What is it that you love the most today? On this Valentine’s Day. Yes, your mobile phone! You probably can’t stay without your work being interrupted every few minutes by a notification. Not just mobile phone, our love affair with technology products goes beyond that. Let’s explore how technology is changing the way we celebrate Valentine’s Day and our relations with those we love.
Just imagine someone who could remind you of all your appointments and upcoming meetings. They could also remind you when to take your pills. They set the AC/heater to the proper setting. They adjust the volume on your music system. They switch channels on your television set. They open the garage door. This person performs myriad tasks throughout the day without complaining. Certainly it’s only technology you can think of and nobody else.
Technology has begun to occupy a central part in our lives. It is like our Valentine. Maybe it is even more important in some cases, unfortunately. Our love for technology is many a times very disruptive in human relations. Imagine you are on a dinner with your Valentine. The constant notifications keep interrupting. That’s very impolite and unromantic. People rarely make voice calls in 2020. However, the constant attention to the mobile suggests it is more important than the person sitting in front of you. That is harmful to relations.
Technology has a way on enslaving us. Want to find the best restaurant in town for the dinner, Google it. Want to find where a movie is playing, Google it. Want to find what is the perfect gift to give, Google it. Its almost as if Google has become our Valentine. Why not ask your Valentine instead what she/he wants and get it. This need to know, at this moment, is worrisome. Many pieces of information we google all day could probably have been put off for a later time.
So which technology do we love? Mobile phones, obviously. We can’t live without them, or so it appears. Apple watches synced with mobile, that is another. Even on a morning walk or jogging, we rely on technology. It reassures us that we have covered the ‘n’ number of steps in time ‘t’ minutes. This love for our body is somehow interlinked with love for technology.
Automation has invaded the homes. Technology controls everything, from our humble TV and music system to apartment doors and security cameras. It also manages AC and heating systems, window blinds, and pet toys.
Alexa and Siri keep us company by responding to our “commands”. It is fortunate these commands are directed only at products of technology. They are not directed at people, for that would create chaos. As technology becomes all pervasive, a new way of interacting with technology products is emerging. This new method is voice control and voice activation. Voice will be the new user interface of the 2020s. And just imagine if the voice that responds is same as your Valentine’s voice! Well, now it is technically possible.
But no matter how much we love and adore technology, it is not without its risks. Risks like privacy issues, and obsolescence. Today, it is estimated that the life of a technology product is less than a year. The product may last beyond that. However, before a year is out, a newer device will be available. It will be “better, faster, with a bigger screen, more memory, and more features.” You will find yourself stuck with an “outdated” product while your friends move around with “newer” models. These small incremental changes don’t come cheap. Do you need the “fastest processor”? Is the “largest screen size” necessary? Does a “higher resolution camera” truly matter every 12 months? You will be pleasantly surprised that life moves on perfectly even if you use your tech products for 2-3 years. Save that money for your Valentine instead. Love your technology for a longer time. Love your Valentine forever. Remember, the “latest” product is in development stage in the lab. If it is already being sold, it is “outdated”.
Technology has changed the way the world looks at love and relationships. Technology has become the enabler to find love. Technology has also played the role of a villain in many cases causing breakups.
On this Valentine’s Day, spend a tech-free day with your loved one. Give your undivided time, “notification-free” time to your loved one.
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