Technology is a huge deal in The Future of Us, and not just because Facebook pops up in a decade it has no business being in. This story is full of heirlooms from the 1990s, like pagers, color monitors, and the magical sounds of AOL. And here's the thing about the 90s: Technology was creating a new world then, a.k.a. the world we live in now. The Internet was just beginning its rise to world domination, so by taking a few steps back in time, our authors help us really appreciate how quickly—and how much—the world has changed since then.
Questions About Technology and Modernization
- What are some modern things about the 90s that people a few years before them would have thought were futuristic? What is considered cutting-edge in this book? How does it impact characters' lives?
- How do Josh and Emma relate to Facebook differently from how they relate to the other technology in their lives? What social shift does this mark between the end of the 20th century and start of the 21st?
- Can you imagine some of the inventions that might be around in fifteen years?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
More than anything, technology in The Future of Us is a commentary on communication.
The Future of Us doesn't argue against technology so much as it argues for moderation with technology.