Hello? The power of CONNECTING and how technology has changed things

Technology has changed dramatically in the past 50 years. It's easy to forget for anyone under age 35, since we were adapting still to the world while some of the most dramatic changes were occurring. But I'm reminded of how much technology has changed upon any technological interaction with my parents. I adore my parents. More than is probably necessary (as if that's calculable). But, like many of their peers, they are technologically challenged.

My mother checks emails on a daily basis and since she has been a good typist since just after suffrage, and just before computers, she has no problem with that. My father still creates graphs with paper, pen and a ruler. (A younger version of him would probably thrive on excel... Oh, wait. That might be me.) Anyway, I think I've received maybe 2 emails from my father, tops. He doesn't like to type nor does he type well. His primary use for the computer is to play solitaire, though ultimately I think he prefers real playing cards for that.

Aside from computers, my favorite of their techno-shortcomings is they way they use their mobile phone. For the first year of owning a mobile phone, my parents would first look at their ringing phone like they weren't sure it would really work. Then they'd press the answer button very carefully and distinctly. Next they would bring the phone to their ear and say, hello? with a significant upturn at the end of the word... creating a subtext that could only mean, I'm not convinced this will actually work since we're no where near a cord or rotary-phone and there's no operator on the other end of the line, but I'm just going to try it out to see...cuz my kids tell me it works.

While they've mostly gotten over the, hello? syndrome, they still are averse to most newer technology. Neither one text messages nor do they have any interest in a "smart" phone. Can't blame them on that one. The only reason I got one was because of work. I used to like being away from my computer when I was away from it...now I just regulate that by separating myself from my "smart" phone when I'm not actually using it.

Additionally, their aversion to technology makes me think about how technology has affected our lives. Certainly, lives have been saved due to mobile phones providing a link to people in danger or stranded (when they can get a signal, that is). Also, they have probably reduced the amount of murders of stranded motorists accepting rides from predatory strangers (though statistically these deaths were relatively low). I know from first-hand experience that they expedite work on television and film sets, however they also disturb things sometimes...ringing at inopportune times and causing interference with sound systems. But they also seem to have reduced our attention spans, and I think they've expanded the rift between teenagers and well...everyone, as it seems most teenagers have their heads down more than half of their waking hours - either texting, chatting or my/face-networking.

But here's the strangest thing for me. Our primary use of technology, besides for pornography, which still might qualify, is to connect. But we all seem more disconnected. This increased technology seems to have reduced our real, personal interaction. But maybe the sentiment was similar about the telephone... that it would decrease letter writing and the very intimacy, though somewhat delayed, that letter-writing provides in the thoughtfulness that usually goes into letters. I'm the only girl I can think of who actually exchanged loved letters with a recent boyfriend. For my female friends it's been over ten years for most of them since they've written or received any kind of hand-written love letter.

So, what's the conclusion? Barring some catastrophe (which some say is coming between now and 2012), I don't suspect things will change much by way of going back to older forms a communication. Nor do I necessary think they should. But we could all probably stand to look at each other in the eye more. Separate yourself from your mobile phone. Write a letter. Call from a land-line. You're much less likely to drop your call.

But mostly, please remember why this technology exists in the first place. To CONNECT you to people, whether new friends, relatives, acquaintances, or colleagues, who, like it or not, affect and impact your life, and you theirs. Remember this all comes down to CONNECTING.

And for goodness sake, call your parents...but let it ring a few times.

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