jimauburn

I have my doubts.

Take a virtual step back from your computer monitor and remember what life was like before the flood of information, the automation of almost every task (and many jobs), the incessant bother of cell phones and text messages, and the relentless "productivity gains" brough about by computerization.

What has it really bought us? Are we happier? Are we more connected or less connected? Do we have time to think about what's important? Are we perpetually stressed out about keeping our tech skills "current" lest we fall into irrelevance?

I'm just not sure, but something tells me we've lost a lot more than we've gained, and yet we're too busy to figure that out.

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jcjacob

I believe it has improved our lives, or at least provided the means to improve our lives. Is the issue at hand more a matter of people not learning to manage the technology?

To your point, what amazes me is how badly we communicate with eath other now that we have so many options. Example: someone I know recently had their first child. I found out via a text message on my phone. When speaking to friends and relatives, when I mentioned the baby, even weeks after the birth their reaction was 'WHAT?' Turns out that other than my text message, the parents figured everyone would get the news by reading about it on Facebook.

All the time I see someone in the middle of a conversation pull out their smartphone and start texting or checking e-mail. Excuse me, but none of us can multi-task as well as we'd like to think. I know I personally get frustrated when I have to repeat things several times because the person I'm "speaking with" is only hearing every 2nd-4th word, or admits to hearing something completely different from what I said.

Sadly, I also have several friends that I don't see or hear as much from because they spend so many of their waking hours on-line expanding their universe of 'friends', most of whom are people they've never met and most likely never will.

You may very well have opened a can of worms with your question. At least you should spark some lively discussion!

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-John

Ken-L

I think that I am at least as nostalgic, if not more, than most people are. I really miss much of how life used to be. But I also remember how much was bad then too, and I can't reconcile going back to the bad parts just to have the good ones.

I believe that technology has improved our lives considerably, but just as in the "good old days" there are bad parts that go along with the good. I don't like having cell phones ringing or conversations bother me, unless it is my own cell phone of course.

What has changed more than technology is the attitudes many people now have. What we used to consider "common courtesies" are hard to find nowadays. Now people use technology such as a cell phone, without regard for how they are affecting others. They consider this along with so many other actions that are annoying to others as "their rights" to do whatever they want wherever they are. Most don't even think about how they are affecting others. It never crosses their minds. They were not taught these things so it is beyond their comprehension.

So yes, we do have better lives now because of technology, but along with that are the new bads that it created.

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"An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - Bukowski

Jon Foster

I love what technology has done for us in the way that it's made gaining information much easier. But I also think it's hurt us tremendously. Look at how few jobs we have now. Look at how many people are absolutely helpless without phones, computers and all these crazy convenience items in their home and vehicles. How many people can repair something in their home or their car? How many people can fashion a new part or build something from scratch? I fear our society is fast becoming a bunch of babbling idiots. When the power goes out, everything turns to panic and the mob mentality takes over. It's scary to think about.

Jon.

Bodryn

I grew up on a farm often being told about the coming labor-saving devices. I always enjoyed futuristic inventions and ideas. I read sci-fi stories that convinced me that someday robots would be doing all the work and humans would be able to spend all that extra free time pursuing hobbies and not having to worry about putting food on the table.

Now, decades later, I see that thousands of jobs of all kinds have been eliminated by the use of robotics and labor saving devices, but many thousands of people who would have had jobs in the past are now out on the street, homeless, etc. I guess labor-saving meant, for companies, the saving of labor costs. I.e., lay off the people. Things don't look good IMHO.

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Bodryn
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"Where are we going? And why are we in this handbasket?"

dwight

These are all good questions and in many ways the answer would have to be no. I have been retired for a number of years although I still do some photography for a slect few clients.

Happier? NO. When I was shooting film and developing in the dark room I was perfectly happy. Has tech made my job easier? Certainly, but I didn't know any better thirty years ago. Computers certainly have made a differenct iin everyones life. Some good, some not so good. Now I am expected to be a computer tech as well as a photographer. Tech in the medical field has certainly made great advances.

Cell phones? I'm not so sure we have really advanced in a lot of ways. Can we keep in touch 24/7? Sure we can but in most cases I don't really think its necessary. My step-son called his mother at 2:00 in the morning to tell her that her ex had died. He wouldn't have been any less dead at 8:00 in the morning.

Last Sept. my wife decided since she was going to be in the hospital that I needed a cell phone so she could contact me. Purchased a pre-paid one for about 20 bucks. It had 240 min one it. I looked at it the other day and it still had 190 min on it. I have to buy min or it all goes away in Aug.

Does tech make me happer. NO
Dwight

Ken-L

Excuse me for pointing out the irony of people debating,
"Has technology really improved our lives?",
at a technology forum on the World-Wide-Web, using our
giga-quad-DSL-gee-whiz systems!

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"An intellectual says a simple thing in a hard way. An artist says a hard thing in a simple way." - Bukowski

Sidebyte

It certainly has helped me, now I throw a slice of bread into the toaster and presto, I have toast. Before I had to get wood, build a fire, burned my dammed hands holding the bread over the fire so I'd say, technology has helped me somewhat.

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Chief Dan George