Blog #1

During the past couple of days, we have been talking about the gratifications of having the technology we have and the instant pleasure we look for when it is in our hands. Although, all the gratifications listed in class and very true. Walking around campus, you can look at anyone on this campus and the minute they step out of their building from their class the headphones are in the ears and they begin to walk; isolated from everyone else around them. I know I fall victim to this and can say that I am one of those people. The minute I am out of class the head phones are already in.

Again, as much as I talk about people using their phones and not being attentive. I know I cannot live without my phone. In talking about gratification, I know I look for the gratification of having the ablitilty to have all my social media sites at my hands. My phone is set up so that Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snap chat are all conveniently lined up so that when I open my phone I have quick and easy access. Last year, towards the end of second semester right before exams I was on the bus going to one of my classes and was very concerned about getting there on time that I did not realize I had left my phone on the bus seat. I searched high and low for my phone and could not find it. Then a couple hours later my mom texted my best friend asking why I was not responding to her. She told her I lost. My mom felt so disconnected from me and that fact that she had no way of being able to say hi as quickly as she does scared her. That gratification of reassurance I was okay, had failed and made her worried.

Two days later after losing my phone, CATA buses called my mom saying they had my phone and I could come retrieve it at any time.  Two days was an extremely long time, we all say we can live without the internet but when you have no connection you realize how much you really need it. I had to rely on my computer to get information, time, and conversations with people because I had no other way. I found it made me more anxious and worried because I was not in my comfort zone and I felt disconnected. I felt disconnected from the world and Penn State because I did not fit in with what everyone around me was doing. Even though I had my computer, I was not able to always wipe it out or be on it 24/7 as I would my phone.

Losing my phone for three days, definitely showed me how much we rely on the gratification of what technology. Whether it be checking the time in class to listening to music as we walk over campus, we use it in our daily lives. I hear a lot of professors and even the Willard preacher as I leave CAS on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays how we rely so heavily on technology that we sometimes need to step back. Take the head phones out of your ears and listen to what is around you. Stay off your phone for an entire class period and open yourself to what the class has to offer. Yes it is easy to get caught up in a Vine or look up a video on YouTube but it has now come second nature for us to automatically rely on what it gives us so quickly. I have a friend that must check her Facebook page at least four times a day. I know for my sorority or club, they contact me ,tell me of meetings or keep us updated by posting in the groups or messaging us personally. Yes, we still communicate with people but it lacks the  true essence of communication because we see communication now as the normal way of communication through media rather than face to face.

 Technology as you can see affects my life a lot. It  is like taking daily vitamins, except getting your daily dosage of technology. It is hard to escape it when it is so prevalent in our lives but we never really forget about what got us to this spot. When we looked back at old technologies in class, it struck about how much we have progressed to where we are now. From Hit clips to iPods we made a large jumps but can see the progression to how we have the new technology we do now. It was nice to see the old technology names we used resurface and make us think to happy good old days but for me I couldn't really say the same. Yes those times were happy but I cannot say looking back at the new technology that it would give me the same joy the other ones did. With all the constant updates and glitches its hard to fall in love with a new toy and stay with it when its considered " not cool" or connected with everyone if you have a older model than everyone else.