This past week a good friend was unexpectedly without smart phone or GPS (or sat-nav) and trying to find his way across a new city by car. The amber warning light advising of an almost empty tank had reared its ugly head. Worried about finding his way home – and the nearest gas station – my friend stopped in a corner shop he passed to buy a map of the local area. The guy behind the counter at the shop was laughing at someone buy a hard-copy map.
That little story got me to thinking about how reliant we are (in the West anyway) on our electronic devices. I rarely review my intended journeys before jumping in the car. Heck, I have an iPhone … there is little else I need, even if I am planning on climbing Mt. Everest!
Yet, as I reflected on my friend’s predicament, I realize how foolish and complacent I’ve become in the wake of modern technology. Surely, my phone or GPS device might break, get stolen or lost or a million other possibilities. By having no back-up plan, I am surely inviting problems, aren’t I?
I have recently noticed an addition to my iPhone – not because I need to be “connected” or constantly checking facebook; it’s because I “need” nearly everything on my phone – GPS, traffic, weather, airport delays, etc.
… There’s probably an app for climbing Everest.
We are certainly dependent upon our modern technological contraptions, but I really think we would find ourselves adapting quite readily if they were to suddenly disappear.
I’m not saying we wouldn’t miss them or lament their loss, but we are such resilient creatures and I guess we would adjust quickly, especially if there was no alternative.
But I’d slit my wrists if I lost CMD!
Oh my gosh! I don’t want to even think about the world without CMD. Perhaps the other editors and I ought to have a contingency plan for a digital apocalypse (assuming it is worse than the dreaded Y2K!).
Hastily scribbled posts on bar napkins delivered by carrier pigeons perhaps?
Scribblings attached to hamsters which are in turn trained to deliver said messages to devoted readers world wide.
Or perhaps some sky writing scheme?
@ forkboy1965
I’d agree with you in that humans would adjust over time. It’s the first few weeks that would cause me much consternation and grief. The transition period would be very stressful!