Highly technological machines are invading our lives and separating us from personal relationships. The balance between the use of technology for human advantage and developing valued human relationships has yet to equal, and we continue to subject ourselves to a rapidly growing sense of depersonalization. The New Social Disease is about how we personalize our computers and associated technologies while depersonalizing others and ourselves. The well-researched content will provide readers with insights into how the increased use of technology-mediated communications has affected the way in which we live our lives, resulting in loneliness, depression, social isolation, and ultimately a rise in uncivil behaviors based upon frustration hopelessness and the devaluation of human life. Authors Laura, Marchant, and Smith explore the prevalence of uncivil behaviors in the world and in our schools, combined with increased physical and mental health problems, in an aim to explore the depersonalization of the school curriculum and provide ways to repersonalize education contexts.

Laura, Marchant, and Smith have undertaken a huge task in successfully drawing together several large, often divergent areas of investigation into a cohesive whole. They provide a systematic discussion of the work of Rifkin and other on the undue reliance on technology contributing to technostress/anxiety, perceptual changes of the time, shorter attention spans , separation from the natural world, depersonalization and loss of social capital. The authors do a fine job of illustrating how computechnology is value-laden. -- Professor Roberta Hollander, Howard University, Washington
The authors provide philosophical reflections on the technologies of relationships and education and have presented a strong perspective and impressive arguments to support their position. They address an important topic, give clear philosophical rationales and their conclusions are well researched and well stated. -- University of Maryland
This powerful book serves to bring the discussion of computechnology a moral dimension, which has been sorely lacking. It is a book which certainly encourages both philosophical reflection and personal action. The final message engenders a sense of hopefulness urging us to re-engage with our natural world, with each other and with our inner human spirit. This book should be read by everyone interested in the changing face of our cultural identity, but it also has a special message for technophiles who generally read the philosophical literature on the topic with their eyes wide shut. -- Dr. Giovanni De Duonni, University of L'Aquila

Ronald S. Laura is Professor of Education at the University of Newcastle, Australia and a Perc Fellow of Harvard University. Timothy Marchant is a K-6 teacher in the Hunter Region. Susen R. Smith is Lecturer in Education at the University of New England, Australia.