Summary Of The Pedestrian, By Ray Bradbury

In 2014 a statistic from Recode Research found that 90% of United States households have three or more technological devices pinging in the internet. Devices such as phones and tablets are so psychologically powerful that they not only change what we do, but who we are. A short story titled, The Pedestrian, written by Ray Bradbury, offers a glance into the future, depicting Leonard Mead, who takes long walks every evening in a society that only lives for watching tv. August 2026: There Will Come Soft Rains, also written by Bradbury, displays life within a technologically advanced household. Bradbury also writes the story,The Veldt, which is based upon an interactive nursery within a technologically advanced household. The three stories show

Our plugged-in life keeps us constantly connected, although artificially. Humans have always used direct communication to stay connected/ informed. Communication technology has brought the ability to receive important information quickly; however, what technology lacks is the validation of another person’s point of view. Humans thrive on direct communication because it brings opportunities to address nuances in conversation. Our electronic connections can corner our opinions and thoughts making it seem unimportant, when in reality that is what makes our interactions relevant. Our online connections have overcome personal interactions to the point where they are becoming nonexistent. Personal connections are what makes us human. Without it what have we become? The ability to communicate is a prominent element of humanity. Staying connected has its advantages; however, too connected brings

In The Veldt, the Hadley family has a virtual reality nursery where their children can think of any scenario and that is what comes real. Every free-second of their children’s day is spent in the nursery rather than with family or friends. Along with an interactive nursery the family also has an automated house where everything is done for them. These aspects of technology minimize time spent doing basic daily deeds which in turn makes the family lose their sense of responsibility. The Veldt shows the reader how communication technology places an attachment between screen and people. In the story it states “You’ve let this room and this house replace you and your wife in your children’s affections. This room is their mother and father, far more important in their lives than their real parents.” (The Veldt). The attachment between the children and the nursery has overcome the relationship between parent and child. The children put their focus on the nursery rather than time with their parents. Once the parents threatened to lock the nursery the children immediately complain about how their simple deeds would get done. The presence of the nursery serves as a coping method for the children. The children can resort to a place with no problems, rather than