This link is to yesterday's show entitled "Digital overload---your brain on gadgets". Before dismissing it as something you've already heard, do yourself a favor and read or listen to it.

It is a very important story, one which I strongly urge each of you to listen to or read. Do it when you have a chance. It is really something you'll want to hear.

link to NPR

I couldn't listen to the audio, but I read the article. I'm curious to see how it will change over time, considering it's still a relatively new ability (I consider it sort of a long-term novelty), to have constant connection to all types of media. People that are seeing their time filled with gadgets, who grew up with 3 TV channels and radio; vs. kids who never knew a life without computers and cell phones. I can't help but wonder if the new generation will have a better balance, since they never had the "THIS IS NEW" sensation that their elder generation has experienced.



I believe there's a trend with technology that applies to most people. When something new comes out, we feel like we need it, and we gobble it up. We use it way beyond anything productive, we become obsessed with it, until we've exhausted all possibilities with it. When it's no longer new to anyone, or it becomes the standard, we settle into a more sane mindset, consider it commonplace, and use it in a more practical manner that fits our lifestyle. For instance, the microwave. It was touted as a replacement to all traditional cooking, and people found every way possible of using one, to the point of absurdity. Once they became cheaper, and in every American kitchen, they now serve as warming up leftovers, cooking popcorn, and a very capable bread box. It's capable of so much more, but we don't NEED all that, we just need to reheat food quickly, and we're OK with that. Digital cameras are approaching that point, I believe. You're hard-pressed to find a pocket-sized digital camera that holds less than 100 photos, in anything less than 5 mega-pixel quality. Many folks have stopped buying cameras when a "better" one is released, and now buy a new one when the old one no longer functions.



I'm curious to see what it's like when mobile devices reach this point, where the industry can no longer create improvements that appeal to anyone or are useful in any way. It will be interesting to see what the world is like when it's commonplace to make all calls with a video camera, looking face-to-face with our caller, and having only the information we need sorted out in a a few simple clicks. Maybe we'll settle into using them in much less capacity than we do now, once we've satisfied all the new-ness.



But for now, we "need" it ALL, ALL the time. During the transition from "new" to "commonplace", I think it will only continue to be complicated and distracting.



As for me, I'm on the verge of replacing my fragile cordless landline phones with a big, heavy, push-button phone that doesn't need batteries and can't get lost in the couch cushions, and can survive a toddlers tantrum. It's becoming more rare for me to use a computer when at home, and I use one of the cheapest cell phones available.



If companies stopped advertising features, and started advertising things that are waterproof, childproof, and last more than a year or two, I'll buy that. It's been awhile since I've purchased a hammer, and that's how I like it.