Technology is meant to improve our lives. Well, that was probably the intention. These days technology is just another avenue to create revenue for someone somewhere. Disposable gadgets, digital procrastination tools, momentary entertainers.
It can be a distraction, a constant pull.
When I arrange a catch-up with a friend over a coffee or beer, my intention is to spend time with them. My devices are silenced. I’m here for them.
It’s not always reciprocal.
Sometimes they are here but not there. They arrived, we ordered our beverages, sat down to have a good old catch-up, then something beeps or vibrates in their pocket or bag. They pick it up and a change comes over their face. They are lost in another conversation somewhere else. No longer here.
You wait. Sometimes they return to you only to be snatched away momentarily or for minutes at a time. When they return they have to remember where they are, a sort of context-switch resestablishment. Ah yes we were talking about X.
This goes on throughout the ‘catch-up’. They being here but not. Dipping in and out of being present with you. Technological rudeness. A virtual ADHD. Context-switch between the here and there. The present and virtual conversations that they are carrying out in parallel. More a disjoined sequential buffering with splintered packet reassembly. Two, or more conversations, not conducted efficiently with full engagement. Our desire to do more with our time waters down the quality. No conversation being truly meaningful or rewarding.
Eventually time is up and they leave, staring down at their phone as they exit, a quick smile and wave back at you, not really seeing you as they look back at their phone heading out.
Were they ever really here?