Do you have mixed feelings about today's technology?
I certainly do. One part of me loves it, while another part of me – not so much. As a software and application designer, I am around tech all day. My day to day activities involve collaborating with engineers and working with electronic devices and interfaces. I am admittedly a true tech consumer from hardware to software to information management – it all makes our busy lives so much easier. So why struggle, right?
We are living in a golden age of digital. The internet has become a lifeline to so many activities. Information is accessible anywhere and at any time. Yet I am torn with its omnipresence in my life. Just put it down and turn it off, some of you might say. I say that too, but the act of putting my devices away (note the plural) without having that nagging feeling of am I missing out? – is what bothers me. Have you heard of FOMO (fear of missing out)? According to Dictionary.com: FOMO - noun. 1. a feeling of anxiety or insecurity over the possibility of missing out on something, as an event or an opportunity. This is a real predicament. For me, FOMO is a feeling that has become an inner demon that tells me to keep a device nearby or stay ON another five more minutes. The amount of technological progress mankind has made is incredible – I love that. However, we need to be able to control the tech. Let’s for an internet second ask ourselves: do we need it all the time, everywhere, and even inside of us?
Hopefully you understand and even share this love/hate sentiment. How do we find balance? We welcome any comments and stories that you may have on navigating through our new technological age.
