Life: Unplugged
62
In a world nearly totally dominated by technology (well, in countries with more than fifteen cars and two stoplights) do you ever find yourself weary of the computers, the cell phones, the TomToms, iPods, laptops, Blackberries and Blu Ray?
Here's a typical day for the technophile that some of us Hubbers are:
We wake up, slap our digital alarm to quiet it's incessant beeping, and then we check our cell phone for messages. Pushing a button on our programmable timed drip coffee pot, it brews up a cup of java while we microwave something unhealthy for breakfast. Then it's off to the computer to read all the emails about Stacie and Whitney's newest near-dozen hubs, a round of online banking and Myspace, then off to work.
On the way to work, a computer system in the car can tell you where you are, where you should go to get to where you're going, and where the nearest fifteen Starbucks locations are. Lost yet? No way, you've got TomTom to tell you where to go. Who needs to be alert to their surroundings, we've got technology!
Technology Info
- This blog's moving home!
After more than two years and 1127 posts, the technology blog is moving home. We're merging with Short Sharp Science, a blog for everything New Scientist covers in the world of science, technology and ideas. You can view that new, super-blog here, and see only the technology posts at this link. For those of you viewing in RSS, please update your readers to subscribe to this new feed. Tom Simonite, online technology editor
- How to measure a website's IQ?
The creator of the world wide web, Tim Berners-Lee, has made an odd request: for a kind of rating system to help people distinguish sites that can be trusted to tell the truth, and those that can't. Berners-Lee was speaking at the launch of the World Wide Web Foundation, which aims to ensure that everyone in the world benefits as the web evolves. In his speech he referred to the way fears that the LHC could destroy the world spread like wildfire online. As the BBC puts it, he explained that "there needed to be new systems that would give websites a label for trustworthiness once they had been proved reliable sources." He went on to say that he didn't think "a simple number like an IQ rating" is a good idea: "I'd be interested in different organisations labelling websites in different ways". Whatever process is used to hand out the labels, it sounds like a bad idea to me. Berners-Lee himself directed us towards some of the its biggest problems: "On the web the thinking of cults can spread very rapidly and suddenly a cult which was 12 people who had some deep personal issues suddenly find a formula which is very believable...A sort of conspiracy theory of sorts and which you can imagine spreading to thousands of people and being deeply damaging." There are plenty of arguments online already about whether Scientology is a cult. I find it unlikely anyone will be keen to step in and label sites on either side as not to be trusted. Others might reasonably argue that all religions - whether established or not - should come with a warning message. As for wading in to put a stop to conspiracy theories, I can't image anything their proponents could benefit from more. Berners-Lee also mentioned the system would help people find out the real science behind, for example, the LHC's risks. You might think handing out rating for sites about science would be easier, with publishers of peer-reviewed science, for example, receiving a top rating without problems. But there will be papers in the archives of any journal that have been entirely superseded. And a whole lot more that present results that are valid, but can be misleading to some readers. Web licences to ensure that people only read sites they can handle are the next logical step. Fortunately it's much more likely that the whole idea will quietly be forgotten, which will at least prevent Berners-Lee receiving one of the first "potentially misleading" badges for thinking it up in the first place. Let's hope the World Wide Web Foundation and its laudable goals have a rosier future. Tom Simonite, online technology editor
- Jamming the future
Nokia's cellphone anthropologist Jan Chipchase - interviewed in depth here - blogged this week about the etiquette of connectivity. When is it OK to whip out a phone or laptop, and when is it not? Chipchase gives the example of a UK cafe that discouraged customers from using laptops by targeting them with bustling cleaners. I've certainly been to places that seem to carefully cultivate an atmosphere that makes people feel they must leave their laptops in their bags, and steal outside to make or receive calls. Here in London, lovers of non-connectivity were worried this week by suggestions that underground trains may soon get cellphone reception. Trains between cities here commonly have "quiet carriages" where the use of phones and music players is banned. But I think that is unlikely on the Tube - the march of connectivity is set to continue until we just don't question it anymore. Laptops are largely tolerated in lecture halls and mobile phones are hardly ever banned anywhere anymore. We've rolled over, and adjusted. Chipchase hints at the idea of places that actually jam mobile or Wi-Fi reception. Also unlikely, I think, but before patches without connectivity are completely eradicated, perhaps they'll become more celebrated for a while. They deserve some commemoration of their passing. Tom Simonite, online technology editor
Ready to unplug yet? Read on..
So, while you're listening to your iPod in one ear, dictating notes onto your handheld mini-computer in one hand, driving and sporting your Bluetooth in the other ear, you can watch your navigation system and maybe remember to put on your makeup at the red light, also automated!
You get to work, and swipe your magnetic keycard which has your name, social, phone number, blood type and food allergies saved on it. The lock flashes from red to green, which means you can go in. You start fumbling with the door, pushing and pushing, when the little voice chimes up as it always does "Keycard accepted, please pull the door to open. Have a nice day."
Alright, so all that may be an exaggeration, but by how far? We rely far too much on technology. I realize the irony of writing a hub to express this view, but bear with me.
How much do all your various gadgets *truly* help you? Does your cell phone bill cost more than your gasoline bill? Do you replace quality time with your children with text messages and trips to the mall to shop for more gadgets?
Cut back on your addiction to technology
Prioritize your tech choices based on your planned activities. Chances are if you are like me, you've got a cell phone but no home phone, so you're not leaving that anywhere. Have you thought about turning it off during important events, though? By important, I mean, anything involving people you love. Try spending an afternoon with the phone off. I bet you'll like it.
Need to take a laptop with you to and from work, just in case you need to work on something from home? Why not use your laptop to play your favorite music? Synch up your iPhone to the USB port in your laptop. Voila! Instant mp3 player, instant messenger, calendar and newspaper all in one.
The point is that technology, however helpful, should never replace your interaction with live people. If you spend the majority of your time in front of a computer, gaming console, or with both hands firmly clutching some electronic bit or bauble, you're missing out on the best technology of all.
Life.*
*Batteries not included.
Get Unplugged!
 | Amazon Price: $0.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.70 List Price: $17.98 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $0.99 |
Batteries Definitely Not Included
 | Amazon Price: $0.01 List Price: $0.00 |
 | Amazon Price: $14.99 List Price: $19.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $0.01 List Price: $6.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $0.01 List Price: $29.99 |
How do YOU unplug?Loading...
I definitely need to cut down on my tech time. I spend way too much time on the computer. When this contest is over I'm taking a break definitely. As for the phone.. Eh. I don't get many calls these days. Which is good on the bill. Sad on my heart. Ha.
Thumbs up, Gamergirl, for excellent writing. And geesh, I had no idea how technical my days were.
LOL I exaggerated a little for emphasis, but it's not too far off from the truth. How much stuff do we have that is all automated? I mean, let's not even talk about computers here. We have digital -everything- available to us, and we become dependant on it all.
This contest is frying my brain. I said I gave a thumbs up. I just now realized that I forgot to actually do it. LOL
Aww well thanks!
Lissie Level 1 Commenter 4 years ago
Great hub and a good points! I think a lot of people who have to always checking email and ph messages are just control freaks - need to be needed - turn off the phone - youll be amazed how many problems disapear