Response: Attached to Technology and Paying a Price.

Today we were asked to read and respond to "Attached to Technology and Paying a Price", conviently linked for those of you reading this, here.  The article discusses the issues with becoming overly connected to technology and how it can really impede the ability to focus.

We are told about the life of Mr. Campbell who "is a heavier user of technology than most".  He begins and ends each day with tech gadgets, and all day, every day he is connected.  We learn about his relationship with his annoyed wife, and neglected children.  We also learn all about his failed vacations, procrastinating, and general detachment to physical life. I feel the purpose of his article was to leave the reader to wonder, why would anyone want to bombard their brain with all this garbage?

Now, obviously the article is taking the anti-tech side of the 'technology in everyday life' debate, and offers scientific studies that suggest being connected too often can cause some brain networking and focusing problems.  It even gives some historical perspective, comparing the jump in technology now to earlier eras.  Despite all this evidence, i still have to disagree with the author.

I feel that a lot of these problems are not technology based, but people based.  A lot of popular services like skype, facebook, twitter, blogger, etc. have improved the quality of information exchange tremendously in the span of just a couple years, and the ability to access this information practically anywhere is something people can use to be productive.  The abuse, or over use, of these services rests solely on the user themselves.  Im pretty well immersed in tech and personally, it doesn't sabotage my life like it does Campbell; it simplifies it. 

And as for the fractionating of your brain, i feel that is also a personal issue. Even as i write this now, I'm listening to music, browsing facebook, and monitoring email.  One needs to effectively learn either how to block out distractions, or manage them rather than blame them.  As with anything, learning a new skill takes time and thought, so why cant we condition our brains over time to learn to cope with the influx of stimuli being offered?

I'm curious as to what the class debate will be like tomorrow, I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's ideas and thoughts on this.