I Had an iPod in 4th Grade

Today I do not consider myself to be very involved with the tech community. I typically hear about new products from friends who follow the industry more closely. However, that was not always the case. I was, in technical terms, an early adapter of the iPod. I bought an iPod in 2006, when I was in the 4th grade. I only every bought that iPod however, I never "upgraded" to the newer models or anything like that. I was content with my Nano until my parents bought me an iPhone when I was a Junior in High School.

But what happened between then and now? If anything, I listened to more music as I got older and actually use technology more now than I did then. It's not like I don't like technology, I think it just boils down to me not caring enough about having the "newest and best" when my current devive fulfils my needs sufficiently. This creed was true with iPods, as they were simpler technology with less uses, but as we move in the direction of more advanced devices capable of more things, I am not so sure that my stance will remain. After all, what am I supposed to do when my whole office one day has Google Glass and I don't?

I am slightly apprehensive of a future like this. Where reality and technology fuse in such a way where we associate one with the other so closely. I think that is a dangerous game to play. As my last blog pointed out, it is one thing for adults to adapt technology, but it is an entirely difference thing to have children grow up relying on it. Adults have outside knowledge, they have experiences and the ability to see from different perspectives. Children on the other hand are limited in their understanding of the world, they are cloistered intentionally to protect them, but technology has a way of making protecting them harder as they can use it to access things they shouldn't.

All this being said, it is still safe to say that I have not been disenfranchised from technology all together, but I have become more aware of it's potential negative influence. I would no longer consider myself to be an early adapter, but perhaps now even a late adapter or even lagger. That's not to say that in the future I may revert back to my 6th grade fascination with technology, but today, I could do will less of it.

iPad Binkies

   

The discussion surrounding technologies potential benefit to society is polarized. On one end, we constantly enjoy the benefits of a technologically advanced society. We have made amazing strides in medicine, communication, entertainment and education all with the help of technology. Our society is more often than not defined by these. We are distinct from many other countries on the planet because of our technology and have been able to maintain our position atop the global hierarchy in large part because of technology.  

On the reverse side, we are bombarded with technology everyday. Our lives are documented, preserved and presented with the help of technology. But the question which many have raised is has this gone too far? At what point do we step back from technology, where do we draw the line? 

In my opinion, we are letting technology impact too many areas of our daily lives. I am not arguing that we stop using technology, rather, I am proposing that people use technology as a crutch. From a social standpoint, we would do well to make a conscious effort to censor our own usage.

Ignoring the medical benefits, which I think clearly make technology an overwhelmingly positive thing, technology is eroding the foundation of our social nature. My main reasoning for this is the prevalent use of technology by children. I did not have a television until I was 7 years old. I played with blocks and PlayMobile. I played outdoors and regularly played team sports. Today, children are rarely given the chance to develop interpersonal skills. Technology is too enticing for them and parents view it as an easy way to entertain their kids. My best friends brother learned to read on an iPad, which honestly upset me. 

I think that a solution to this is that schools need to ban the use of technology in the classroom. Studies show that kids do not retain information as efficiently when they do not read from books or write on paper with pen. I don't understand why administrators push technology in schools so much. My best guess is that it makes it easier for them, which is a horrible reason.