The release of the latest iPhone last week drew an unexpectedly absurd amount of attention and publicity. Everyone is talking about it, tweeting about it, and breaking their banks to preorder it. At first glance, it looks awesome. It’s everything we were hoping for (minus the loss of the headphone jack), and it looks like it’s going to make our lives a lot easier. This is the twenty-first century after all, and we do love our technology.
Considering this was the talk of the week, I happened to stumble into a conversation during one of my classes about the iPhone and whether or not the world is actually constantly moving forward.
We are a technology driven era, but is this necessarily a good thing? While we like to think that a brand new shiny phone with longer lasting battery life is beneficial, is it actually limiting our communication skills instead of improving them? We may be gaining a 12-megapixel camera, but are we losing our ability to appreciate the literal moment that is around us? Also, don’t forget the fact that it’s water resistant: further allowing us to never have to leave our phones behind and actually explore the world sans technology.
Don’t get me wrong, technology isn’t a bad thing, nor do I think it should be totally thrown out the window. I love my iPhone; just today it guided me five hours home through construction, traffic, and a storm. But, I know when it’s time to put it down and experience what’s happening around me.
Every time I walk to class I see more faces focused down and lost in a phone than wandering eyes observing the world around them. Is this really the society and world we are hoping for? Before we know it, technology could literally become a physical part of us. It’s already in our pockets, and on our wrists...what’s next?
So, is the world moving forward? Are advances in technology making our lives easier or harming us in the long run? While it certainly can be beneficial, it’s imperative that we use it positively and not negatively.