Mobile slavery

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Does technology make life easier? Not always. Smartphones were supposed to shorten the distance between people. But something went wrong: now communication is reduced to Facebook reposts. Talking eye to eye has become more difficult. Experts figure out what to do with it.

Cafe … At the table - boy and girl … But instead of talking animatedly with each other, they buried in phone screens … Today such a picture is a common thing. At the beginning of the year, a study was conducted in New York, as a result of which it was found that 28% of people interrupt their date to look at their phone, 35% pretend, what busy with the phonejust to avoid unwanted conversation, and 41% prefer to search for information using their phonerather than asking questions of others.

What will a deep immersion in the world of technology lead to? magazine "Around the world"told Daniel Seeberg, bestselling author "Digital Diet" … He flew to Moscowto the conference YotaPhone Idea Camp.

You lecture on new technologies, you work for Google. And you wrote a book about human dependence on gadgets …

Yes, this is really funny. But I do not hide that I love technology very much: they are amazing, they make our life easier … However, it takes away something important from it … Before I decided to write a book in 2010, I did not miss a single technical novelty. I had all the devices: smartphones, tablets, some kind of charging stands for the phone in the car, on the desktop, and so on. But one day I suddenly realized that I was in captivityall this.

What happened?

O! My wife happened! She was unhappy with me. Do you know what she called me? "Firefly"- because my face was lit by gadget screens all day and night … At first, I didn't take seriously her requests to put the tablet away from the dining table. I didn't see the problem. But when she practically stopped talking to me, because in most cases I simply did not hear her, I realized that if I didn't change something now, the case would end in divorce.

Have you thrown your gadgets in the trash can?

Of course not. Any extremes is bad. First thing stopped using devices at home … I began to observe my habits and the habits of the people around me. And I found that colleagues, sitting at neighboring tables, were more willing to send each other letters (even not at work) by e-mail, ignoring the opportunity to ask a question in person.

A meetings with friends reminded TV conversation … We gave each other news, but did not react at all in response to the information received. I realized that technology addiction problem - not only mine. This global problem of societyin which we live.

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Are there statistics to prove that most people depend on gadgets?

It is enough to go to a place of mass gathering of people, and you will see in the hands of every third, and even the second phone. Recently, a sociological survey was conducted in New York, people were asked: "To answer a phone call, are you willing to interrupt dates, meals and sex?" The indicators are frightening: 22% of respondents are ready to interrupt on a date, 49% - during lunch and 11% - during sex. Judging by the numbers, life priorities have shifted from a simple phone call.

But in the professional sphere, technologies help …

Technology has made communication easier, for example, international companies. Many conferences and negotiations are held on Skype … But there is a catch here too. Due to the large number of gadgets, the person himself has changed. We have evolved into multitasking performers. At the same time, the quality of the tasks performed is brought to the detriment of the quantity. Our brains are capable of processing one or two tasks at the same time. But for most companies this is not enough now. An employee, for example, must perform some tasks on a computer, at the same time respond to work and mobile phones, periodically respond to important letters in the mail, and so on. It is impossible to concentrate in such conditions. From here decreased productivity.

Now let's try to explain this to employers … For example, I often receive messages about work at two in the morning. And I sit down at the computer …

Okay, but what happens if you see this message not at night, but in the morning? People have The biological clock … Regardless of whether you do the work at night or in the morning, colleagues will begin to process the information received from you when they come to work. So why torture yourself? Employers understand that a person cannot work efficiently and perform a huge number of tasks around the clock. In many companies in the United States, the trend is already reversed - a return to single-tasking of employees. We have an acronym for BYOD - Bring your own device ("Bring your own device"). Companies allow you to bring personal phones and laptops to work and complete work assignments on them. People need a device, but one thing. Let the calls come to one phone. Yes, on different issues, but in turn and at a certain time.

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Why do you think an intelligent person becomes addicted to technology?

Ten years ago, there were not so many smartphones. There were phones with the most basic functions. But at that time, they also seemed to be something special. Each novelty aroused our genuine interest, like a child's - a new toy. And this curious child inside everyone led us to the fact that we have already begun to perceive devices as a part of ourselves. We too much in love with technologyforgetting that you need to love each other.

But with the younger generation born in the era of gadgets, things are no better …

I have two daughters: Kylie, three, and Sky, nine months. Skye is still small for gadgets, but my wife and I have already introduced Kylie to a tablet and a phone. And do you know her first reaction? She threw her beloved doll and was carried away by a new toy … We limited the time of use tablet and were allowed to watch cartoons or play games only in our presence. We do this so that the child understands: yes, there are technologies, there are telephones, but even if they are not there, life is no worse. This must be taught from childhood.

You can't control a child at school …

Therefore, to begin it is necessary from an early age - to instill a culture of using gadgets … It is difficult to imagine our life without them. And then technologies will only develop. But it seems to me that since adults have felt how easy it is to become dependent on them, then children will feel it on a subconscious level. We are people, we need real communication. It is an instinct that will win sooner or later. Another question is that I would like to help children in this struggle. Of course, if a child plays on the computer around the clock and does not seek to leave the house at all, this is scary. In this case, it makes no sense to sit and wait for nature to take its toll.

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I recently read a report about a Chinese gamer rehab center. People are placed in an institution where they have no connection with the outside world. It's scary to imagine what will happen next …

Let's imagine a scale of technology dependence. On the one side, there are especially difficult cases, for example, gamers, on the other, those who have abandoned technology altogether. But in my opinion most of the people yet is somewhere in the middle … It will be enough for them to be constantly reminded that no need to get too carried away with virtual life … People are not stupid and will understand everything, they just haven't thought about the problem yet.

How to remind?

For example, to talk about it more often in such interviews, to conduct conversations in schools, universities. And this is already happening. Advertising is a bright reflector of the tendencies and needs of society. I recently came across an advertisement for a drink. The poster depicted a group of people chatting animatedly with each other, and below - the inscription: “Disconnect. The Internet can take care of itself in a few minutes … Here are the new trends. More and more often, there is a desire to stay at least somewhere offline. Ask someone with a constant flow of information and technology where they would like to go on vacation. Most likely somewhere where there is not a lot of technology. For example, to India. Gadgets, Internet, Wi-Fi are great, but it's impossible to be in this 24 hours a day.

Let's fast forward ten years into the future. What is it like?

It seems to me that we are gradually moving towards leaving computer monitors only for work tasks, but in ordinary life start looking into each other's eyes a little more often … I want you to understand that I am not against technology. We created them to make our life easier, not to be controlled by them. You must remember this simple truth yourself and remind everyone around you.