Technology Is Laughing At Us

I am beginning to think that technology is pulling my leg and trying to replace it with a motherboard to control my every move. In a Nostradamus world, it could happen.

Technology has already ingratiated itself into my life with it’s dazzling digital cameras, MP3 players, cellphones, remote controls, computers and cordless devices, which admittedly brings ease to my life, but now I think technology is laughing at us.

It has been resting on it’s laurels too much, gotten too confident and testing our limits. Some would say that technology is two batteries short of a pack. It is heading for the crazy farm - and taking us with it.

Every time I mention that technology is making us torpid, it doesn’t challenge me; it chuckles in silence before it strikes out. I have been hoping for a way to wipe that smirk off of it’s face, or at least find a device that will do it for me, but it just keeps chortling while it tightens its grip around my neck and watches me squirm in a chokehold.

Following are real devices that technology wants us to embrace, but I am having a hard time putting my arms around them. What do you think? Are they making your life easier or seemingly easier, but more time consuming?

GPS (Global Positioning System) - to some who can’t find their way around town, this is a godsend. To others who enjoy reading maps (or getting lost in the wilderness) this is sacrilege. Seriously, I happen to have a great sense of direction, but I understand the frustration of those who don’t. Looking at a GPS can distract a driver and you wind up missing your turn, so it’s good to have a sense of where you are going and get one with a voice that will at least keep you company on your trip.

Backup Camera - this is a scary one because already people can’t drive well. If they rely on something like this, they will never learn. It shows you how close you are to the car behind you. I say that if you don’t know how to back up, practice in an open field. What happens when the camera doesn't work? You will have to leave your car running in the middle of the street. You don’t want that do you?

GoDuster - a motorized duster that supposedly makes dusting faster, easier and more fun. This battery operated device looks more like green cotton candy than a duster. With a push of the button, the duster head starts to spin, picking up dust in a fraction of the time. I didn’t know that dusting was so strenuous.





Spell Check - I spell well, but if I know that I can use spell check, I will put in a couple of letters of a word and wait for spell check to spell the rest of the word. I keep thinking that spell check will know my shorthand marks, but it just thinks I can’t spell. Sometimes, spell check is asleep and doesn’t catch them all. If we keep using it we are not going to know how to spell at all. Use it sparingly.

Roomba - this is a UFO-shaped vacuum cleaner. It's a little more than a foot in diameter, 3 inches tall, and it runs on a rechargeable NiMH battery. The battery provides between 60 minutes and 90 minutes of operation per charge. It takes seven hours to recharge. Vacuuming is therapeutic and a stress reliever, roomba is like watching paint dry. It exercises your patience, but not your body.

Electric Fly Swatter - is like a Taser for flying insects. With 1,500 volts, it kills all flying insects such as mosquitos, flies, and gnats, just by waving at them with this mini tennis racket device. This insect terminator supposedly leaves no smudge, smear or mess to clean up, but users have stated that when you hit a bug, it explodes. You actually hear a "pop" and see a little smoke. If you touch it, you may get a little shock. The newer the battery, the louder the pop.







Ice Cream Rotater - one of the joys of having an ice cream cone is to lick it. This device rotates the ice cream for you, all you have to do is stick your tongue out - and that is exactly what technology is doing to us.

How would your life be without technology? Would it cause you more or less aggravation?