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How Connected is too Connected
We are living in an age of connectivity. No matter where we go or what we do, being connected is only the press of a button away. If someone needs to transfer information to us, they only have to choose by which device to do so. We can be called, chatted, emailed, texted and even Skyped. This change in communication has proven beneficial in many respects, though in lots of ways excessive communication can be negative. What does it mean to live in a world of almost constant connectivity? Read on for a number of of the pros and cons of always being available.
The Pros- Being connected means increased safety. There was a day when breaking down on a dark highway was a life or death situation. Now, thanks to high range cell phones, help is only a phone call away. Doctor appointments can be made online, routes to emergency rooms can be Googled and there’s an app for figuring out minor ailments.
- 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 travel 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 difficult. Being constantly connected migh result in a decrease of personal space. With communication barriers being redefined, finding alone time is now more problematic 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.
- While connectivity can be hard to break, it can also encourage us to disconnect from those close around us. While technology has helped to make communication possible at a remote distance, it’s also made personal connections easy to ignore.
The age of connectivity has transformed 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.