The computerised electronic devices and internet must count as two of the greatest boons ever to appear in the history of human civilization. We can now practically access and despatch almost instantly any form of "information" ("data") on it which is capable of being reduced to their formatting and processing protocols. We can do bank transactions, pay our taxes, file company returns, buy and sell various products, order food, book plane, train, ship and cinema and concert tickets, hotels, check trade or library cataloques, access electronic books, journals, magazines, newspapers, weeklies, check transport timetables, get news and weather updates and even take on-line educational courses on all imaginable subjects and use it as an aid in driving to unfamiliar places, view photos and videos, films and send and receive instant messages to and from those we wish to communicate with. The Christian God is said to be omnipotent and omnipresent. The computer, I-pads and related mobile devices and internet have now usurped that status and have done so in a much more tangible form too. But there is one thing which they can't do yet: establish true old fashioned face to face human contact. But even the Christian God can't do that either. So they're still on par with God as far as that is concerned. Is it any wonder that the eyes of people from 3 to 83 are glued on to those "windows/screens" at all times of the day and night except when they actually fall asleep and their restless fingers are constantly tapping upon and sliding over those tiny lit rectangles for their face books, twitter and apps etc.
Without our being aware of it, our lives are being transformed. And in a most radical way too. What do I mean?
Our visit to the beaches
our visit to the neighborhood playground
Our need for self-portraits
Our road crossing
Our story telling time
Our "Happy Hour" at the local pub
Our wedding cake
staring à -deux with our date at the local café
The way we take leave of this world
We tell ourselves and others that we're not yet addicted
An I-phone-less heaven
We prefer listening to the sound of birds emitted from our mobile device
Everything has become nothing but "spectacles" and "media events" .
And we imagine we are still in control !!!
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