital dependency', and chances are good that you've experienced some form of it.

Carrying a smartphone or laptop is a great way to stay on top of your workload and to be available in case of an emergency - but at what cost? William Powers' new book, Hamlet's Blackberry, critiques online life and examines the dichotomy of technology as a convenience and technology as a burden.

Join us to hear from Powers about how historical greats such as Plato, Shakespeare, and Thoreau dealt with "disconnecting" from the technological advances in their day. Powers will suggest remedies for digital dependency (like a digital sabbath), and he'll answer your questions on how to strike a happy balance between digital life and real life.

This event is a collaboration of Google, D.C. and the Family Online Safety Institute.

Please RSVP.

Featuring William Powers, author and journalist
Moderated by Stephen Balkam, founding CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute

Thursday, February 24, 2011
4:00pm - 5:30 pm
Followed by a book signing and reception with William Powers
Drinks will be served

Where:
Google DC
1101 New York Avenue, NW 2nd Floor
Entrance on Eye Street Washington, DC