Commentary

Technology is the new heroin

by laura , April 3, 2008

It's a busy Thursday morning (then again what morning isn't busy?) and as I run around attempting to accomplish each goal I set out for myself I realized I needed to do some research for a class. I decided to kill two birds with one stone-get oil changed in car and research info on my cell. This was a great idea until I realized most people don't have their websites ready for mobile telephones.

I know most adults believe the twenty somethings are nuts for wanting to always be connected. They believe sometimes its best to "un-plug" for awhile. But, I must say technology is the new heroin. Once you start you just can't stop.

Upon completion of the oil change, I rushed home to get my next hit of technology.

technology

5 comments about "Technology is the new heroin".

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Tom O'brien from MotiveQuest LLC, April 7, 2008 at 9:23 a.m.
Here is the research to back-up your headline:
http://humanvoice.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/why-we-surf/
We get a dopamine hit finding new and interesting information.
It really is addictive!
TO'B
Reply

Toby Miller from University of California, Riverside, April 7, 2008 at 9:24 a.m.

An interesting comparison of technology to a drug--one that has been made in successive moral panics over a century of audiovisual innovation. The key element, surely, is to go beyond the idea that technology itself is the obsession, but rather its human connectedness. In fact, thinking about the technology more would be good. So just as heroin users should think about where the heroin comes from and whom it affects on its travels, so iPodpeople should think about sustainability and environmental despoliation by Apple--think more about technology, not less--but in new ways.

Gary Pobst, April 7, 2008 at 9:36 a.m.

Laura, you need an iPhone. Web sites don't need any special preparation for mobile on the iPhone, it's like having a little notebook computer with you all the time!

Bob Kiger, April 7, 2008 at 9:45 a.m.

Just be patient. The technology is in place for you to get your "heroin-info fix" and will be deployed in ever widening circles beginning this summer. In the meantime, suggest you stick with your laptop if you want to maximize your productivity while getting your "oil changed". . . at least for the next few maintenance cycles :)

Tom O'brien from MotiveQuest LLC, April 8, 2008 at 8:19 a.m.

I have to agree with Gary!