The big screen that is life

Angela Guiao
MSMU Class of 2021

(10/2019) Sometimes, I sit in bed and wonder how the world would work if we didn’t discover technology. It wouldn’t be too crazy right? I mean, we didn’t always have technology. It’s crazy to think about just how integral a part technology plays in our daily lives today.

Every person I know owns a cellphone. Not having a cellphone is like being cut off from the rest of the world. How would you communicate with your friends? With your parents? With your family? How would you know how to get anywhere? Or here at the Mount, how would you know what assignments were due? Now that I come to think about it, how would I even write this article?

Technology plays a part in almost every single aspect of our lives. And.in my personal opinion is that it’s gotten to the point that its presence in our lives is just a little excessive. I mean, come on, do we really need WIFI in our cars? Or do we need cars that can drive themselves? I understand the argument that the reason for technology’s existence is to make life easier. But it does beg the question that if technology becomes too advanced, will technology even need us?

While it has certainly played a giant, vital part in human progress, hasn’t it also diminished human usefulness? I just feel like there are some things that do not need technology involved. For example, as a rule, my family does not use technology on vacations. That means no work or school emails, no handheld games, no portable movies or disrupting group chats. Possibly the only electronic we ever use on vacation is our digital camera. And even that, we do not use very often.

Now, I know that for some people that may sound crazy. I mean how can we not post our vacation goals on Instagram? And honestly, the answer is simple. We just don’t. I found that holidays I had where I did not use technology were 100 times more relaxing than the holidays I had where I did use technology. That just brings up another question for me. Why are we so obsessed with sharing every single little thing that we do?

Recently, I attended my cousin’s birthday party. I held the cake. And as I stood there singing happy birthday, I looked around and noticed every single person at the party was holding their phone and recording. Now before you all react and ask me whether I have ever done any of those things, the answer is yes. I am guilty of overusing technology. And if we are being totally honest, sometimes I regret focusing so much on getting the perfect shot or taking another video instead of just enjoying the moment. I mean, sure, by taking a video or photo, I have a keepsake of things that have been happening to me for the last few years. But sometimes, just looking at a picture isn’t as satisfying as actually remembering an experience.

I know what you are thinking. Why am I even bringing it up? A person without technology would fall behind. Technology connects. It connects people from all over the world. It connects employers to jobseekers. It connects future lovers. It connects long lost family. It connects those with the ability to help to those in need,

I just want to be completely clean. I am not bashing technology. How can I bash something that I use every single day? And I understand that while technology may have affected us negatively when it comes to real life interactions and social skills, it impacts us positively by exposing us to real world issues.

At the tap of our fingers we can access news reports from all over the world. We can choose to make injustices or acts of violence go viral and be brought to national attention. We have more of a say in how we want the world we live in to be. Without technology we are ignorant. We do not know so we are not hurt. With technology, we are forced to be hurt. We are faced with cruelties and discrimination, poverty and abuse that we would not be aware of were it not for technology.

We created machines that enabled us to discover more, that allows us to deal with molecules so small we can reengineer certain cells or viruses and find a cure. We built aircrafts so strong that we are able to discover space. Technology enables.

So, now that I have established that technology can be both a good and a bad thing, I guess the only thing I can ask now is if the good things make the bad things worth it? And that is a question that I cannot answer myself.

All I know is that in my life today, I don’t need to use technology as much as I do. In fact, whenever I get really overworked at school or my life just feels like a mess, I would often take a hiatus from technology. And, for me, those are some of the most peaceful moments of my life.

But that’s just me. And right now, I’m just a college student if you’re out there and you’re a scientist, an engineer, a writer, s surgeon, continue using technology! Keep innovating, keep developing, keep trying to make our world s better place.

But if you’re just like me, stop and think to yourself if you really need to check your phone. If you really need to watch the next episode. If you really need to finish that final level. Because usually the moments of our lives that we’ll remember when we get older are not the ones where our eyes are glued onto our screens, but rather the ones spent with the ones we love doing the things we love.

Technology is important. It is important in more ways than I can list, but don’t let the screen take your eyes off your life.

Read other articles by Angela Tongohan