Technobiophilia: nature and cyberspace

Be the first to favourite this.

Why are there so many nature metaphors – clouds, rivers, streams, viruses, and bugs – in the language of the internet? Why do we adorn our screens with exotic images of forests, waterfalls, animals and beaches? In Technobiophilia: Nature and Cyberspace, Sue Thomas interrogates the prevalence online of nature-derived metaphors and imagery and comes to a surprising conclusion. The root of this trend, she believes, lies in biophilia, defined by biologist E.O. Wilson as ‘the innate attraction to life and lifelike processes’. In this wide-ranging transdisciplinary study she explores the strong thread of biophilia which runs through our online lives, a phenomenon she calls ‘technobiophilia’, or, the ‘innate attraction to life and lifelike processes as they appear in technology’. The restorative qualities of biophilia can alleviate mental fatigue and enhance our capacity for directed attention, soothing our connected minds and easing our relationship with computers.

Technobiophilia: Nature and Cyberspace offers new insights on what is commonly known as ‘work-life balance’. It explores ways to make our peace with technology-induced anxiety and achieve a ‘tech-nature balance’ through practical experiments designed to enhance our digital lives indoors, outdoors, and online.

The book draws on a long history of literature on nature and technology and breaks new ground as the first to link the two. Its accessible style will attract the general reader, whilst the clear definition of key terms and concepts throughout should appeal to undergraduates and postgraduates of new media and communication studies, internet studies, environmental psychology, and human-computer interaction. http://www.technobiophilia.com

Sue Thomas

Sue Thomas

I write about life, nature and technology. I'm especially interested in digital wellbeing and the practicalities of integrating the physical with the virtual. I'm currently writing 'The Fault in Reality'. My most recent book is 'Nature and Wellbeing in ...

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Also check out

  • Sue Thomas – w/r

    Watching from the shoreline as the present becomes the past.

    Sue Thomas
    · 28 Sep, 2020
  • Walking Event SWS20

    Taking a Virtual Walk on the Wild Side

    Stella Wisdom
    Cheryl Tipp
    Sue Thomas
    Jack Lowe
    · 2020-09-16 18:00
  • Walking Event
    New

    Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Granary Square, London, UK

    · 2024-03-13 13:30
  • Walking Event
    New

    Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Aldermanbury, London, UK

    · 2024-02-13 13:30
  • Walking Event
    New

    Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in The Phoenix Garden, London, UK

    · 2024-04-10 13:30
  • Walking Event
    New

    Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Spitalfields Market, London, UK

    · 2024-01-15 13:30
  • Walking Event
    New

    Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Soho, London

    · 2024-02-14 11:30
  • Walking Event
    New

    Street Wisdom Online Walkshop, December 2023 – Drop in from anywhere

    · 2023-12-21 13:00
  • Post
    New
    Marŝarto23

    Introducing this year’s outstanding walking art

    Andrew Stuck
    Geert Vermeire
    · 6 Dec, 2023
  • Walking Event
    New

    Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Camberwell, London, UK

    · 2024-01-12 11:30
  • Walking Event
    New

    Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Lima, Peru

    · 2024-01-06 16:00
  • 33 Temple
    New

    ‘No holiday’, Cathedral Quarter, Norwich, UK – 9th December 2021

    Patrick Ford
    · 6 Dec, 2023
Sue Thomas – w/r
Watching from the shoreline as the present becomes the past.

28 Sep, 2020

Walking Event SWS20
Taking a Virtual Walk on the Wild Side

2020-09-16 18:00

Online

The covid-19 pandemic has led to a surge of interest in how we can experience and enjoy virtual nature and the great outdoors, by using digital technology, when staying in the safety of our homes.

Walking Event
New
Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Granary Square, London, UK

2024-03-13 13:30

Granary Square, London N1C, UK

Join Urszula Caroto (LinkedIn) for a 1-hour in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop in London, UK on 13th March 2024, meeting at Granary Square, the Public Square with Dancing Fountains, N1C 4AB (Google M...

Walking Event
New
Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Aldermanbury, London, UK

2024-02-13 13:30

Aldermanbury, London EC2V 5AF, UK

Join Urszula Caroto (LinkedIn) for a 1-hour in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop in London, UK on 13th February 2024, meeting by the front entrance to the Guildhall Library. Address: Aldermanbury, Lond...

Walking Event
New
Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in The Phoenix Garden, London, UK

2024-04-10 13:30

The Phoenix Garden, 21 Stacey St, London WC2H 8DG, UK

Join Urszula Caroto (LinkedIn) for a 1-hour in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop in London, UK on 10th April 2024, meeting by the open gate to The Phoenix Garden, 4 minute walk from the Tottenham Court...

Walking Event
New
Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Spitalfields Market, London, UK

2024-01-15 13:30

16 Brushfield St, London E1 6AT, UK

Join Urszula Caroto (LinkedIn) for a 1-hour in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop in London, UK on 15th January 2024, meeting at the Herd of Hope Elephant at Spitafields Market (Google Map). It is the s...

Walking Event
New
Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Soho, London

2024-02-14 11:30

Soho Square, London W1D, UK

This Valentine’s Day 2024, join Gavin Presman for a 2-hour in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop, meeting in the middle of Soho Square in London! Starts at 11.30am, finishes at 1pm GMT. What’s not t...

Walking Event
New
Street Wisdom Online Walkshop, December 2023 – Drop in from anywhere

2023-12-21 13:00

New monthly online Walkshop format led by Street Wisdom Join Street Wisdom’s Philip Cowell for a 1 hour online Street Wisdom WalkShop meeting on Zoom at 1pm GMT on Thursday 21st December 2023!...

Post
New
Marŝarto23
Introducing this year’s outstanding walking art

6 Dec, 2023

It's the announcement of the Marŝarto Awards 2023 shortlist!

Walking Event
New
Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Camberwell, London, UK

2024-01-12 11:30

48 Camberwell Green, London SE5 7AL, UK

Join Nicky Torode for a 2 hour in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop, meeting outside Camberwell Public Library, on Friday 12th January 2024! Starts at 11.30am, finishes at 1.30pm GMT. Street Wisdom is...

Walking Event
New
Street Wisdom In-Person Walkshop in Lima, Peru

2024-01-06 16:00

Héroes Park, Jirón Las Mimosas 231, Lima 15063, Peru

Join Ursula Franco Block for a 2 hour in-person Street Wisdom Walkshop, meeting at Parque de los Heroes, Jiron las Mimosas 231, Lima 15063 (Google map here) on Saturday 6th January 2024! Starts at ...

33 Temple
New
‘No holiday’, Cathedral Quarter, Norwich, UK – 9th December 2021

6 Dec, 2023