Together on Tuesday: How Dependent are You on Technology??

Today, I accepted my friend Danielle's invitation to join the weekly 'Together on Tuesday' blog group with her and her friend Michelle (okay, I make that sound like a Pony Express courier delivered me a hand-engraved invitation carved in Italian marble, but it was really more of an open invitaion to all of her friends).  This is my first Tuesday of doing this, I hope you enjoy!

This week's topic:  How Dependent are You on Technology?

In a nutshell...way more dependent than I care to admit in front of everyone I know. 

There are so many advantages to the spoils of technology...the world is at your fingertips, literally.  In an instant, you can reconnect with old friends that you haven't spoken to in years through social networks.  GPS units make it possible to take your family on vacation without the fight over who can or can't read a map, but more importantly, it solves the age-old problem of no one being able to get the damn thing folded back the way it was.  You can buy ANYTHING...seriously, ANYTHING you can think of on the internet...including a disturbing thing I was told about yesterday called Picnic Pants...if you think the Snuggie is the most horrific thing ever invented, I suggest that you Google Picnic Pants just to prove yourself wrong about the Snuggie.  But I digress...

A Few of My Favorite Tech Addictions:

#1:  I fully admit that I have a love affair with my iPhone.  For me, there is no turning back.  If something horrible happened to my beloved Apple Smartphone, I would pay a ridiculous amount of money to replace it at full-price if I had to.  On some level, it is like a friend that lives in my purse and keeps me company anywhere I go.  Waiting in the Doctor's office?  Meeting my husband somewhere but he's stuck in traffic?  Stuck in traffic myself?  Sitting at the airport?  No problem, I'll just whittle away the time on Facebook, catching up on local or national news, playing DrawSomething...and if I blow through all of that and still have time to spare I can simply download a new app to keep it going. Simply put, it takes the boredom out of waiting in places where I hate spending time.  It gives me something to keep my mind occupied.  It turns something that is potentially a total waste of time into something that is mildly productive.  That is probably the crux of my addiction to my iPhone.  It entertains me when otherwise, there is nothing around to entertain or occupy my time or attention.  Don't get me wrong, there are some majorly productive things about the iPhone, I am just confessing what fuels my addiction to it.

 #2:  My Garmin GPS.  It gives me directions to anywhere from anywhere.  There is a button programed to HOME, I push that and it tells me how to get home from anywhere.  One of the categories in the 'Attractions' menu is wineries...no matter where I am, it will find me the nearest winery...or wineries!  Need I say more?  I think not.

#3:  Texting.  True, this could be classified in with my phone, but I like it so much I thought it deserved its own bullet point.  I don't really like talking on the phone, so this gives me an out, but still allows me to communicate as neccessary.  Short, sweet, and to the point.  Unlike phone convesations that can meander on and be difficult to end politely with those who keep talking no matter how many times you say, 'okay, well...I gotta go...'.  End of story, case closed.  Its that simple.

#4 Dual (or more!) Computer Monitors.  My company has spoiled me.  Again, no turning back on this one.  We are blessed to be given dual computer monitors at work.  I deal with lots of spreadsheets and data systems, so I always have a million applications open.  This way I can see several of them at at time.  My husband is totally on board with this at home...our desktop computer at home has three monitors!  If I had to go to work somewhere else, I would have to negotiate to get dual monitors or something...I don't think I could live without dual monitors at work. 

#5 Our Blu-Ray DVD Player.  Forget the Blu-ray visual technology part - I really don't care about that (yes, I do realize that some of you have burning eyeballs right now just from having read that).  What I DO LOVE about that little machine is that it connects directly to the internet and we can cut out the computer and stream Hulu Plus and Pandora right through the TV.  Love!

#6 Digital Photography.  Does anyone actually miss the days of waiting until a roll of film was finished...then taking it in for processing...waiting...waiting...waiting...then getting back your photos only to realize that half of them are plagued with bad lighting, closed eyes, red eyes, or some ridiculous looking stranger lingering around in the background of your great family vacay photos?  **insert cricket chirping**  Didn't think so. 

Is there any technology that I am able to reject?  Yes. 

#1:  Cable TV.  About a year-ish ago, Mark and I realized that we were paying a ridiculous sum of money each month for cable.  We were watching less than three hours of TV per week, usually, only about an hour and it had been that way for a long time (apparently we only commit to loyally following one TV show at a time...right now, it is Modern Family. Which, conveniently is on network TV).  For us, paying what we were paying for cable was the equivalent of standing on one of the bridges and just tossing our money into the Ohio River.  So, we cut down to the most bare minimum of basic cable you can get.  Not only do we not miss the cable, we rarely notice that it is gone.  Then for about $9 per month, we subscribe to Hulu Plus.  Much, much cheaper...and anything else that isn't included in basic or Hulu, we can pretty much find online. 

#2:  E-readers.  Nope, I have not done it.  I have not purchased a Kindle or Nook, and right now, I can't say that I plan to.  Mostly because I don't make myself find time to read, so that seems like it would fall to the wayside shortly after the initial excitement of having it wears off.  Besides, I still like that idea of having an actual book in-hand...yes, I am one of THOSE people. 

Consequences...good, bad, or indifferent??

So, what are the pitfalls of all this technology making life, "easier"??  Well, I have already mentioned that it allows me too easily to opt-out of actually TALKING to people whether it be face to face or by phone.  A lot of feeling and emotion can be lost in the translation of texting, e-mailing, or messaging.  You can't actually HEAR all of what that person is saying...you lose all intonation, voice, and body language. 

Additionally, we have become a society of instant gratification.  We have become all about 'me, me, me...now, now, now...'.  Being unable to get everything now is no longer acceptable.  As a result, I believe our patience with one another has eroded badly.  Just drive somewhere, anywhere.  Everyone is in such a hurry to get where they are going that any notion of politeness is out the window.  All bets are off...it is every car, truck, mini-van, and SUV for themselves. 

But, may I point out that it is not the technology doing these negative things, it is merely the vehicle that we use to be impersonal, rude, etc...the problem is the people.  You, me, and everyone else.  It is purely a human choice.  I challenge all of us to choose to tidy up our 'tech manners', myself included.