EOTO - Blog #6

 

Expert, B. (2018). [Now that I have your attention...]. Retrieved 2020, from https://www.buildabrand.com

As a society, we have been introduced to the idea of constantly being disconnected to one another as well as "virtually connected" even though both actions seem to portray opposition. How is it that one can be disconnected as well as connected? The only way for that to be humanly possible is through technology and its ever-changing capabilities. We can be physically present within a group but mentally block ourselves off from those people and only focus on what is being displayed on our screens. A lot of the inventions that have transformed society have encouraged a broader spectrum of communication but in an environment where initial words are not exchanged face-to-face. Nowadays, it is more likely to connect with someone through a means of social media and then eventually interact in person. 

Specifically, the invention of the SMS Text Message can be considered one of the top ways people are not mentally connected with their environment even though they are physically present. Friedhelm Hillebrand and Bernard Ghillibhaert, from the Franco-German GSM Corporation, were the ones to develop the idea of the SMS in 1984. On December 3, 1992, the first SMS text message was sent from to Neil Papworth, a former developer at Sea Group Telecoms. Mobile phones did not have keyboards at the time so Papworth had to type the message on a PC. Papworth's text said "Merry Christmas" and was sent to Richard Jarvis at Vodafone. 

While certain electronic platforms such as SMS or even PC may improve the frequency and speed of communication, it also creates a loss of presence in everyday activities. They also create a feeling of "FOMO" which is the Fear of Missing Out, meaning that even if we are amongst a certain group of people who we wish to spend time with, social media makes us believe that since we are not somewhere else, we are missing out on an abundance of opportunities. These opportunities consist of developing new relationships and bettering ourselves, or so we think. Little do we think about where we currently are in the present and cherishing the moments that we may not have forever. 

Technology can also affect your physical wellbeing. In 2017, a small study found a clear association between addiction to smartphone use and neck problems (Pietrangelo, 2019). This study also indicated that the "neck-shoulder pain and low back pain rose during the 1990s at the same time that the use of information and communication technology was increasing" among teens (Pietrangelo, 2019). I find it astounding that something so small and almost invisible such as cyberspace can create such wide scale issues amongst people of all ages that have access to a hand held device.

Pietrangelo, A. (2019, May 23). Healthline.com. Retrieved October 27, 2020, from https://www.healthline.com/health/negative-effects-of-technology#musculoskeletal-health

Mobivity. (2012, September 27). A Brief History of Text Messaging. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from https://www.mobivity.com/2012/09/a-brief-history-of-text-messaging