Unlearning Due to Technology

Epilogue: What have you had to “unlearn” (i.e. that only phones are for having conversations) in the past 10 years due to technological change?

Answer: Although it is the example, a huge thing I did have to unlearn is that phones are only for having conversations. Now one’s phone is a portable computer, a map, an instant messaging machine, and a camera. Another thing I’ve had to unlearn is that you have to use a phonebook to find out the telephone number to a store, restaurant, or friend’s home. With technology, you can look these up on the computer, on your GPS, or do what I do which is text the store name to Google (466453) and have the number texted back to you by Google nearly immediately. Another is that you have to have a free hand talk on the phone – with Bluetooth and speaker phone this is not true. One big thing that technology has made me unlearn is that road trips have to be boring. Nowadays with tv screens, DVD players, video game console hookup ability, and satellite radio there is no reason for one not to be able to have fun in a long car ride with all of these things. You used to have to be unexcited about road trips and expect to look at the trees for hours, but now if you sit in the back seat you can look forward to watching a string of DVDs until you reach your destination. Finally, one large social thing that the past 10 years of technological changes have forced me to unlearn is the importance of face to face communication and meeting with people. With webcams, social network sites such as Facebook, the widespread use of e-mail, and text messaging, one no longer has to see another person, hear their voice, or even know where they are in order to get an important task accomplished.