I was a toddler when the Sony Walkman made its debut. A portable radio and cassette player that could fit in your pocket (well, a large pocket). I wonder what the older generations of the day thought of such a device.
Perhaps they felt it made youngsters less present. Those kids were probably too wrapped up in the latest hits from The Cars or Michael Jackson to have a conversation. I know it was wonderful for ignoring your family. Listening to tunes in the car, the mall, or on the couch? That sounds like heaven to me.
The Walkman could only take you so far, though. The batteries would run out. And your ears would eventually hurt from poorly-padded headphones and loud music.
That seems like child’s play compared to what we carry these days. It’s difficult – if not impossible – to reject mobile technology. Phones have become necessary to the point where companies are pushing you to use their app rather than a website. And I must keep up with that person I had a five-minute conversation with in high school. I hope they had a great time in Orlando!
It doesn’t stop with your iPhone or Galaxy, though. We have watches that connect to your phone, and we have medical devices (I wear a Dexcom to keep tabs on my diabetes). We also have jewelry that doubles as a fitness tracker and earbuds that help you sleep.
Where does it end? Will we have tattoos that recite bedtime stories? How about socks that measure how badly our feet smell? Now there’s an idea…
Tech Used to Have Limits
I became a web designer in the 1990s, before the days of mobile internet. I was voluntarily attached to my computer all day and many a night. I enjoyed what I was doing and didn’t see any harm.
It was around this time that we started to hear about internet addiction. You know, those people who missed work, weddings, and funerals so they could chat with strangers at all hours of the night. My favorite show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, even did an episode about the phenomenon (a classic, by the way).
Yes, we were becoming a little too friendly with our computers. However, we still had a way out. Walking away from your desk was the easiest way to find the “old” world. Laptop devices existed but were expensive and sort of useless without a wired internet connection.
The internet didn’t follow us around, either. I recall being on vacation and not having ready access. I went to Mexico, and our hotel charged a dollar per minute for such privileges. Even I didn’t love the web that much. Coming home meant downloading a week’s worth of email at once. How quaint!
We had an opportunity to separate tech from the rest of our lives. Most of us no longer have such luxuries.
Does Tech Obsession Cure Boredom?
I’d like to think we’re attached to these devices to fight boredom. I remember when we had a few dozen TV channels and no internet. How I wished I’d had something fun to do. Doomscrolling to the rescue!
It’s not quite the wonder cure we think it is. The visual noise of social media rips us away from simple silence. Those moments when we observe what and who is around us. Perhaps they previously qualified as boring experiences. I’ve come to miss them.
It also harms our ability to focus on other things. We’re too busy digging into the mundane and sensational content that scrolls across our screens. Or we’re so hell bent on capturing a shareable moment that we miss it entirely.
Even so, I think our intentions are noble. We’re trying to pass the time without thinking of our challenges. The past traumas, the bills we need to pay, the fight we had with a loved one. We all need a friendly escape.
The problem with this logic is that we’re exposing ourselves to unsettling content. Social media algorithms don’t exist to soothe or enlighten us. They aim to keep us engaged, regardless of what it does to our mental state.
It’s enough to make me long for a life off the grid.
An Over-Reliance on Gadgets and Gizmos
One of the oddities of modern technology is that almost everything relies on a rechargeable battery. Sure, it’s convenient in everyday life. But what happens when the lights go out?
Arcade Fire’s “We Used to Wait” explores this technological nightmare scenario. We’ve become so reliant on such devices that we’ll be lost and helpless without them. How will we know where to go? Can we learn how to survive the way our ancestors did?
We don’t need any sort of doomsday event to see the danger. Heck, we have watches powered by lithium-ion batteries. A natural disaster that wipes out our electrical grid could leave us without knowing what time it is. And those rechargeable earbuds will crap out while an old wired pair still works.
Think about what could happen with a disruption to GPS signals. How lost would we be? Would we be reluctant to travel? How would Google know which ads to serve us?
Somewhat related is one area of my existence rendered useless by technology: handwriting. I’ve used a keyboard for the past 30 years. I no longer write in cursive the way I used to. I barely remember it and need to think before I attempt it. Granted, my penmanship was never neat. But it has become a royal mess. Thus, I find myself printing whenever I have a pen in hand.
An over-reliance on technology leads to a loss of what makes us human. Our brains think differently. We’re apt to do what’s easiest instead of what’s right.
Perhaps that sounds silly for someone in my line of work to say. But I’ve experienced it. I would be as lost as anyone should these devices become unavailable.
Trying to Take a Step Back
Is there a treatment for this very modern disease? I think the answer will be different for everyone. However, I’m making a conscious effort to take technology breaks.
After a stressful day at work I will often sit in the living room with my phone down and TV off. My wife is often puzzled by it. 😆 But I stare at screens all day and an hour without tech-based stimulation feels good. I admit that I don’t always resist the urge to pick up my phone, though.
Another complication: I inherited a smart watch from my daughter. I do like the fitness tracking capabilities because they help keep me moving. I managed to turn off most of the notifications because more buzzing and beeping are the last things I need.
I understand that technology is a necessary part of life these days. But it’s up to us to create a healthy way to co-exist with it. Every little step helps.