To what extent has digital technology transformed travel?

To what extent has digital technology transformed travel?

This essay will be investigating on digital technology and how it has transformed travel. Travel is understood here in the sense of mental rather than physical travel. It will look into the way films, video games, portable media players and the Internet as media, which redefine the nature of mental travel. Travel may be understood in a more abstract, disembodied sense of movement of the mind. For example when watching a film, one would be in another situation and location psychologically but not actually being there physically.

Digital technology has provided more ways and possibilities of travel. Foremost, the Internet and social networking sites such as ‘facebook’ has provided the opportunity for people to easily stay in touch with long distance family members and friends. As a result technology has made us more sociable.   

Digital technology has redefined the nature of travel.  In 2009 ‘Google Street View’ was introduced to the UK, a feature that provides 360° views of streets via the Internet. Google street view and digital technology has transformed travel as people can travel from to places without actually being there physically.

Escapism and digital technologies may be seen to have transformed travel for both the good and the bad. People turn to escapism in the form of films and gaming. However, we see the negatives for escapism when we question whether; is there really a need for it, and what it is used for.

Mental travel has always been possible. Long before the revolution of technology, people were travelling mentally through books and theatre. Until now it would seem digital technology hasn’t added anything new or broken any boundaries of culture.

In fact digital technology has created new boundaries. Digital technology has transformed travel by damaging culture. Digital technology causes differentiation between people. A Digital division is created between those who can and can’t use it and those who can and can’t afford the technology. In this respect digital technology travel is responsible for social division. 

Video games are types of digital technology that make us travel psychologically, hence escaping to another location and situation. The emergence of video games in the 21^st century has brought along with it controversy on whether video games are linked to violence. Thus, digital technology travel is accountable for unsettling communities.