Technology Vs. No Technology Essays - Online Chat, Text Messaging

Life Unplugged Technology plays a major role for all societies in today?s world. It helps us acquire knowledge through the internet. It entertains us in the form of video games and movies. It persuades us to buy through online advertisements and commercials. It does simple things for us like clean as a vacuum. It transports us as cars. It even captures life?s most precious moments in the form of a camera. But what if we, people in a technologically dependent world, were to ?unplug? ourselves for a day? How would our day change if we were to not use any electronics at all? In an attempt to find out just how much electronics impact our lives, and to satisfy my College Writing professor, I went one day without using any electronic device to the best of my ability. First, I will describe my day with electronics. I start by having the alarm clock on my cell phone wake me up to get ready for classes. I?ll usually use either the toaster or oven to prepare breakfast, and already start texting. I?ll either drive myself to class, or one of my parents will drop me off. I attend all my classes, texting throughout the day, until 2:00 PM (on most days) where I will drive myself home or be picked up by my parents. At home, I will watch TV, browse the internet, play video games, or chat with friends through the computer. I will do my homework, eat dinner, talk on the phone, and go to bed. The process is enough to keep my entertained and satisfied throughout the week. In contrast, my electronic free day proved to be a challenge. I had planned ahead quite a bit in order to make this day run as smoothly as possible. I had requested a Saturday off of work so I would be free of both class and work. I had also set a time to meet with my girlfriend, Jessica, at 3:00 PM, so that way we did not have to text. I woke up at about 10:30 AM to the sun shining through my windows. I sat up in bed and instinctively grabbed my phone. Fortunately, I quickly remembered what I was not supposed to be doing today, and placed the phone out of sight. I crawled out of bed, and ventured out into the kitchen, and was already surprised at how I felt. I truly felt as if I were naked. I had no phone in my pocket. It shocked me at how strange I felt about it. I wondered, does my phone really have that big of an impact on my daily life that even walking to another room without it causes me to feel completely off? I pushed the thought away and prepared a bowl of cereal, since it did not require any technology (other than the refrigerator to keep the milk from spoiling) to prepare. After eating the bowl of cereal and showering, I stopped. It was only 11:30. I still had to endure 3 and a half hours before I could depend on another person to keep me entertained. I tried studying (the first time I have ever studied on a Saturday) but, unsurprisingly, it did not entertain me. I did the homework that was due on Monday, and still had an hour to go. This was the longest and most dismal hour of my life, as time dragged on, and the weekend?s work was completed.