iDepend: Our Overreliance on Technology

By Amy Steffen

Because of procrastination, communication, and materialism, technology should be limited.

People forget that communication stems from face to face interaction. They compensate their social laziness behind technological devices. Using those devices to fill the void, whereas other productive responsibilities should be attended and carried out, procrastination arises.

Procrastination is why we have corrupt study habits. Thanks to technology students have more reasons for not doing their homework.

Their mind’s brainwashed, technology has gained another specimen. Encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauruses, bibles, and various books, which were once the only modes of research, now sit the shelf like forgotten toys.

Ironically, being content with what you have, is not enough anymore. A life free from the love of money constitutes a binding magical contract, that one must be adamant not to conform to societies norms.

It is not just the Bible, most would agree life should be kept simple (Pfister).

In 2011, at least 23% of auto collisions involved cell phones. That is 1.3 million crashes. (“Texting and Driving Statistics”). Is it really worth it?

Empty aisles but full shelves, empty brains but full computers, where would we be without the original parchment paper? Getting lost in a book represents the adventure that becomes you, but getting lost on the internet leaves you in limbo. Technology promises us that we can do anything from anywhere with anyone. When judgment comes, what you have done with your freedom will be tested.

When asked about the day the new Call of Duty Xbox game (Black Ops 2) came out, Lynn Bartscher, Brandon Valley Secretary stated, “there were 35 students who took their free day just to play this ridiculous time-waster.” Kids are learning that they control when they learn and when they do not. That is scary.

Look at all those gadgets! That is not necessary, just convenient. Some families go to the public library just to check their week to week checks. If that wasn’t enough, texting on the job is just pathetic. Logically, you would think this man would be sick of working with screens all day.

Students stay up late because they can’t get enough of the attention. It’s an addiction. Always waiting for that next vibration to confirm that someone wants to talk to you. No way that that is healthy or logical.

The day after looks like this. Unable to focus or keep eyes open, he crashes. This never-ending cycle will continue until the body cannot take it anymore.

Church. The one place you ask for forgiveness of your sins. The one place this bright young fellow’s attention always wanders to the thing that will never leave him bored. Some “soul”itudes cannot be saved.

Online we face a moment of temptation. Drawn by the illusion of companionship without the demands of intimacy. We are promised companionship will be married with convenience (Turkle).

<http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/revolution-2012-tv-series/images/>.

When the world goes dark, no one will know what to do. Stuck with people, books, and matches, technology will not be able to help you light a candle.

. <http://w

ww

.the-techbox.com/quicknew

s/>.

The more technology you use, the more you will lose yourself in it. If technology continues to progress this rapidly, we will end up just like the people in the movie WALL-E.

Works Cited

Esimeon. "Is the WALL-E Movie Becoming a Reality?" Tech Box. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. <http://www.the-techbox.com/quicknews/>.

Pfister, Katie, and McCarthy. "Are We Too Dependent on Technology?" SunSentinel.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012.

Saejima. "Revolution (2012 TV Series) Images | Icons, Wallpapers and Photos on Fanpop." Fanpop. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. <http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/revolution-2012-tv-series/images/>.

"Texting and Driving Statistics." Texting and Driving Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. <http://www.textinganddrivingsafety.com/texting-and-driving-stats/>.

Turkle, Sherry. "Alone Together by Sherry Turkle." Alone Together by Sherry Turkle. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2012. <http://alonetogetherbook.com/>.

 

 

Annotated Bibliography

Pfister, Katie, and McCarthy. "Are We Too Dependent on Technology?" SunSentinel.com. N.p., n.d.

Web. 26 Nov. 2012.

Absolute dependence on technology stems from mass marketing. From cell phones and laptops to Wii's and DVD

players, once the "new and improved" model is out, there's a rush to upgrade. It is impossible to escape.

Sala, Mary Ann. "The Kaleidoscope." America Has Become Too Dependent on Technology. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2012. <http://studentmedia.uab.edu/2012/08/>.

 Despite its ease, technology has caused people to become so reliant that, in a poll by CNET, 28 percent of people said they

wouldn’t be able to live without high-speed Internet. The younger generation has lost its curious nature to explore to world

Patrick. "Are People Overly Dependent on Technology?" TheGeekPanel Technology Content Geeky

Stuff Guest Blogging. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. <http://thegeekpanel.com/social/are-people-

overly-dependent-on-technology/>.

It’s a simple fact of the 21st century that we depend on technology for everything, and those who eschew it are

somehow called backwards, out of touch, and quite often my parents. Still, do we require so much technology to

function in today’s society, or do we just tell ourselves that in an attempt to continue feeling relevant? Is it really

important that my Facebook friends know that I just sat down for dinner at my favorite restaurant?