Today, it seems like we are always connected to some kind of technology. Whether it is consciously or unconsciously. It is very common to be doing other things, while staying updated with new technology, such as our cell phones, ipods, video games, laptops, radio, television, and many other kinds of media technology.
Many people watch TV, and surf the Internet, while other will be doing homework and be playing on facebook, as well as talking or texting on our cell phones. For me this multi-tasking is something that I do all day long. I can be at work helping a customer on the phone, and be texting a friend at the same time. I have gotten so used to the technology around me, and learned how to use it, that I don't have to think about how to use it, it is something that just comes natural to me.
I find comfort knowing that wherever I go, my cell phone will have service. Cell phones have become a technology that so many of us depend on everyday. In the time we are in now, its uncommon to hear of somebody who doesn't have a cell phone. It makes me wonder what would we do if this technology that we depend on so much now, for Internet, texting, taking pictures, was to one day just disappear. We are surrounded by technology everyday, and we rely on it to do homework, to work, to socialize, etc... at what point do you ask yourself, "how much is too much?"
In class, we read the article, "Ubiquitous Computing" by Jason Weiss. He defines the term ubiquitous computing as, "Ubiquitous computing's highest ideal is to make a computer so imbedded, so fitting, so natural, that we use it without even thinking about it." When I think about ubiquitous computing I think about texting. On our cell phones we are given the option of either texting letter by letter, or predictive text. The predictive text option allows us to just type the word and not have to think about it. Letter by letter text is the slow way of texting in my opinion. You have to think about what you are saying and make sure that you spelled the word right. Many people can use predictive text and not even have to look at their phone.
It is so interesting to see how people react when a technology they use isn't working. For example the Internet. I get so frustrated when the Internet isn't working. The Internet is a technology that rely on, more than I think. Most of the time now, I have to have the Internet to do my homework, read emails, stay updated on current events, work and more. Today at my work, for the last hour of work our Internet was down, and we were not able to our job. It is so amusing at school when the Internet goes down, to watch those people who have their laptops sit and refresh their Internet to see if its working. We don't realize how dependent we are on technology, such as the Internet, until we are not able to access it.
In one way or another we are always some how connected to technology. We have adapted to it, and learned how to use new technology to our advantage. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) have made it possible for us to find directions to the location that we are going. This technology has made it so much easier to get places that we don't know how to get there instead of having to look at directions and street signs, a GPS tells us where to turn. This technology is now a part of newer cars, and we are also able to buy them to put in our cars if we don't have one. I have a GPS in my car, and I don't know what I would do without it. It gets me to the location in half the time of me trying to find it with just the address.
Using the latest technology can be a good and bad thing when it comes to interpersonal relationships. It helps all of us stay more connected, but also has the potential to isolate us. How would we go about relationships that we have developed through technology if the Internet was not available to us? I think that without technology that many of our relationships would suffer.
Overall, I feel that new media technology is a good thing for many reasons. At the same time I do think that we should limit ourselves on how much and often we are connected. Its stressful to feel like we always have to be connected, its nice to just shut it off and not have to worry about whats going on in the world of technology. I don't really know the answer of how much is too much when it comes to technology because it brings so many positive aspects to users. It depends a lot on the individual person and how they feel about their use of the technology. But I do feel that we should focus more on the good aspects of technology rather than the negative.
Society has become far too relying on new media technology and the comforts it gives us. When a cellphone doesn't work, or the internet goes down unexpectedly so you can't continue to communicate with that person on the other side of the world for an hour, we freak out. Back 20 years ago and tell the regular person on the street that down the road you would be talking with someone on the other side of the world, and yes you can see their face. They would think you were full of it. But with the way society has been accepting technology, the faster the newer stuff comes out, it seems society accepts and adapts to it fast. Take for example the iphone. I remember when it first came out a couple years ago, and a couple more rich, tech swavy friends had them, but now people are buying them like candy. Just today at work, I saw an older woman that I never thought would be able to really communicate on a cell phone at 100%(and I can say that, cuz my parents STILL struggle with it!haha) but she had an iphone in her hands! She was typing away on something, and I was in shock. New media techonology is surpasing age barriers now as well, which before hindered the acceptance of new meida within society at large. Does all this new media technology enroach on privacy? Yes, I sure do believe so, but society does not care. They want to be hip and connected.
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