Technology Fast

On the 28^th of March 2012 I was assigned the task of completing a technology fast. I had the option of abstaining from using the following

·         The Internet

·         Mobile Phone

·         Email

·         All 3 – Total Fast

I choose to do the task on Saturday last as due to coarse work in previous weeks I felt I would not have been able to abstain from any of the above.

The day began by switching off my phone; which enabled me to easy access to the internet usually. I continued to do my everyday duties and progressed to work. In work that day things were unusually hectic due to a storm the previous night all power had ceased by 2pm. Great!! I now had no access to television either. The power cut lasted for the remainder of the night until a low surge of power had returned enough electricity for the lights to come back. I worked a 15 hour shift that day which in a line of thought, I thought am I realistically doing this technology fast in the right circumstances??

My boss was away on business that day so I was left to run the whole show. I could not ring him which was my first instinct when all power got corrupted but I managed to go on and do what I thought was best. On his return that evening luckily he was glad of the way the situation was dealt with.

While I was on the technology fast I considered the following:

Has these technologies altered my life?

Yes, Definitely. In this modern age I feel as a young person it would not be possible to function otherwise. An older person’s opinion may differ as they have experienced life at my age without it.

Prime example:

A college student twenty years ago would not have been able to research online. They would not have had an online catalogue to show were the book was they needed. It was far more time consuming. I feel as a student now I couldn’t imagine going back to this stage. As a member of generation Y we want everything now.

Has my phone taken over control of my life?

I wouldn’t go to the extent to say it has taken over my life but I will say it has taken over certain elements of my life. I don’t wear a watch, posses an alarm clock, or own a diary/calendar; because it’s all on my phone.  I make call, txt & use the internet on my phone daily.

Could I run my life without technology?

Straight to the point NO! My boss contacts me about work frequently during the week via phone.  I use the internet everyday means it be checking emails, Facebook or shopping online. It just happens I take it for granted; it’s a normal part of life for me.

Have I been less/ more efficient during this period?

As I stated earlier, if i had of had access to a phone I would of rang my boss straight away to ask what I should do in that situation. I went on my own initiative which turned out to be right. So I would say I worked more efficiently.

Is there a future without communications technology?

NO! As stated in my mobile commerce blog I feel this is just the stepping stone to the development of this technology who knows what we will be able to do via this technology in ten years time.