Listening to “Visible,” the audience gets a lot of detail and distinct sounds to imagine this story that has an underlying connection to technology. The positives of technology outweigh the negatives. Technology has allowed the blind to become more independent and gives the opportunity to explore more with freedom. However, there are short comings in which technology lacks human qualities. 

Technology has made a huge impact in many different aspects of life. But one of the most important ways, is helping the helpless. If a person is able to feel somewhat normal again, then technology is doing its job. 

In the beginning of the podcast, Tom was introduced to an app by his care taker DeeDee. The app is called Seeing Eye App. He is very apprehensive to let the app see for him when he first starts to use it. DeeDee had to bribe Tom to just give it a try and go down the hall. He finally agreed to try it for five minutes. Learning all the sounds that distinguish different important surroundings will be like “adjusting to a whole new sense” (Kornfield). He will be gaining a new pair of eyes so he will be able to “see” again like he was once able to do. The app is an example of the positives of technology because he will be able to be live as much of a normal life as he possibly can, given his visual impairment. 

Once he lets go and decides to trust the app, Tom is curious to explore. He has never been able to just go out and do what he wanted to do alone. The app directs him towards the elevator then asks if he wants to turn around. Tom says no and is willing to keep going and ends up making it to the exit of the building. With the app directing him on where to go, Tom feels a sense of encouragement now that he has this technology that allows him to go out and “see” the world for himself again.

Now that Tom is outside, he states, “Sounds like a nice day” (Kornfield). The app gives him a very detailed description of the weather and his surroundings. Previously, he had to rely on DeeDee to tell him where he was. Then after the description, Tom says, “I love April, it’s my favorite. All the smells in the air” (Kornfield). The app has given Tom the ability to “see” his surroundings and give him a sense of location now. As advanced as technology has come, it still has some limitations. For example, the Seeing Eye App cannot smell for Tom. He is still able to smell which also contributes to this image the app is giving him of where he is. This aspect is important in interpretation and is something technology cannot do. 

Technology lacks human interpretation and emotion therefore it is not perfect. For example, while Tom was trying to cross the road, the audience could hear the fear in his voice as he was trying to listen and comprehend the app telling him to cross instead of focusing on how much time he had to actually cross before the signal changed. Although there are some limitations and short comings associated with the app, the positive aspects outweigh the negative ones.

The app continues to give Tom the opportunity to head back but he refuses. He requests the app to take him to an art gallery.  After Tom crosses the crosswalk with incoming traffic almost hitting him, he arrives at the art gallery. Tom asks the app to describe the painting in front of him. The app describes the painting in great detail but it is not what Tom is looking for. He wants to be able to feel what emotion the painting is giving off and the app cannot do that. He asks again but the app sticks to its original description which says is complete. Thankfully there is a lady in the gallery that asks if Tom needs help. Tom asks if she can describe the painting and the emotions she feels as she looks at it. The lady describes exactly what Tom wanted to hear. The lady is quite surprised when Tom reveals to her that he painted it. The audience could hear in his voice that he was happy that he was able to “see” his painting again for the first time since he had actually seen it with his eyes.

The Seeing Eye App impacted Tom’s life tremendously. He was able to become more independent. He can now get a very detailed description of his surroundings and be able to picture where he is. He can go to places alone and all he has to do now is tell the app where he wants to go and the app will use its GPS to tell him the directions. This will allow him to be able to explore more places and new experiences. 

By using this piece of technology, Tom is a happier person. He has more freedom and doesn’t have to have someone with him at all times now. The Seeing Eye App has given him his “sight” back and a sense of security. Going forward he will never be alone as long as he has the app.

In conclusion, this podcast conveyed the impact of technology on Tom. Before he was introduced to the Seeing Eye App, he was a helpless, blind man who needed someone to help him do every day activities. He wasn’t happy. He had to give up his painting career because his eyes weren’t what they used to be. He had to have someone help take him places which decreased his self-esteem. Once DeeDee showed him the Seeing Eye App, he got a little piece of himself back. He could now have the freedom he once had back and be independent and regain his self-esteem. Tom was a new man. In the podcast “Visible” the audience heard that he was wanting to explore and ignore his responsibilities such as his eye appointment. He felt free and wanted to go out alone. He chose the art gallery because his art was pictured there and he had not been in a long time. Technology made it possible for Tom to be Tom again. He could now do anything he wanted and go anywhere he wanted without the help of someone else. Technology played a huge role in this podcast and highlighted the impact it had on Tom’s life.

