Technology: When the device becomes the divide

Social technology is a fantastic thing to hold in our hands — a Skype call connects you to overseas companions, a laptop connects you to projects away from home, a phone connects you to friends at all hours of the day. It’s a privilege to be just a call, click or text away. Generation Y is considered the most technologically savvy generation to date because of the rapidly changing trends. Still, there is debate about how much we rely on technology. Some say that it’s a wonderful tool and should be further explored and utilized. Some say it’s getting in the way of the more important things.

After considering the arguments, and watching this video, I’ve decided that I agree... with both.

On the one hand technology is a blessing. Inventions like lawnmowers, snowblowers, food processors and hair curlers have made mundane tasks more efficient. Cars, cameras and smartphones have made grand expeditions even more grand. I can’t imagine having a winter road trip without in-car heating, and frankly I don’t care for the idea of cutting the grass with scissors. Gadgets are luxuries.

On the other hand there is a risk of technology becoming our focus. If we are taking a photo of a friend on his birthday, the focus should be on our friend, not on the camera taking the photo. Sure, the photo will remind us of the moment we shared with this friend, but what good is it if we weren’t present in the moment to begin with? What is so compelling elsewhere that it steals us away from the now?

This discussion is nothing new. In fact, it had become such a dominant virtual conversation that Brian Perez, (Tumblr name “Lil b”) invented a game called Phone Stacking to get people more interested in dinner conversation than the latest text or tweet. A challenge everyone should take on, especially if the people in the I Forgot My Phone video are your friends (or you). Though I’m not one to judge.

Technology should assist us with the “now.” If it steals us away from the present moment, it has failed as a device and should be tossed away. Let us remind ourselves that people are the main focus — quality time, conversation, service, activities, even solitude, prayer, nature, silence.

Many of us are afraid of silence. When distractions are so easily accessible, it leaves little time to reflect and spend alone time with God. Yesterday’s homily struck a chord with me, particularly because I was reminded of the nature of sin — the misuse of something good. Technology is good, let’s keep it as a means to an end. It’s only part of the journey to get to each other.

So yes, record a video of the street performers in New York, e-mail that friend describing the Himalayan mountains, snap a Selfie of you and the Pope... just be present. We can’t brag about the moment if we haven’t fully lived it first.