The Marvels of Technology

Electronics and technology have taken a big leap forward. I remember writing programs for one of the early computers using nothing but Yes, No and Maybe. Punch cards would feed the info into some giant computer that filled the whole well-air-conditioned room. Hardly anyone had access.

Today, we all own computers. Life comes to a screeching halt when they break down.

In fact, many of the younger generation prefer their cell-phones over their computers. Why send emails when you can instagram or text messages? The cell phone seems to have become the universal link to the world.

When you used to see five or six teenagers sharing a table, they’d be all laughing, talking, or kidding each other. Today, they’d all be busy with their electronic gadgets — texting, tweeting, instagramming, snapchatting, or facebooking.

Are we experiencing a shift in paradigm?

No doubt about it, the world has changed. Barely 68 years ago television screens were the size of a postcard and their pictures were black and white. Barely 38 years ago the first commercially successful personal computers were made. Cell phones, iPods and iPads are even more recent. The brain of today’s generation is bombarded with millions of images and impressions all day long, more impressions in a single day than my generation used to get in a year. It’s an overwhelming assault on the human brain that has to sort, digest and discard all that information. No wonder ADD has surfaced.

Will texting and surfing distance us from the realities of life? Not necessarily. When we’re looking for a partner or a friend, we need to shake their hand, look them in the eye, observe their body language, hear their voice and see their face. The same holds true when we’re looking for a job. We need to appear in person, answer questions, and exercise our skills of communication.

Nonetheless, texting and googling are an immense boon and convenience. They greatly enrich our lives. People who are isolated can remain connected with the world. We can ask google for any kind of information. Electronic devices are simply tools, but great tools.

We can use them to connect us but also to disconnect us from the world, to enhance our knowledge or to numb our minds. The marvels of technology have indeed caused a shift in paradigm in recent years. We need to adjust and strive toward using these tools with wisdom and in moderation. It may be of paramount importance to relegate our cell phones to the backseat when we are with other people and be with them whole-heartedly, enjoying their company and exploring the mysteries of someone else’s world. We may be amazed at what we find. 

Until next time,

Rosi