Extreme Dependence on Technology

By Arthur Soto

Have you ever emailed a co-worker or friend who was sitting just a few feet from you maybe even right next to you? Have you ever utilized GPS to direct you to an address that you’ve been to previously? Have you ever texted a family member even though they were within shouting distance in your own house?

If you have done any of these things and find that you’re doing them more often than not, then you might be suffering from EDT or Extreme Dependence on Technology. Like all diseases, EDT spreads slowly. Let me give you an example. You get your first computer and get internet access at home. Soon, you start using email. The discovery of chat rooms and instant messaging follows. Next thing you know, you’re immersed in an online world where every means of communication is handled electronically using new phrases like BTW, LOL and let’s not leave out : )

The next step is to purchase a cell phone that can do everything but scratch your back. Oh wait, this new Blackberry can do that too! Eventually, drawn into every feature your cell phone can do, you end up straining your eyes watching “Smallville” on its 2-inch screen on your sofa while your 50-inch plasma TV watches you from the wall with deep jealousy.

Are we headed for a world where everything is technology driven and devoid of what makes us human?

Take for example, the movie “Wall-E”. In that very enjoyable futuristic Pixar movie, technology has advanced to the point that humans leave earth and travel in huge space stations enjoying every sort of accommodation imaginable. Every basic human need is supplied by technology. The movie emphasizes how humans no longer need to walk anywhere since they now have mini-transporters that look like space age beach chairs. The result is a less than human society over-weight and over-pampered where more isn’t necessarily more or better.

Now don’t get me wrong. The Internet has been and continues to be a wonderful source of information and resources. It gives us the ability to pay bills, do research for a school project, purchase items not available at your local store and stay in touch with relatives across the globe among other things. In my preparation for this article, I did some research on the Internet and wrote most of this article on my Blackberry. I know firsthand how powerful and convenient today’s technology is.

The problem with EDT however is that ironically it strips us of our core humanity: the ability to express feelings through communication. I’ve told friends that I’ve cut down on texting, emailing and IMing in order to better express basic emotions while communicating. All of the smileys in the world can’t replace the multiplexity of human emotions that one gets from a face to face meeting. The more we use technology as a primary means of communication and human interaction, the more we risk losing our basic humanity.

So to all my fellow sufferers of EDT, here’s my short list of suggestions to break free from the bounds of excessive use of technology.

Instead of spending 2-3 hours texting friends, playing online games and checking listings on Ebay, take a visit to your local library and hold an actual book in your hands. Take a jog in your local park, participate in your local city council meetings or join a community organization and spend some time with your neighbors and friends. Instead of increasing your social network on a site like Facebook or MySpace, spend some actual face time with your co-workers, friends from school or expand your horizons and meet new friends the old fashioned way (gasp) by joining a community, social or faith-based organization. And last but not least, leave your Blackberry or cell phone home while on vacation. Give yourself a true holiday.

Trust me. The human interaction that’s involved in these types of activities gives greater satisfaction than anything that’s offered online.