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Technology has definitely changed the world.   We are more connected, have easier access to information, and we can be more productive.  The question I pose:  Is our quality of life better or worse?  I remember as a kid growing up in the 1970’s.  When my father came home from work he was able to spend quality time with the family.  His weekends were his; there was no constantly checking mobile devices for e-mail, text messages or browsing the web.  Personally, I feel like I am always on call and feel the need to know what is going on in my business real time, since I can, not that I need to.  When do we get down time?  Vacations?  I don’t think so!  Who does not check their e-mails while on vacation these days?

When we were kids we studied by ourselves or in the library.  Now my kids study at home and on Facebook, iChat, OOVOO, Skype, etc….   Will this make us smarter?  Will it make us lazier?  How will it affect our social skills as a community?  Will we need a new dictionary just to learn how to use the proper abbreviations for texting our friends, family and co-workers? 

GPS’s!  Will our kids ever know how to read a map?  Will they ever know what one looks like?  When we drive and listen to that voice telling us where and when to turn do we pay attention and learn how we got there or does this just make us more dependent on technology and then give us more time to do other things while we drive?  Eat, Read, Text, Shave, Put on makeup;  I have seen all of that!

While Technology has provided us access to information it is important to also maintain a quality of life and keep a healthy balance.  Let me know what you think.

Comments (3)

	1. 02-02-2010 18:08
	In most cases it comes down to whether you allow technology to rule your life. Most people don't need to check their emails while on vacation, or be in constant contact with the office, but can't resist the urge to know what's going on.    Quite frankly, I wouldn't give up my always-on access to information to go back to the "good old days". But then again, I know how to shut off the BlackBerry. Registered

Mel Duvall

	2. 02-04-2010 16:12
	I believe it is not whether technology runs our lives but whether our customers control us. Registered

Peter Rothman

	3. 02-08-2010 23:19
	I tend to think that technology only affects your life or those around you (your kids) in the ways you let it. It can easily be abused but this can also be easily fixed. I for one don't do "on call", when I am home I am home and people have known better, you hire other good people to fill the void. As for kids, it is easy for them to get obsessed with the different amounts of communications available but as a person who grew up on a farm away from other people of my age (or that many at least) I would have loved to have these communication methods. As parents we must only allow the use of these tools to a point where they are not being abused. If they become abused they must be curtailed just like any other abused thing like candy and TV.    -sean Registered

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