Photo by krossbow
I was on the train when a guy sat beside me, whipped out his iPad and started fingering the device. I was turning the pages on my book, while he is tapping and swiping on the iPad, rather clumsily I would add, as his elbow is almost near my face! However, as I flip through the book, I felt like a caveman holding a piece of rock while he’s holding a shiny blade ready to stab the dinosaur beside him!
I thought we were all living in the modern age, yet, at that point in time, I felt the huge chasm between me and the world. A book is centuries old. The iPad has not even celebrated its first birthday. Yet, both technologies share the same space at the same time. I haven’t seen such a contrast for a long time. I felt like I was suddenly thrown back to the dinosaur age while a portal opened just beside me, allowing me a glimpse of the future that is represented by the iPad.
As an announcement blared through the speakers, I took the cue and exited the train. It is a train station after all, and I felt the Earth once again. We are in the same world after all. We took the same train who brought us from A to B.
Coming back to this world, I wonder if we have taken a lot of our technologies for granted. As I marvel on the iPad, I feel that I must be missing out on other things which are hidden from my sight. I did a little digging, and found this out about myself.
Because of technology, I have regained my eyesight, but lost sight of the goal.
Because of technology, I saw how a person was efficiently cremated, but lost the time to effectively grieve.
Because of technology, I search to learn, but I am learning less.
Because of technology, I don’t need to do my own washing, but took a long time to choose the washing machine.
Because of technology, I can churn out a lot of “writings” but lost the art of writing.
Because of technology, I get to watch the world go by in my living room, but suffer from TV withdrawal symptoms.
Because of technology, I got a haircut in 15 minutes without the need to clean up.
Because of technology, I can be a leader anytime, anywhere, but finds it hard to do it in the company I’m working in.
Because of technology, I don’t need to think when crossing the road, but got frustrated when someone else followed the traffic light blindly.
I guess the verdict is still out there. I will always maintain a love-hate relationship with technology.
I believe it is what we do with technology that matters. Not the technology itself.
Have you noticed the technology that you use everyday? Have they served their purpose?
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4 Comments
A friend and I were just talking about this last night. Her computer wasn’t working right and she felt lost and out of sorts. The same thing happened to me a few months back when my microwave oven went on the blink. I love technology and embrace it, yet I don’t like how dependent I am on it sometimes.
Hey Jean. Thanks for dropping by. Do try out a technology fast if you haven’t tried it before. I tried it by accident, as can be seen in that link, but it was totally enlightening. I’m slowly introducing it as a regular feature in my life e.g. running without a phone (I use to, to listen to podcasts).
hey like this article very much. long time ago, a fren shared with me. every sun, he will go on a phone-fast and will go out without bringing his phone along. i have tried doing that now and then….it is liberating, and yet at times, it didn’t really work cos i will be wondering what are the messages or phonecalls i am missing. may try that again tho ;p
glad u are on tech fast. ;p
haha. thanks Van, and yes, you should try the tech fast again, even if it’s just a phone fast. you might want to try an FB fast…