When I contemplated on the different topics that I'd post about, I began to shift the many indices readily available to my mind. After considering many topics that I could have possibly delved into, I finally settled into this one: Have we confused technological evolution with that of human evolution? Does technological evolution promise equivalent advances to the state of humanity shared by all in the world?
As I see it, we have an abundance of technology that appear to seemingly enhance the quality of life, especially those living in the Western hemisphere. Even now, as I post this I'm watching Stephen King's, "The Shining" being streamed for free (courtesy of Netflix) via my Wii device. Further examples of technology that we experience include the emergence of smartphones which allow one to access information and perform tasks that only computers were thought to accomplish at one time. I'm saying all of that to say this: it seems that we have somehow confused the independence that technology provides, and have transmuted and therefore internalized the mechanisms of technology as something that will enhance our human attributes. However, I want to give those reading a reality check: MY FRIENDS, TECHNOLOGY HAS DONE QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
I have never felt more un-human than to go onto a CTA train/bus to see that everyone is "plugged in" to some device. That no one is paying attention to each other...that it's almost a crime to make eye contact with a complete stranger...or to smile...or to be courteous...or to say hello to someone you don't know...ultimately to be human (or show human-like qualities) is not ok.
I in no way am saying that technology is the cause for the human disconnect, because we humans create the technology that we enjoy and experience. However, it is a shame when technology serves as a wall that deflects true human interaction and genuine human experience. Ideally technology should enhance the human experience, not replace it. I can personally recount plenty of times being at the movie theatre, at a restaurant, or at a musical performance, and instead of enjoying the full experience of what was to come, I'm instead pre-occupied with who commented on my FaceBook status, who mentioned me on Twitter (including re-tweets), or who's texting me on my cell phone. Sadly enough, there are those who wake up first thing in the morning, to reach for their phones or go online to maintain their constructed "cyber worlds" at the expense of their own waning lives and uncultivated relationships.
So now I ask you, where do you fall on the technological spectrum? How does technology serve you? Does it serve YOU? Or are you a servant of IT? Does technology help you to express your humanity? Or is it merely a medium which dictates the way you interact with others? I actually wonder if the disconnection that technology has caused actually make us more human because there are so many similarly disconnected people? What do you think?
