Smart Phone Interconnection

We read the last two chapters: Chapter 6: Time to Talk and Chapter 7: Finding Time in a Digital Age to finish off Pressed for Time by Judy Wajcman. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. We live in a universally fast society. Technology driven and task oriented; the standard American society is pushing for fastness and high productivity. We are also constantly interconnected with one another due to our cellphones. There is a blurred line between work and home now, because workers are now readily available to be contacted via their personal smart phone. This used to be the purpose of the landline, but now, as the landline dies away and will probably be completely extinct in the next decade, the cellphone is the newest channel for bosses to contact their workers. This is also the case for email, notifications are sent to one’s cellphone home screen just like a text message. Our tech savvy world is pushing for interconnectedness. At no point do I feel disconnected from anything, unless I am… well in a forest without wifi or even an electronic device. Simply having a device, even if it is turned off, is staying connected. That device is still receiving messages via Facebook, text, Instagram, etc.; therefore, you, in a sense although not actively receiving and responding, are still connected.

I, myself, have come to see how interconnected with everything and everyone due to my smart phone. For work, school, and leisure I use it. I have dictionary apps, social media apps, email apps, etc. I am constantly staying connected with people and with my academic and professional work. This is where that blurred line between work and home comes into play. My supervisor has my personal cellphone and a couple times I forgot to sign my timesheet before submission period. I was at home during breaks for these times, so my supervisor texted me to let me know that I did not sign my timesheet but that she would sign off on it for me. Even while not at work, I am still connected. This could have been done over email as well, but having the ease of sending a direct text message to someone’s personal cellphone and getting fast responses from both parties in a professional manner is an interesting concept to wrap your head around. 20 years ago, this would not have been possible, but today, it is the norm.

Perhaps, take some time out of your day to go on a digital detox diet. Turn off all electronics and read a paperback book or go for a run. Soak up what’s around you in the real world. This book was not trying to say that digital is bad, but technology is constantly evolving and becoming faster, more intelligent, and more widely used. This book better informed its readers of the harried society we live in today, due to the ease of technology and ability to multitask and complete more in a smaller amount of time, leaving more time to do other things; therefore, becoming even more busy. Just because you can text your friend 1,000+ times in a matter of hours or complete 3 loads of laundry, because you have a washing machine and spare time, doesn’t mean you have to; the technology is readily available, but it is your choice to use it.

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