I often ask myself, “what would it be like to turn off technology and step away from the world?” I don’t mean for a few hours. I mean weeks, months, or years.

Are we capable of such madness? I’m not sure if I should be sad or accepting when I walk into a restaurant and see couples each with phones out; ironically, posting to social media about what a great time they’re having.

What else has technology incapacitated us from? Relationships are a bit more obvious. Who doesn’t want attention from strangers that you never have to see in person?

I’ve noticed technology change and enhance over time, but my biggest disappointment in technology was the first time I saw a book robot. It’s as intimidating and frustrating as it sounds. Read about the monstrosity here.

I recall being in the library and slowly watching the books disappear into the abyss, i.e. the robot. I loved the smell of the books. It’s a smell you can only find in antique stores, thrift stores, or libraries that still have actual books.

Eventually, the school moved all books to the top floor only, until there were none. This new initiative was focused on providing more meeting areas and conference rooms. Four stories of round tables and computers seemed excessive.

It felt a lot like cancel culture. The majority ask and they shall receive.

Is this all making us more resourceful? It’s so simple to write a sentence and have an app not only tell you what words are incorrectly spelled, but if they aren’t in context. This is fun until you start a game of Scrabble or Taboo.

I’m not against technology, but while it’s making us smarter, it is undeniably making us, well, dumber. It’s embarrassing to witness in the workplace. Every conversation shouldn’t end with, “let me look that up.”

Where does that leave the future? We can say that we’re too far advanced for such a thing to happen…but what if it did?

The crash of technology could be the wipeout of humankind. Simply by disappearing. Covid happened, so it certainly is possible.

Are we willing to challenge ourselves to our capabilities without it? Can we see how resourceful we really by using instincts and our own sense of direction?

We have invested any remaining intellect not only into technology but into our reliance on it. Where does that leave the future? Are we going backward or forward?