While I love the availability and continuing advancements in technology, I miss sitting in a room full of people and talking without any technological interruptions. These interruptions used to be primarily in the form of T.V. or a call on a land line. Now, by interruptions I mean cell phone calls, texts, listening to music, and the need to check email at all hours of the day. I’ve been paying attention to this phenomenon for the last few weeks, and it is startling!
It seems that whenever I’m in a room with five or more people, at least one of them is using some form of technology at all times. From my observations, this technology is used with the following amount of frequency:
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Checking the Internet
- Listing to music on an iPod or similar device
- Watching T.V.
I always felt I would be safe from technological interruptions in certain locations such as school and at family gatherings, but now these locations have just as much technology. My grandmother is addicted to her new laptop, and nary a day goes by in class when a cell phone does not ring!
Although T.V. and land line phones have been around my entire life, I feel fortunate that I was able to live before the advent and popularity of cell phones, iPods, and high-speed internet. It really makes me realize what it means to sit down and have a real, uninterrupted conversation.
I think it’s high time for society to take a temporary “vacation in the woods,” where technology is prohibited and only real, in-person communication is allowed. Not only would this allow people to sit down for a high-quality, uninterrupted gathering, but when they come back from vacation they would have a new found appreciation for technology.
thanks for using my picture