Imagine a world that comes with its own soundtrack, where it takes not much more effort than a single thought to hear anyone's voice and a box that sits in your room can answer almost any inquiry or satisfy any curiosity that may come to mind.
Well, with the recent upsurge of Ipods, cell phones and the Internet, the previous description is not far away from the society which we inhabit today.
There is no question that our world has been undergoing monumental changes these past couple of decades due to the influx of new technology. But the question to be considered is how new technology impacts the way we conduct our lives and relationships in our everyday lives.
The technology that we use on a daily basis is exemplary of the concept of efficiency and multi-tasking. Jack Mitchell, UW-Madison professor of journalism and mass communication, said that the quick-paced nature of cell phones, e-mail and instant messenges has tagged a greater superficiality to the way that we communicate.
""My impression is that there is a lot more going on, and most of it doesn't mean anything,"" Mitchell said.
Alice Anderson, coordinator of the Technology Accessibility Program in the Division of Information Technology had similar views about regular conversation. However, she feared that not only does the trivial aspect of conversation surface while using cell phones and instant messenger, but it also has induced frivololity and is carried over to our face-to-face conversations.
""I am concerned, like when I'm riding the bus. I hear conversations that feel very superficial,"" Anderson said.
Greg Downey, UW-Madison professor of journalism, dismissed these accusations of superficiality by pointing out that ""all of these new media have their crises associated with them.""
""All of these technologies can be used both to interrupt you and to push things to the side."" He added ""I think if it gets out of balance one way or another, that's when we get in trouble.""
But Mitchell and Anderson conceded that conversations have always had an element of superficiality, regardless of technology.
Superficiality is not the only concern. The impersonality of e-mail, instant messages and cell phones can easily serve as a crutch for those things that are particularly difficult to look someone in the eye and say. Not only does new technology eliminate much of the intimidation of the other's physical presence, but it provides an easy escape, by means of pressing a ""call end"" button or clicking the ""X"" in the corner of the computer screen.
""I think it decreases people's social skills ... They don't know how to do it in person,"" said David Winter, a UW-Madison junior.
Mitchell pointed out that this problem is not necessarily rooted specifically in the impersonality of technology, but rather the abrupt manner in which we treat and use it.
""People have always said difficult things in letters as opposed to face-to-face ... The problem with the e-mail is that you generally don't take the time to really compose it the way you would with a letter. In some respects this makes it too easy to get things off your chest,"" he said.
""If someone says something in e-mail or instant messaging in a certain way, it doesn't necessarily mean they're mad at you. It's just that's the way people write e-mails,"" Downey said.
Winter also commented on the distinctive style of communication that instant messaging spawned. He pointed out that online, people are allowed time to think before responding, and they often are engaging in other activities rather than devoting all of their attention to one or more conversations.
Cell phones and instant messenges cater to those in need of yet another easy way out of those dreaded conversations.
""If you see somebody, you have to talk to them ... Everyone has ignored phone calls and IMs,"" Winter said.
While it is true that technology can aid us in tuning people out of our lives, it also allows us to sustain close relationships with family and friends that live far away.
""It takes time to build trust in relationships. Now technology can afford me the opportunity to maintain them,"" Anderson said.
Keeping in touch also gets a whole new meaning when it comes to dating and serious relationships. Today's technology makes it possible for a long-distance relationship to enjoy the perks of simple, daily conversation, allowing the relationship to move forward regardless of the miles of separation.
A UW-Madison sophomore who wished to remain anonymous maintained a long-distance relationship her freshman year of college. She explained that nightly phone calls and online chats made her relationship possible, though it was unconventional and trying at times.
While technology has clearly integrated itself into our everyday lives, one must remember that innovations have never been static, and the world is always changing technologically.
""Nothing is as revolutionary as we say it is,"" Mitchell said. ""People are people ... I don't know that human nature changes that much.""
Anderson said he agreed, ""Each time technologies come, they say, ‘Oh, this is bad.' You can use it for good or not. I think people really care about people and the good is more powerful than the bad, but that's another debate.""
