Wired

I am sitting at Starbucks, connected to wireless, listening to my iPod, with my cell phone sitting on the table next to my computer. Since sitting less than 10 minutes ago, I have checked my phone for new email and texts (I've received both in that time), updated my facebook status, and checked the weather forecast.

One of my favorite bloggers posted today about the drain that she is feeling from the influence of technology. I saw myself in her post much more than I care to admit. These devices that can be such aids to daily life are becoming the master rather than the assistant.

It doesn't seem that long ago when only a few people had cell phones. Or when AT&T came out with a cordless phone giving you power to wander around the house while talking on the phone. And phones with actual DIALS! Heck, I can remember when everyone had a party line. Anyone else remember party lines? When I went to college, only the rich kids had computers and no one had email. Who, other than a few computer geeks, had heard of the Internet? Now my (supervised) 9-year old has a computer, an email account, and a blog.

What a would an unwired existence look like in today's technology-filled world? (I don't mean wireless--everything is wireless these days!) Do we really need instant access to everything? What would happen if I turned off my cell phone for a day? Didn't look at facebook for a week? didn't check my email ever again? I don't know how to untangle myself from this addiction. Like Midlife Midwife, I feel like a slave to the technology.

It's a double-edged sword. The convenience of instant information makes life easy. Today I registered my daughter for summer camps, paid bills, and read the New York Times online. This was much easier than doing things the un-wired way: stamps, phone calls, newsprint on my hands. Technology is such a time-saver, right? Except that when I was done doing these things, instead of doing something productive, I headed over to facebook to catch up with some friends and followed link after link until I realized that what was supposed to be a quick look at facebook had turned into two hours of mindless surfing. I only stopped because it was time to get L from school.

Carrying my phone with me means I'm available in an emergency. It also means that people can reach me wherever I am, even if it's not an emergency. I recently stopped wearing a watch when the battery ran out and I decided not to replace it. I like the feeling of not being as time-bound. A large part of me wishes that I could simply not recharge my cell phone the next time the battery runs out.

For better or worse, these devices are here to stay. I know I won't stop paying bills or registering for camp online. Nor will I stop carrying my cell phone whenever I'm away from my daughter. But I hope this awareness of how technology is taking over my time will help me to put technology back in its rightful place: my assistant instead of my master.