Has anyone thought that maybe we don’t need to use technology to help us with every part of our day? After the recent announcement of the Catholic Church’s new app that lets you do confession over your iPhone, the evidence of the saturation of technology in our lives is crystal clear.
The purpose of technology is to make our day-to-day lives easier. We have things that cook for us (the crock pot), do math (the calculator), clean our houses (the Roomba). These things have improved our quality of life significantly because now we can focus on other, more important things.
But the big question is: Is there such a thing as too much?
With the invention of the laptop and the smart phone, we are constantly connected to the world. Many people sleep with their phone within arms reach, afraid to be away from it even while sleeping. As soon as we wake up we check the computer. While we commute to work or school we text on our phones and check our facebook page. Our children grow up spending more time in front of a computer or video game than outside playing or reading a book.
Another question that comes to mind is: Is technology making us lazier?
Technology makes it easier for us to do practically everything. It removes the challenge of learning and doing, which is sometimes beneficial, but also removes the opportunity for us to learn and grow through the challenge.
Technology has its place, certainly, but not in every aspect of our lives. We need to learn to disconnect sometimes, to appreciate real life, not just the cyber world. We need to go for a walk, learn a new hobby, talk (face-to-face) with an old friend, and open a book (not an e-book, a real book, made out of paper). Give yourself a day away from your phone and your computer to just recharge and appreciate the smaller things. You’ll be surprised how refreshing it is to free yourself from the tethers of the world.