Essay written by my 16yr old son who is now a Junior.
Vices Devices
Technology is water. Life, as we know it, would not exist without the two. Both items shape our very being, enabling us to complete the string of functions that we have come to call “modern life”. Our favorite liquid, however, can be nothing short of lethal if we surround ourselves without restraint, cutting us off from what is most important. Technology is water, although advocates argue it is nothing but a godsend, ubiquitous technology hinders our growth and destroys our human relations.
Though it may sound simple, we cannot progress while standing still; life is not a moving sidewalk. Today, we are surrounded by innumerable screens, each one calling out to us, begging us to watch television, surf the web, or play a game. By allowing ourselves to be taken away from our lively pursuits, we put our feet up. We cannot become the greatest version of ourselves if we are idle, our minds and hands lost in a world made up of inconsequential flecks of light. The extreme saturation of technology we are familiar with is a distraction, drawing our attention from tasks that would better ourselves, or perhaps, the world. Additionally, we find it more difficult to grow as individuals due to the hyper-connective nature of ubiquitous technology. No longer can we foster our thoughts alone in our mind; the widespread use of technology exposes us to the voices of the masses, influencing, to some extent, the views of the individual.
Schwegman pg.2
Originality exists solely within the vacuum of one’s mind. If we can hear the thoughts of all mankind from our bedroom, we will lose the opportunity to create ourselves.
A product of technology, submarines are marvelous feats of engineering. Within, the crew descends into the darkness of the ocean knowing very well that the water that encapsulates them can, at any moment, breach the hull and flood the interior. The technology that permeates our lives can keep us connected to international developments, but propel us away from our loved ones. Communications, for example, have taken a turn for the worse since the advent of the cell phone. Often times we may simply send a message to a friend instead of meeting with them face-to-face. Do we value a message composed of ones and zeros more than a handshake or a hug? We feel disconnected as we know the emoticons are not smiling at us; inside we realize a touch is worth more than one-hundred and forty characters. Even more vexing is the idea that we may be utterly alone, separated from the next human being by a grand total of five feet. Never before could we come home to a full house only to find it full of ghosts, slaved to their devices. Ubiquitous technology allows there to be gaps between even family members. A week may pass where one knows nothing about the events of another’s day. Though it possesses the power to connect the distant corners of the Earth, a shroud of circuits drives us further from those closest to us.
Technology, like our beloved water, is here to stay. Electronic devices form the backbone of modern medicine and allow us to observe the natural world in ways previously unimaginable. The problem arises not when we use technology for discovery and work, but when it becomes instrumental to our being. Our devices can help us cure sickness, but they themselves are a
Schwegman pg.3
disease. We have submerged ourselves in technology. From our hands, wrists, and ears to televisions on our walls, it is plain to see we practically worship universal technology. Blankly we stare at our screens as they waste precious hours of our lives, sap meaning from the present, and make us oblivious to our fellow man. Ease of access has made living an inconvenience. Ubiquitous technology has made it easy for our mind and body to become idle, giving us the need to periodically remind ourselves that we are indeed alive.
Water, clearly, is imperative in sustaining ourselves. Even so, we approach it with the knowledge that it is useful and healthy, but also possesses the power to destroy. Our lives are fleeting; we cannot be bothered with the distractions and mind-numbing effects of ubiquitous technology. We exist to create and to explore and to love, none of which computed by a cell phone. The world must be experienced. The interface of life is not a screen- it is our hands and feet.
