Look at this photo from one of the Obama inauguration balls. It's extraordinary!! It makes me ask "Why experience the moment when you can be looking at a rendering of the moment on a tiny screen while taking a crappy photo". And of course the photos taken will never be as good as the ones in the papers or online.I know it's an "I was there" moment and a personal photo - however crappy - will be a momento...but it just makes me wonder whether technology impedes us from experiencing our experiences. I say this to myself too as I'm an iPhone, twittering, facebooking, 2 Macs wielding technophile.
Is it helping us...is it helping me....be more present and earthed? It's undoubtedly not a simple yes/no question but I thought it was a question worth asking.
5 comments:
Technology has got a lot of good things going for it. To some extent it can help you dig deeper into an experience (spotting details in a photo; learning from a rehearsal recording, etc) and it certainly helps in connecting to people.
However, there is definitely an important place for putting the gizmos down and experiencing life directly without diverting your attention; a time to live in the moment rather than trying to create a record of it.
I'd go with this Wulf...
I'd also add there is a time to put down my Mac (which my future wife fears will erode our chances of 'producing' as it sits on my lap so much of the time) and iPhone to stop myself being open to the future. Always looking toward the next thing I'll be doing the next invitation I could be open to...
For me this is the bigger temptation, I am not allowing the present in by putting down the things which oull me into the future.
This post has made me think of taking a weekly sabbath from technology... perhaps Sunday?
A weekly tech-sabbath? Holds out trembling hand...
I'm not sure I could cope with that although, in my recent period of frequent weekend travels back to London, I suppose I have had some fairly low-tech days (yes, I know the Oxford Tube has free wifi but it's not the greatest experience on my Palm Pilot!).
I haven't invested in the technology that would let me always be in the loop... and maybe that isn't such a bad thing.
Sometimes I am walking around with my camera and looking for that perfect shot and then realise that I can't capture the moment with a man-made device. So I just put it down and take a picture with my eyes. You can only take a static slice of life with techonology. At times I get that memory shot, other times I just leave the camera put away because it will cause me to be an observer instead of a participant.
There is no breath in an image. And while I love all the gadgets, I love feeling the breeze of the living spirit more.
"I quite like looking through an article that will make people think.
Also, thank you for allowing me to comment
"
- Portable Concrete Batching Plant | Screed vibrator | Stationary Concrete Plant
Post a Comment