Are We Slaves to Technology?

Boonsri — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:46:20 +0000

By Staff Writer – Boonsri Dickinson (@boonspoon)

Many posts on Techstartups.com deal with the newest gadget, best cell phone, and updates about social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Despite all of these new toys and technological tools, we are more depressed than ever. As life becomes more instant and happiness trails behind, unable to catch up.

We gorge on technology. That’s the American way. Our waistlines expand as we stuff too much food in our mouths. But unlike fat, tech habits are invisible. We leave behind digital imprints through phone records and Internet search histories. We answer any message that comes through text, email, tweet, or phone call. As we slowly become a slave to our smart phone, our life is punctuated through these half-ass communication efforts. You can’t replace face-to-face communication.

New Scientist points out that “people who place a high value on material goals are unhappier than those who are less materialistic.” Worse, the line between work and play is blurred. We take work baggage into the home, with the easy of office bought smart phones. In pursuit of more material goods, our happiness suffers.

There are ways to survive the high tech world, according to New Scientist. Make sure you maintain your real-world relationships. Duh! Dictate when you will answer your phone or email, not the other way around. Make sure you’re being productive — and now, this doesn’t mean updating your Facebook status with your holiday photos. And when bombarded with advertisements, you need to know how to react to them and know when they are bogus.

On the bright side, research shows that we know when we are happy and when we are not. Surprisingly, New Yorkers are the least happy! I could definitely spend more time exploring the concrete jungle without the company of my iPhone. That will be my New Year’s resolution.

Image: flickr/ Sergiography