Is Technology A Boon or A Curse?

Remember the childhood days when we used to wait for Sundays to get connected with your loved ones or long distance relates? Simply because the call rates was cheaper.

Do you remember the smile on your face while opening a letter and waiting eagerly to read it? Each word came loaded with emotion. We could feel it. While writing a letter, we could probably visualise the reader’s expression.

They used to be soaked in personal touch. Those hand written letters, those had made cards… the smell of them was so special.

Did we miss a deadline because we were not on WhatsApp or other social media? Did we need instant reminder and online planning to meet friends or any family member? There was no lack of coordination or trust. We didn’t keep in touch 24x7 – still we were pretty much in touch and updated. We used to find the shoulder when we wanted to cry or we used to find a companion when we wanted to share something.

Today we all are connected almost 24x7 through technology. 1000 plus contact on popular social media, may be more numbers in phone book. We are excited about the likes and comments we get.

In fact, when we meet the same people with whom we are in touch over social media all the time, somehow we run out of words when we actually have to initiative a conversation in real. Sitting face to face with them we feel challenged – numb. And then we go back to our smart gadgets! Feel comfortable there – in the virtual world. We run out of conversation only because we are so distance from each other in real.

Why this discomfort when it comes to the real world? What are we running from? Are we lacking emotion? Do we feel uncomfortable expressing our emotion? Or we are too distant even to get in touch with our own feelings? Emojis are easy to express. What about a healthy conversation with family or friends and share a hearty laughter?

Now coming back to if technology is a boon or a curse?

Well, all that I have said above are true. At the same time, we have another truth. Imagine, being a woman waiting for a cab late night. Do we feel safe in public transport? Here comes the benefit of modern technology. We have instant radio cabs which are much safer. We have safety apps which keep us connected with loved ones and also to the near-by police stations.

We save time by doing much more work on the move, just being multi-tasking – in today’s busy life it’s one of the best advantage that we have. We can work from anywhere with the help of the gadgets and technology. The world has come into our pockets! Especially in some emergency situation, technology comes to us savior.

It’s a paradox. Still I would say, technology is a boon. It’s up-to us, the human beings to control technology or let technology control us. A balance always makes life perfect. Replace emojis with real laughter. Replace mass forwards with 10 minutes conversation with loved ones. Make the effort to connect in real, beyond virtual world.

Technology is here to make our life simpler, not to create a gap!