Pre-Script: There are a number of advantages associated with the prevailing technologies that are discussed here, but this article is not meant to elicit them but to put forth the flip side of the coin.
This era is undoubtedly defined by the gadgets surrounding us and internet that connects them all. From its prenatal stages in ’80s where it used to connect a few american computers for military and academic purposes to the motley functions it serves for billions across the globe, it has grown like a virus(pun intended). The cliched ‘part and parcel of daily life’ phrase cannot be more appropriately used for anything else than this. The latest trend of social networking has given a tremendous boost to the usage of internet. With an increased demand due to this, there has been better and improved supply from such service providers. Its not wrong to say that the most affected group of individuals is the youth.
Having pointed out this, I would like to get back to my question. What primitive human tendency do I refer to here? These are the basic sensory functions, vision and touch. The former is more easily perceivable with reference to the question. With most of our time associated with our gadgets, we rarely see around to learn the nuances of worldly wisdom. While we are busy typing in our messages on whatsapp, we miss the road we travel. While we are busy taking photographs and uploading them on Google+, we forget to let the beauty of the landscape behind us, sink in. While we check in a hotel on facebook with several friends we forget to see the problems of our friends. Through each and every real experience, we learn a lot more than these e-experiences we have.
I don’t say this from my own doing because I am on the other side myself but I say this by looking at my parents. None of us would contend this fact that our parents were much better off at our age to face worldly problems than us. With all the years they have gained upon us, I never see myself with that kind of knowledge when I reach their age.
Going on to my next point, touch. With all our connections developing through messaging services and social networking sites, the physical contact between people has become minimal. The hug between friends has been replaced by a comment on their status, holding hands with a loved one is displaced by a smiley, the handshake between strangers has been superseded by friend requests. Relationships grow and decline online without the people concerned ever meeting in person. With two friends sitting in the same room and chatting with each other on facebook, the situation looks really grim. (Remember the pre-script of this article before you contend these points in your mind)
I recently read a book which said that every great thing is great as long as you use it judiciously and then you see it gradually becoming an evil for the world. Well, this is where we start seeing the unprecedented ill-growth of internet. Growing aggression due to addiction with technology [1], dependency on these telecommunications, and the growing inability to interact in person is just the beginning. As my current status stands, I am no better than a normal internet, technology and gadget addict youngster. But I hope to change that soon. Till then you can ponder over the gravity of this problem from this image.
FREE ‘NO WIFI’ ZONE
Free WiFi is available almost everywhere we go. People are constantly online, busy with their electronic gadgets all the time. Kit Kat have seen an opportunity to give people a break. So instead of offering Free WiFi like every other brand, the company created a Free No-WiFi Zone. A big sign with a small WiFi jammer that blocked all signals within a five meter radius. People was also encouraged to read a newspaper, a real book or have a genuine conversation again. All while munching on a Kit Kat.
Literally giving people a break!
This era is undoubtedly defined by the gadgets surrounding us and internet that connects them all. From its prenatal stages in ’80s where it used to connect a few american computers for military and academic purposes to the motley functions it serves for billions across the globe, it has grown like a virus(pun intended). The cliched ‘part and parcel of daily life’ phrase cannot be more appropriately used for anything else than this. The latest trend of social networking has given a tremendous boost to the usage of internet. With an increased demand due to this, there has been better and improved supply from such service providers. Its not wrong to say that the most affected group of individuals is the youth.
Having pointed out this, I would like to get back to my question. What primitive human tendency do I refer to here? These are the basic sensory functions, vision and touch. The former is more easily perceivable with reference to the question. With most of our time associated with our gadgets, we rarely see around to learn the nuances of worldly wisdom. While we are busy typing in our messages on whatsapp, we miss the road we travel. While we are busy taking photographs and uploading them on Google+, we forget to let the beauty of the landscape behind us, sink in. While we check in a hotel on facebook with several friends we forget to see the problems of our friends. Through each and every real experience, we learn a lot more than these e-experiences we have.
I don’t say this from my own doing because I am on the other side myself but I say this by looking at my parents. None of us would contend this fact that our parents were much better off at our age to face worldly problems than us. With all the years they have gained upon us, I never see myself with that kind of knowledge when I reach their age.
Going on to my next point, touch. With all our connections developing through messaging services and social networking sites, the physical contact between people has become minimal. The hug between friends has been replaced by a comment on their status, holding hands with a loved one is displaced by a smiley, the handshake between strangers has been superseded by friend requests. Relationships grow and decline online without the people concerned ever meeting in person. With two friends sitting in the same room and chatting with each other on facebook, the situation looks really grim. (Remember the pre-script of this article before you contend these points in your mind)
I recently read a book which said that every great thing is great as long as you use it judiciously and then you see it gradually becoming an evil for the world. Well, this is where we start seeing the unprecedented ill-growth of internet. Growing aggression due to addiction with technology [1], dependency on these telecommunications, and the growing inability to interact in person is just the beginning. As my current status stands, I am no better than a normal internet, technology and gadget addict youngster. But I hope to change that soon. Till then you can ponder over the gravity of this problem from this image.
FREE ‘NO WIFI’ ZONE
Free WiFi is available almost everywhere we go. People are constantly online, busy with their electronic gadgets all the time. Kit Kat have seen an opportunity to give people a break. So instead of offering Free WiFi like every other brand, the company created a Free No-WiFi Zone. A big sign with a small WiFi jammer that blocked all signals within a five meter radius. People was also encouraged to read a newspaper, a real book or have a genuine conversation again. All while munching on a Kit Kat.
Literally giving people a break!
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