Today, in the twenty-first century, it seems that every human being has some sort of electronic gadget. A smart phone, laptop, kindle, touch screen this and touch screen that, the list of new technologies we use could go on forever. Now, although these new inventions have further empowered us as a species, while being useful and efficient to our everyday lives, it all comes with a major consequence. Technology, like everything in life, has good and bad aspects to it. Unfortunately, there are more downfalls to our advancements in the digital world than benefits. But that is just it, connecting to the digital world instead of the physical world, the nature around us. Technology has deprived and separated us from nature, pushing us away from our roots so far that the connection between human and nature has almost vanished.
In some ways, the digital world has improved our sense of our surroundings. Over time, the advancements of the camera have given us the ability to see the minuscule details in any picture or video just from our phones. Even action cameras, such as the GoPro, has allowed us to safely video our adventures through nature by skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and other activities with high definition. Cameras now give show us what we may often miss with the bare eye, further connecting and appreciating the nature we live in. Although, does today's society need technology to be able to see the beauty we are surrounded by? Before the time of technology, absolutely not. Today, we see nature through a screen first, then only to miss it with our own eyes afterwards.
The camera is great for seeing the things we may miss in nature, but the technology itself does more harm than good. I, personally, do not know a single person who does not have their smartphone on them at all times. Humans have become glued to their devices, as if we cannot be without the digital world in our pockets. We choose to be hunched over, scrolling through posts and pictures of nature as we walk through it, when instead we could simply look up and see the nature around us with our own eyes. It has become that sad reality of humans and nature being separated. What we have failed to realize is that nature does not need us. The physical world could very well thrive on its own without any human influence, but it is humans who can not live without nature.
The separation that technology has caused between humans and nature has affected my own life as well. Talking about negative aspects of a device glued to our hands is ironic, when I myself am guilty of this action. It seems that being a teenager in today's world means it is in your DNA to be attached to some sort of electronic gadget, which to me is sad. I see it on the sidewalks and the hallways of high school everyday, kids hunched over looking into social media rather than watching their surroundings while they walk. Again, the sad reality of this new generation. I also see it in my four year old cousin, who seems to love watching videos more than being outside playing in the snow, experiencing nature. So, not only are we teaching our new generations that technology is a necessity, but also that nature is not a beauty we need to continue our lives as a growing species. Perhaps in order to get back this vital relationship between mankind and nature is to eliminate technology all together.
Brittany, I loved that you compared the pros and the cons in your blog post. Technology can do many amazing things, yet so can nature. I agree that it is sad that teenagers are glued to their phones rather than being outside with nature. However, do you feel that it is fair to put the blame on technology for our lack of respect towards nature? I myself placed the blame on technology, but while reading your blog post it occurred to me that some humans you technology to enhance their experiences in nature, like you mentioned using GoPros for snowboarding, skiing, etc. Others also photograph it, so technology can enhance our experiences with nature as well, which I think is an interesting perspective you included in this blog post. Do you think the rest of us who get distracted by technology are to blame? How do you think we can fix this problem?
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post because instead of just focusing on the negative impact of technology, you also touched on the pros of our advancements. I also thought it was interesting that you mentioned how nature does not need us. It was interesting that you said we have lost connection to our roots, this reminded me of the indigenous connection to nature and how it has developed into the miniscule connection we now cling to.
ReplyDeleteIt is so interesting to observe children, technology and nature. When your cousin goes outside, does she enjoy herself, or does she just want to go back to watching YouTube? I have found that my siblings enjoy themselves once they are dragged away, but they almost never choose to separate themselves from technology on their own.