Over the past decade, how has technology made your life better or worse?
Posted at 6:00 AM on December 30, 2009
by Eric Ringham
(10 Comments)
Filed under: Science/Technology
At the beginning of the year 2000, Facebook did not exist. You couldn't take pictures with your phone. Apple had yet to unveil the iPod. Over the past decade, how has technology made your life better or worse?
Comments texted to MPR:
Every time I sit down in a meeting or go for drinks with friends, we are all tapping away on our iPhones and Blackberrys. Even with my uncle or dad. -Kathleen, St. Louis Park
I think that technology has made society worse because we communicate not face to face as much, but more by checking our Facebooks or Twitters. -Morgan, Minneapolis, MN
I have a love-hate relationship with my blackberry. -Michael, Woodbury, MN
Technology has made me more inpatient. More productive when i use it then walk away but less productive when i waste time in front of it. -Little Falls, MN
Comments (10)
Technology is generally a good thing. However, it has an inherent downside, a phenomenon I call the Tyranny of the Possible. The more things are possible, the more things are expected. Because we can, we sort of have to ....
.... be available 24/7.
.... do MRIs & CT scans even if they aren't likely to produce useful information.
.... make eye-popping PowerPoint presentations (mere words aren't good enough).
.... keep up with email.
.... be on Facebook.
.... have a phone with texting capability.
.... generally keep up with the pace of new technology.
In the early 90s, I heard something surprising on MPR. People were spending as many hours a week doing laundry as they were before washing machines were invented; the only thing that had changed was our standard of cleanliness. I was so stunned, I needed to ask a nonogenarian who remembered those days. She confirmed it was true. By making things easier, new technology makes more work for us to do, which is why we're busier than ever. The trouble is, we can't not use available technology, because that would be irresponsible.
Technology has helped me stay in contact while my husband is in Iraq, Afganistan, Korea and any where else the Army sends him. Technology has kept us connected and that makes it incredibly important to us. It has made him safer while at war and our daughter and I less lonely.
As a teacher of 21 years, the technological advances of the past decade have revolutionized my craft. In so many ways, I am a better educator because of technology. The ease of planning lessons is probably the most remarkable aspect; in an hour or two on the internet, I can create a unit of study that would have taken me weeks to assemble in the 90's. My colleagues and I are constantly wondering how we did our jobs 12 or more years ago.
I have been able to work virtually from home after having twins 4 years ago. Also, facebook has reunited me with a social circle, since I am home 24 hrs/day.
I would have to say Facebook has changed my life. I am able to stay in contact with friends that live far away on a daily baises. If I am going to have a get together I can create an event and invite my friends with a click of a button with out all the head ach of contacting people one by one, getting addresses and sending out invites through the mail. I have met people that are intrested in the same things as me through Facebook. It truely is a great networking site.
The more technology advances the more Amish I become. In another couple of years I'm going to have to buy a buggy.
I bought an iPod several years ago, so it's not the newest one available, but it has all of my favorite music on it. I love being able to have all of my music accessible in one spot and I'm looking forward to adding more to it very soon! I'm tempted by the new mp3 players that have HD Radio on them, but otherwise I'm very happy with my U2 iPod!
As the pastor of Hilltop United Methodist Church, mankato. Facebook has revolutionalized our ministry. It helps both in keeping our members connected, and involved, as well as strengthening our outreach to others.
When a visitor comes to Hilltop we can become facebook friends and they can immediately see my interests, my heart as a pastor, and it breaks through to a deeper friendship than just a handshake at the door.
Futher, more or our members who travel south for the winter, or find themselves on the road or at work at Sunday still feel greatly connected to the church.
The socail networking capablities of facebook is indespensible for the new wave of ministry of the church.
I guess I do not see Facebook as a technological advancement, but I take your point nonetheless. Technology has improved my life dramatically in the sense that I can access information at whim.
There is a lot of junk on the internet, but there are a lot of peer reviewed science journals also. Look at the medical advances in the news - from Batman the dog to stem cell uses.
We have room for a lot of hope in the free sharing of information and rational thoughts. Let's hope that we can keep the internet and it's successor relatively free to access!
Smart phone.......
Good: Get work and home e-mails immediately. I can respond to my customers quicker and better. Having Outlook on my phone, better time management, better tracking customers needs, no "double booking" of sales calls and family events.
Internet allows me to find adresses, stores, phone numbers, etc while on the road.
Bad: You can never "mentally leave work" because of seeing all you e-mails.
| December 2009 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
Master Archive
Recent Entries
- Have changes to the airline passenger experience affected your willingness to fly?
- Should marijuana be available for medical use in Minnesota?
- Do the struggles of Minnesota's business icons signal trouble for the state's economy?
- Do you know whether insurance would cover your losses in a major storm?
- What kind of recycling program would you be likely to use the most?
- Would you support paying people for organ or tissue donations?
- Have personal relationships in the workplace ever presented a problem for you?
- Do you think Facebook is a passing fad?
- Will you be less likely to visit the Minnesota Zoo without its dolphins?
- Should authorities in the Twin Cities change the way they warn people about tornadoes?
Public Insight Network
The Public Insight Network draws upon your experiences to help shape our coverage.More
Categories
Services
In The Spotlight
-
Sound Learning
Looking for ways to ensure your students are doing quality research from credible sources? Sound Learning is a launching point to Minnesota Public Radio's content on the Web. -
The Current Music Blog
Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.
- Become a Member
- Member Connect Accounts
- Leadership Circle
- Sustaining Members
- Member Discounts
- Become a Sponsor
- Tax Information
- Planned Giving
- Vehicle Donation
- Donate Stock