Five years ago I had a Blackberry – I hated it. Not the technology itself but the ever
present email & calendar. With
a change in jobs I quite happily left it behind and stuck with a simple mobile
phone. That didn’t work out so well in the end (long story) and everyone
else already had a smartphone so I succumbed to the technology. Now I can’t imagine trying to manage
without one.
No problem? Well
I’m not so sure....
This summer we took 2 weeks in the sun to do nothing but
sit by the pool, go to the beach and have fun as a family. An utterly brilliant time was had by
all. I had to work whilst
away so I brought the smartphone and netbook. Neither were omnipresent and the fact
that I had to work was remarkably OK with the family.
Sitting by the pool I could see most adults were either
reading their Kindle, browsing their iPad or tapping their smartphone. When not in
the pool, most of the teenage kids were almost constantly on their own phones
doing similar. The technology
was ubiquitous and for most of the day these families were happily
uncommunicative with those immediately around them.
Yet there were still families like us who were quite
happy reading a good old paperbacks, playing with the kids, swimming and
hanging out together. When
it got too hot or we were too tired we’d all find shade and read, play cards or
Pictureka. Sometimes the
kids would go explore and hang out with friends they’d made or play table
tennis. Even when they got
out their DSi’s they’d do it in the company of other kids, constantly sharing,
talking and engaging.
Here’s the problem .... am I missing something?
I feel that the ubiquity of technology can be liberating
and empowering. I believe
that it can also cause us to miss the engagement, connections and sheer joy of
those immediately around us.
So is my "kindle-resistance" useful or a hang
up from the past?
Is it OK to be uncommunicative around the
pool when you can communicate with friends on the other side of the world?
After all you're still engaging.
Am I missing something? I would love to hear your views & experiences.
