An anthropologist delves into why losing a smartphone feels so unsettling with a unique narrative of an American cyborg living in Brazil. The cyborg’s encounter with techno-bandits highlights the profound integration of smartphones into our bodies, leading to a phantom limb-like phenomenon when separated from the device. The phenomenon of phantom sensations is explored, linking it to neuroplasticity and the brain’s recalibration after losing a body part. Smartphones are described as prosthetics that alter the brain’s structure, establishing them as extensions of our physical bodies. The piece urges for human-centered designs in technology to preserve autonomy, privacy, and identity in an era where smartphones have become essential parts of our lives.
https://www.sapiens.org/culture/smartphones-cyborgs-phantom-limb/