Technology and Gadgetry.
In this day of overflowing technology and gadgets, I was wondering to myself how much technology has evolved and how far it’ll take us. Does it help us or are we molding ourselves to it?
I just recently changed cell phone carrier and I went from a flip phone with no browsing capability to a HTC Droid cell phone that is simply amazing. I’m a big Google fan and I use their tools extensively in managing my weekly and daily activities. So the Droid is the ticket, it rocks!
As well as a cell phone, other gadgets that I use on a daily basis include computer laptop, IPad, and GPS system in my car. As well as accomplishing work tasks, these devices provide me with access to current information and up-to-the-minute news, helping me stay a current on various issues that are important to me. Google is quite amazing when you need to find particular resources.
The IPad is perfect for when it comes times to relax. I can watch movies and listen to music on it.
Technology and Convenience
There are myriad of applications that also help us with things that we have to manage in our lives such as monitoring your children’s school grades to online banking and online bill payment. A while back, my local bank changed their ATMs where you don’t need envelopes or deposit slips to make deposits in cash or checks. It will also print images of checks that you deposit!
I don’t watch much television and when I do it’s mostly sports. Although I have a VCR sitting on the shelf, hooked up ready to go, I have not used it for years. With a DVR I can not only record shows, even when not at home, but I can “pause” live television!
Technology has made possible where people mostly look online now for dating and partners – something that most of us would never have imagined, thought possible, or considered just weird just 20 years ago.
On the business front, my office makes extensive use of technology. Other than the normal office equipment such all-in-printers, high speed scanners and copiers, we have video-conferencing capability that helps us conduct virtual face-to-face meetings and stay in touch with clients that are located some 3,000 miles away. We can make presentations using some super cool applications such as Prezi.
Are We Masters or Slaves?
However, it also got me thinking… having technology forces you to think a certain way and if you think a certain way for long enough, then that is all you’ll know. It is what you become. In other words, the question that came to my mind was does technology take away human creativity? Do we become slaves to technology, our tools?
Loss in Productivity
I think it is very easy to fall into this technology trap whereby certain genius and creativity can potentially be lost. The tools operate in a certain way, and most people just adapt to it. It’s like they become an extension of the tool.
The first thing I did was to switch off email and text notification sounds. Why would I want my phone to interrupt my daily activities just because someone that I know had nothing better to do and decided to send me a text? I get emails from which I can easily get side-tracked if I pay attention to them.
Having browsing capability on phones and computer tablets is great but that doesn’t mean we can or should surf aimlessly. This can become a huge time waster.
Social Networking
This phenomenon applies to software applications as well as hardware gadgets such as cell phones. For example, some social media, such as Twitter and Facebook, are prime examples.
Facebook “runs” most people’s lives today, especially younger people.
It is also easy to fall into Twitter way of thinking. I read an article while ago in which this guy was saying that he follows stock investing advice from a fellow Twitter. Whatever advice, tweets, about stocks are published is what this guy, and I’m sure countless others, does. Literally! This is fine to some extent, but shouldn’t people think for themselves? Just a little bit? I suppose, in principle, this is no different than if one subscribed to an email or advisory service. But Twitter is real time… there is no time to think!
Using Technology For What It Is
I think technology does make our personal and work lives better, if used in the right way. Going back to my HTC Droid, I’m going to make a concerted effort to figure out the features of the device and how I can use it for my benefit, rather than letting “it” dictate how I operate on a day-to-day basis. It has to be an extension of myself.
Will you make technology work for you or will you become a slave to it?
