Technology is easily taken for granted. It always works? Typing away oblivious to any potential techno-quake accompanied by an icon smiling through a maze of text, obeying every instruction in a zombie-like manner. Or does technology take humans for granted, hovering over us like a sword of Damocles? Who is in control?
All goes well, not a worry in the human/technosphere. And then, out of the blue a meteor strikes from far beyond a blue sky. You sit staring at the screen in disbelief. This cannot be real. Such a reliable servant cannot possibly have left you in the wilderness. Servants? We are more than likely to be the servant; slaves of technology. We tend to hold an iPhone or iPad as though it is a heart monitor or pacemaker.
Metaphorically we sing a song, wandering through a spectrum of tasks, preparing photos and messages for friends to be transmitted to the other side of the world at the speed of light. Even on weekends, technology requires our attention. Every message received demands an instant response. We have become servants of technology. Subliminal control. Denial if asked.
Staring at what is seemingly a void; an alien page that has taken over a reliable, second-home. Taken for granted as always there, never lost. This is not the familiar all-encompassing sight that is the norm.
When something does go wrong where technology has obeyed our every whim, switching on the laptop which bows or curtsies in reverence and dedication. Shock horror! No use shouting, weeping or hitting the laptop with a hammer. Staring at the home page in disbelief. It is not you! it is another being. No photo. Just a blank. To add to the confusion, the name and title are the same. A parallel Universe?
LinkedIn. A user before it was called Linkedin. Always reliable. Same profile. Always there. A reliable friend. And now, frozen in disbelief staring at a void, once a friendly element of life.
When logging on to Linkedin a wrong icon must have been pressed. Looking back, it must have been ‘new contact’. Suddenly thousands of Linkedin contacts morphed into zero. The familiar profile photo now an empty space. Strangely enough, the name and title were the same. Trying time and time again to re-enter the past from the present. To revert to familiarity. Friendly norm. No such luck. The home page was as if an alien intruder sent from another sphere of humanity…..or in reality, technology.
History. The familiar profile had been erased from the Universe of Linkedin. Strangely the iPhone behaved normally as if insulated from the reality of an individual seeking an answer to a question that seemingly did not exist. Transported to a different space-time continuum? A techno-parallel universe?
Bad dreams, and interrupted sleep demanded action be taken. But what and how?
And then an idea was visited via the grey sky which became bright and blue! Send an email to the creator of BizCatalyst360°, Dennis Pitocco.
Although not in his sphere of influence, Dennis provided practical advice. A positive exchange of potential solutions. Sadly nothing seemed to provide a solution. Another day using an iPhone for everything delivered a fear that it could be infected by such a surreal happening. Guidance was provided where an original weblink was to be applied to reinstate the norm. Still no result. And then inspiration arrived. BizCatalyst 360° could indeed be the pathway, the catalyst to a solution.
The BizCatalyst 360° platform was engaged and a recent essay visited. On looking at the various comments (good for positivity) there was a Linkedin logon icon. Trusting the BizCatalyst 360° platform, the LinkedIn icon was pressed.
As if being transported from the horrors of a black hole’s event horizon, following a standard login, the original LinkedIn profile appeared as if from a shining star! A return to techno-human normality. You may ask whether there is a life without technology, especially BizCatalyst 360°. However, there is no life without humanity. Never to be taken for granted.
‘Tampa Florida, we have a solution!’ Thank you Dennis Pitocco!
‘Houston, we have a solution!’
Simon, this essay is the work of a real wordsmith. Lesley Osborn observed “introspective “, agreed.
But above all a thought provoking analysis of today’s society, blended with a self analysis that revealed many questions we should all ponder, if we are to continue to embrace humanity. We shouldn’t allow technology to be an obstacle in our lives, it is simply a tool, a facilitator, anything more than that it has the potential to be horrifyingly destructive to humanity.
Above all this was an uplifting read, because it engendered hope, optimism and positivity, bywords I associate with you and this community. A very big thank you.
Christopher,
Thank you for your comments which I can only describe as generous and deep analysis of the topic and contents. There is an ever closing chasm where humanity is becoming technologically dominated by the iRobot pandemic. The younger ones grasp technology as if a source of wealth, where in reality are being adsorbed into a quasi-automated world. Babies who cry are presented with an iPhone instead of a dummy. Driverless cars? I would never in a million years trust one. They can and will be open to hacking. I refuse to use automated checkouts. I prefer to engage with a human. When contacting Vodafone the usual automate etc. a list of 8 options. I say state to the automation that I wish to speak with a human. Answer, ‘I’m sorry so didn’t quite understand that’.
Thank you Chris.
So very good. We are slaves to technology these days. Makes one wonder what did we do before. I like the idea of one day a week without to get along better and build lasting relationships.
Charlotte, I reckon we all dream of a techno free day! The challenge is, most don’t and we we may fear missing a message or something. I’m tapping away happily replying to you!
I’ll have to give it a try!
Simon
Eva Marie – Thank you for your comment. We all could in theory take a break once a week, but as I sit here tapping out this reply to you at 0.740 on a bright and sunny morning in Winchester, it could be challenging! I think I’ll have to try keeping technology at bay for half a day on Sunday for starters.
And he awoke shouting “I am not dead yet! I can sing and i can dance…”
Technophobe or technophile, Simon? When something valuable enough is on the other side – like our network and friends – it is easy to get a technoaddiction. We should all designate a day every week to step away.
Lesley,
Than you for your comment. I guess suddenly having technology giving you a kick can be traumatic!! It seems I now have a double! The one being not me!
A wonderful article, Simon.
Extremely introspective!