The Connected Age
Business Technology | July 13, 2011
Technology has advanced to a place that allows for constant connectivity. Getting a hold of someone is as easy (and as impersonal) as sending a simple text message. Regardless of where we go, as long as we have a smartphone in our pocket, we are within reach. This has been a beneficial change in many respects, but what are the negative effects of growing up in the age of connectivity? Communication is evolving digitally; aspects of this will be positive where others will be negative. In this blog we will take a look at a few of the pros and cons of staying connected digitally.
The Pros
- Being connected means enhanced safety. No mater what emergency you face; contacting the appropriate help is no longer a serious concern. Through increased technology, cell phone range is greater than ever. Car accidents and unexpected accidents and illnesses even in remote locations can be quickly relayed to emergency help services.
- Connectivity makes staying in touch easier. A current example of this benefit is international communication. With the help of an Internet connection and a web cam, soldiers deployed overseas can communicate with their families, face–to-face.
- Technology has made offices portable. Everyone knows at times the drive to work can be challenging. Thanks to telecommuting, working from home while sick or on personal leave is as simple as opening up your laptop.
The Cons
- Turning your phone off is challenging. Being continuously connected can result in a decrease of personal space. With communication barriers being redefined, finding time alone is now more difficult than ever. Remember, it’s important to disconnect and relax.
- Technology has made it more difficult to leave work at the office. It’s increasingly hard to walk away from a long day of work, knowing that simply opening up your computer can effortlessly access any project you left unfinished. While connectivity continues to be a great productivity tool, it also enables people to become workaholics.
- Constant connectivity can make us seem distant to those close to us. Remaining in contact with a far-away friend is easy to do through text messages, but that communication can be a hindrance to personal face-to-face conversations. Increased connectivity can, ironically, make it more difficult to connect.
The age of connectivity has changed the way we communicate. The key to keeping ourselves in check is remembering to interact with these new experiences with moderation. We all have to strike the balance between inadequate and too much connectivity.
For more information on connectivity, as well as an interesting look at unplugging yourself from technology, take a look at this article.
Technology has advanced to a place that allows for constant connectivity. Getting a hold of someone is as easy (and as impersonal) as sending a simple text message. Regardless of where we go, as long as we have a smartphone in our pocket, we are within reach. This has been a beneficial change in many respects, but what are the negative effects of growing up in the age of connectivity? Communication is evolving digitally; aspects of this will be positive where others will be negative. In this blog we will take a look at a few of the pros and cons of staying connected digitally.
The Pros- Being connected means enhanced safety. No mater what emergency you face; contacting the appropriate help is no longer a serious concern. Through increased technology, cell phone range is greater than ever. Car accidents and unexpected accidents and illnesses even in remote locations can be quickly relayed to emergency help services.
- Connectivity makes staying in touch easier. A current example of this benefit is international communication. With the help of an Internet connection and a web cam, soldiers deployed overseas can communicate with their families, face–to-face.
- Technology has made offices portable. Everyone knows at times the drive to work can be challenging. Thanks to telecommuting, working from home while sick or on personal leave is as simple as opening up your laptop.
The Cons
- Turning your phone off is challenging. Being continuously connected can result in a decrease of personal space. With communication barriers being redefined, finding time alone is now more difficult than ever. Remember, it’s important to disconnect and relax.
- Technology has made it more difficult to leave work at the office. It’s increasingly hard to walk away from a long day of work, knowing that simply opening up your computer can effortlessly access any project you left unfinished. While connectivity continues to be a great productivity tool, it also enables people to become workaholics.
- Constant connectivity can make us seem distant to those close to us. Remaining in contact with a far-away friend is easy to do through text messages, but that communication can be a hindrance to personal face-to-face conversations. Increased connectivity can, ironically, make it more difficult to connect.
The age of connectivity has changed the way we communicate. The key to keeping ourselves in check is remembering to interact with these new experiences with moderation. We all have to strike the balance between inadequate and too much connectivity.
For more information on connectivity, as well as an interesting look at unplugging yourself from technology, take a look at this article.