The cost of technology

I realised how dependent I was on technology when my laptop went for repairs - two days seemed like decades

Humans are exposed to technology on a daily basis. There is no doubt that it has blessed us in many ways and if it wasn't for the wonders of technology, we would still be living in the dark ages. However, at the same time, it is important to maintain a balance.

For starters, children are no longer interested in outdoor activities anymore. They would much rather be engrossed in their Play Stations and Wii. The culture of reading books is dying out. We would rather spend time watching TV and spend countless hours on the internet.

Another important factor is the decline of face-to-face communication. I realised how dependent I was on technology when my laptop went for repairs. The two days seemed like two decades.

In today’s fast-paced world, we are constantly looking for short cuts and convenient options. We actually prefer communicating with others through social networks, chat messengers and text messages. Technology has been weaved into our lives in a way that it has become a part of us now. Most of us cannot survive a day without our cell phones and laptops. We are so reliant on cell phones and social networking websites that we are truly forgetting the value of talking to someone face-to-face. We are slowly forgetting the essence of communicating with family and friends on a more intimate level.

With the vast amount of communication mediums, we are slowly becoming dependent on these “machines”. We no longer find the need to go visit our relatives and friends. The internet and cell phones do that for us now. We think a simple text message will suffice. Sadly, it’s not only today’s generation that has become this way. Unfortunately, it seems that people of all ages have chosen to go with convenience over emotional/one-on-one interaction.