Unplugged!
Thursday 22 October 2020Unplugged – Part 3: Choice
Sunday 1 November 2020
Previously, we discussed the impact of fitness technologies on our health and intuition. The question was raised:
“Are we really utilising it [technology] as a tool, or is it stripping us of our intuition?”
The answer will be unique to each of us:
> Do we incessantly check our Fitbit after a workout to see if we worked hard and burned enough calories?
> Or will we gravitate to a higher protein and carbohydrate meal post workout because “that’s what my body needs right now” regardless of what MyFitnessPal dictates?
To be clear, one is not better than the other, but when it comes to educating ourselves within the health and wellness sphere, I would imagine it would be of benefit to us to strive towards an intuitive approach; where technology is used intermittently as the tool it is intended to be.
But what about outside the health sphere – could the same be true?
Elon Musk (genius engineer and the guy who wants to send people to Mars) spoke on an episode of the Joe Rogan Podcast about how we are already Cyborgs; unanimous with our technology.
Our humble iPhones, Samsung Galaxies or any other brand of smart phone is literally an extension of us, Elon explained. Think about this…
On our mobile phones, there is gigabytes worth of stored data that is personal to us: our contacts, photos, text message exchanges and bank account details.
In some senses, our phone is a second brain, and we find ourselves becoming more and more dependent upon them.
This is exemplified by the times we have gone without them…
- Without our phone, we have to stand awkwardly in line at the bank waiting to cash a cheque.
- Without our phone, we would have no clue as to how to best contact our closest friends.
- Without our phone, we would barely make it out of our township with getting lost.
- Without our phone, we would be forced to spend hours at a time bored, allowing our thoughts and imagination to run rampart.
And so begs the question: if technology is a tool, then why are we so dependent upon it?
A preface to this: I do not believe that we need to forsake all forms of electricity and return to a cave dwelling lifestyle; technology is not the enemy.
But, when it comes to educating and exploring a deeper understanding of ourselves, perhaps our technology dependency inhibits our freedom and independence, rather than facilitate it.
Understand: technology has afforded us many freedoms, but now it is up to us to recognise where the opposite may be true.
That we are not in fact users of technology, but where technology is actually, using us.
– Serge Houhlias –
