We all love technology, to the extent that it’s not just part of our lives but the backbone of life as we live it. [Maybe debatable as this may seem like a motherhood statement, but technology is embedded somewhere under our every action and interaction!]
Technology is of many types but I wanna focus my attention to the most pervasive , common and unavoidable instrument through which people have started to live life J yes, it’s the laptop / Ipad , or any other similar sort of device that opens up the portal to life, as we will know it in the 21st century.
I really like these devices and am a huge fan of what I call ‘technology for life’, but I know where to draw the line between life and virtual life.
The computer was man’s testament of intellectual triumph and invention to further enhance and simplify our life and that’s the only it should be, it shouldn’t be turning us in to brain dead lazy sods.
I love observing how people use or should I say, take technology for granted, and the effect ‘granted’ has on people.
I noticed school children and even adults are less concerned about spellings, learning or relearning! – MS word automatically prompts and error and a right click correct the spelling. People, at times, don’t even bother to read the correct spelling, forget trying to learn the spelling.
I would love to do a study on people’s handwriting, I have a hypothesis, based on my tiny sample of Indian’s that I come across, that cursive handwriting is dying, people are becoming less patient when it comes to jotting things down and the number of drafts written is coming down – this slows the intellect, because writing and re writing with a pencil / pen has always helped us memorize, jotting things down has helped collect thoughts, and the number of drafts written in free hand have always been more creative, not to mention more iterative. [Again debatable]
Math was never so easy, I remember learning all my tables and doing physical calculation with a pencil and paper, but I noticed my lil nephew just navigated to go programs, accessories and clicked on ‘calculator’. ! That is because he always sits in front of the computer while studying.
Sport, the thrill derived from physical activity, has been reduced to video games. The lads still claim they get the same thrill and high that they got out of the real thing, at times even more. The result of this is a world with more sick- lings and bunch of dweebs that aren’t ready to play ball! Nike , RBk, listening?
This was about people, but what is the computing, or should I say ‘tech’ industry up to?
There is a lot of talk about integration, simplification, building of communities, empowerment, and the effect of all this. Then there is the human network, which is virtual J
The category is so obsessed with creating the next app, with the belief that it will enhance human life, that the category fails to draw the line between real and virtual life.
There is no substitute to human interaction. A machine or interface can never demonstrate, or evoke the same emotions that another live being can. At best it helps us adapt and accommodate to living with ourselves. Yes technology has made us more ‘asexual’.
The category, along with the eco system, is propagating itself building a culture where life is lived through it. A TRUE portal
If I was a technology brand I know what I would do.
I would encourage people to flex their muscles; Brain & Braun
I would ignite though not awe
I would force debate not complacency
I would encourage rigor not convenience
I would encourage people to use their mind, once again
