Technology is a beautiful thing. It has brought with it a wealth of information to our fingertips in the form of the internet and has taken communication to an unprecedented level to name but a few things. So it probably comes as a surprise to read a slightly anti technology article from someone so heavily involved in the world of media…well this is more a warning than an anti-technology article. Technology is great and in terms of business has made the process so much easier, but with the introduction of the next super gadget (the ipad) we are just in danger of a digital obsession.

This is not an anti technology article!
Please don’t think this is an anti technology article…I am a huge advocate of it especially for business. It is just now just getting to the point where it is consuming our lives outside of business as well to the point of being detrimental to our mental / physical health and our wellbeing. We need balance and thrive from having everything in moderation. Technology (apart from wii sports!) makes your physical body redundant and in turn there is the very real threat of obesity.

As addictive as heroin?
Ipad, iphone, laptop, social networks, cell phones, instant messaging, TV, Videogames…it’s getting to the point where electronic gadgets are proving just as addictive as heroin. This over reliance in technology is taking away the thought process as well…why try to work out a question when you can simply ask Google? Why try to read a map when you have a sat nav? Technology is actually proving a distraction in education whereby students will simply go to complete essay websites for their answers or be distracted by social networks.or simply download porn!

They knew this would be a threat back in the day
Back in the day some of the fathers of the digital revolution also had misgivings, notably Joseph Weizenbaum who said

“Obsessive reliance on technology was a moral failure in society and an invitation to fascism”

In a recent survey conducted in the US it was revealed that 8-18 yr olds expose themselves to 11 hours of media per day. This is an increase of 2 hours since 2004 and this spiral is set to continue upwards…where will it all end?

Web design without technology (yes this part does exist!)
Taking this back to web design…although we are web designers we mustn’t forget the traditional means of communication…face to face and phone calls (ok I know this is also classed as digital!). We are a service business and therefore need to provide good customer service and build strong relationships with our clients, rather than hide behind an email and never show our faces. I’ve said it time and again people will come to you as much for the person you are as the service you offer.

Time to admit there is a problem?
Technology is still too new for many of us to realise or even admit that there is a problem, but we just need to limit our consumption and beware that although technology brings a plethora of benefits, it also has a downside. A little vision of how things could turn out…have you seen the film surrogate? Well, in this film the characters put themselves into a pod and take control of a perfect replica of themselves in another location , they then live there lives this way…the key message though is that their experience though is artificial and certain key players begin to long for reality and real experiences.

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