Embracing and Refusing Technology

As a child, we are cared for and taught life lessons by our parents and elders.  We learn math and science from our teachers.  Always looking up to adults for guidance and insight.  This has been true in every aspect of life, until now, where the tables have turned.

It used to be that you had to be a scientist to operate computers and certain types of technology.  Now if you have a problem or technology question, you no longer call a specialist or technician.  You will turn to the nearest thirteen year old for help.  It seems that being a teenager is the only requirement to completely understanding any and all forms of technology these days.

We are spoiled as a society to experience the amazing technologies that we have.  If we use television as an example, things used to be so much simpler.  Going way back to when TV was first introduced into the house, there was no remote.  If you wanted to change to the only other channel, you got your kid to get up and change it.  Nowadays, we need "Universal" remotes to activate all aspects of the entertainment experience.  We have to turn on the 50" HD TV, then the amp that controls the 8 speaker surround sound.  Next you have to turn on your Blu-Ray player, if you still use that outdated piece of technology.  That's right, outdated!  Everything is done on computer now.  So you plug your laptop into your TV to watch movies, or even your favourite shows now.  In addition, you will have hundreds of channels either via satellite, digital cable or one of the other many options.

My point is that as our wonderful parents, and the rest of the Baby Boomer generation ages, they can find it difficult to keep up with all the changes.  As the frustration grows, they reach a point where they have to make a decision.  This week, I witnessed a great example of both possible choices.

Option 1:  Baby Boomers decide to accept the new technology, learn it, embrace it and enjoy it.  My friend Allison is a wonderful example of this.  She has not only joined in the social media craze, but has become a power house in this new sector.  As a member of Facebook, Allison is actively engaged with her kids while they are at different Universities across the country.  She is also a proud user of Linked-in, and I bet that she'll read this blog too.  Another friend, Eliane, is also a great example.  As, a small business owner, she has recently discovered that Social Media is a powerful and necessary tool in marketing her business.  Not really knowing what it was or how it worked, she was previously not interested in learning about it or using it at all.  However, as she has begun to use Facebook and Skype to keep in touch with her travelling daughter, Eliane has become more interested in its opportunities and possibilities.  Speaking to Eliane about it the other day, I watched her get excited just talking about it.  She has now added Social Media marketing to her overall marketing strategies.  These are just 2 examples of Boomers embracing change, and using technology to further enrich their lives.  When accepted and understood, technology can be a wonderful tool to help people (or businesses) connect with others.  It is, as you know, a great resource for information as well, which leads me to Option 2.

Option 2:  Refusing and rejecting technology.  Not completely rejecting any and all types of technology, but definitely not keeping up with it.  A friend, Paul, who is a successful businessman, still does not have internet at his house.  He doesn't even have a computer at home, in fact.  And he doesn't want one.

He was having a conversation the other day, and the other gentleman brought up the point that no one uses the phone book anymore.  Paul replied "I still use it."  The gentleman asked "What did you use it for?"  Paul very comically but honestly replied that he used it to look up a typing school.  

There are those who don't feel the need for more confusion or devices.  These people are quite happy to use the resources that they are used to.  Paul has made a choice, and is much happier to be engaged in conversation rather than being constantly bothered by an iPhone beeping, alerting him that Ellen has tweeted that she has found a new funny YouTube video.  These people are content to enjoy the silence, and find beauty in the small things in life.

I think that we need to incorporate a bit of both of these examples into our life.  Technology can be a huge time saver, but it can also be a big time waster.  Technology is the way of the future, and will always be with us.  Embrace it, enjoy it, engage in it, but balance it with a healthy dose of outdoor activities and time spent with friends and family.  Maybe the next time you have dinner with family and friends, make it a device free zone?