6.30.2010: Does Technology Control You?

by Judd Lafrenz

My blog this week was inspired by my co-worker Bob Putnam and his blog, "Were They Really the Good Ole Days?" Bob is from the Baby Boomer Generation and has quite enjoyed what technology has done for his life. I thought I would give you my thoughts as a member of Generation Y and take just a bit of a different angle on the topic. Before I go any further, I want to preface that I am an avid user of technology in my everyday life and have grown up with many modern advancements.

Bob states that technology has allowed his life to "become immeasurably better." Though I did not grow up in the same era, I would agree that technology has done wonders for our lives on many levels. Except when it fails. It has happened to all of us at one point where the Internet goes down or we lose mobile phone service. And what happens? Everyone freaks out and work comes to a screeching halt. We feel as though we can no longer continue to work or accomplish any tasks and that our source of information has died. This just shows how dependent we are on technology. We forget about things such as books, maps, letters, personal interaction, and even the phone (as opposed to email). These things might not be as convenient, but they do have a proven track record of success. Books don't get poor signal strength, maps don't have to acquire satellite links and personal interaction doesn't suffer from dead batteries, unless it's Wednesday.

What I find most interesting about modern technology is that as much as it has allowed us to stay connected, it has also allowed us to disconnect. By that statement I mean email, text messages, and voicemail have allowed us to ignore people and put things off we do not want to face immediately. How many times have you heard or used the phrase, "Can you send me an email about it?" This typically means one of two things. Either, "I need that in writing so we can move forward," or, "I'm not in the mood to deal with that." The ambiguity of the statement is what has allowed us to abuse it and given us the ability to disconnect.

I suggest it isn't about the lack of convenience or being disconnected that causes us to panic when technology fails, but about the loss of control. Some outside force has removed our control, which in turn has eliminated our power to make choices. The reality is, we still have control and the ability to choose. Though we have a more limited selection of choices, we still have the means to reach a desired outcome. Isn't that what ultimately matters?

"When one door closes, another one opens," is a quote with which I am sure everyone is quite familiar. When the door shuts on technology, I encourage you to walk through the open door of "primitive" resources and experience a world without wires. You just might be surprised at the amount of work you accomplish.