To follow up on my colleague Dave Wilson’s post a few days ago, regarding the perception some people have in that technology is gradually dehumanizing us and supplanting real human interaction, I’ve noticed a burgeoning shift back in the other direction, a technological “enlightenment” or renaissance if you will.
With the portability of my new Netbook, I actually write more often. It’s simply so easy to take it places where my thoughts best reach their boiling point – I can capture them and share them. Using a computer isn’t restricted to nerds in their mother’s basements anymore. I think nothing made that more clear than the day when my 70 year old father signed up for Facebook – God bless you dad.
It’s no longer about how fast your computer is, it must be usable, mesh with our lives, and not get in the way. Take mobile phones, there’s little more revolutionary in consumer technology than what’s taking place in that industry. We’ve witnessed apps for everything from turning on our cars to reading the Wall Street Journal. As the iPhone and the Google Android gain ground, it’s destined to get better. Technology has to adapt to humans to truly take hold.
Every inception of technology, however, brings with it means of misuse, of which we would be wise to take heed. Having 2,000 friends on Facebook doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re more social, nor does tweeting every 5 seconds. It might in fact be a sign of a narcissistic obsession. Vague-booking (writing a long, overly-emotional, and cryptic status messages on Facebook) really can make you seem like an unstable, self-loathing sociopath.
We ought not become so obsessed with this astonishing technology that we allow it to dominate our lives. There are some things best done in person. Nothing is more frustrating than arguing with someone via AIM or text message, nor anything more rude than tweeting or texting while on a date (I’d advise dumping that person with haste if you encounter it). Some of the best inventions in history – the gun, fire, or electricity–have all found their way into the hands of their abusers. The important thing to remember is this: used in the right measure, they stand to complement our lives.
One captivating way of using social media is as a form of psychological support. I’ve seen coworkers quit smoking with the inspiration from fellow ex-smokers reading their blogs and tweets. Moreover, from a business perspective, it has the potential to connect owners to their customers; a hand typed blog with comments and feedback about their products can truly help inspire buyer confidence more than a static Web site ever could.
As I bring this rather lengthy post to a close, I’d just like to highlight that if there is to be a bold new technological renaissance, mobility will be the vessel that delivers it. The new Web is compartmental. People want access to information that’s most relevant for what they’re doing, when they’re doing it. Sure, a proper Web site will always be the anchor of a business presence, but there’s so much more that we as consumers want from our techno gadgets.
We’re a society increasingly on the go, thus technology will continue to adapt to us. We just need to be careful not to allow it to replace the fuel of our souls – real human social interactions.
Louis Horton
Cazbah IT Director
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Louis-
Glad to know my writing on FB only makes me LOOK like an unstable, self-loathing sociopath … but not actually be one. Whooo. Loved the post. I have found that even those who are reluctant to use the Internet are now venturing out. It has become a necessity and a fun activity at the same time. I also recently set up a 75 year old friend on FB. Go figure! Sue