Consequences Of The Digital Age

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by digital technology? Does the fact that you can access information on a 24/7 basis feel like a step too far? You may not have a problem with this but there are people who feel that they are no longer able to cope with the constant distraction of technology.

Digital multitasking

We can update our Facebook status whilst watching a film on iPlayer, listening to music downloaded onto our iPod and checking to see if we have any texts on our smartphone. Yes, this is the world of the on-demand digital multitasker, a person who can perform all these actions simultaneously.

But is that necessarily a good thing? It could be argued that this decreases your ability to focus on one task at a time rather than switching from one thing to another. And what can happen is that the multitasker is unable to complete one task before moving to another which results in stress and dissatisfaction.

It also means a limited attention span, something which web designers and other digital professionals have to deal with when creating websites. They are all too aware of the sense of urgency and impatience people display when visiting a website and look for ways to reduce that.

Digital domination

There are numerous digital devices for home, at work and on the move which make it almost impossible to switch off. These include:

• DVD players • Desktop computers • Laptops/Netbooks • Tablet computers, e.g. iPad • DAB radios • iPods • Mobile phones/smartphones • Games consoles

Most homes have some or all of these with the result that we take these for granted. Does this sound familiar? You probably use these without giving it a moment's thought and never stop to consider that they may be taking over your life. They may be even re-wiring your brain!

Some people may not see that as a bad thing but it is worth stopping and thinking about your digital usage to see if you may be overdoing it.

Digital dependency

This refers to a state where someone is totally dependent on technology, for example the internet. They spend increasing amounts of time online and find it difficult to separate the virtual world from reality.

The advent of Web 2.0 means that you are able to take a more active role, generating content, discussing issues, uploading photos, sharing videos and contributing to wikis. This emphasis on interaction has resulted in a shift from passive engagement - where the viewer consumed content, to a state in which someone is actively involved on the net, communicating and sharing with others. This has led to an increase in the number of online users and possibly a situation where the internet becomes the only source of information. The internet is a very useful resource but not all the content is valid, accurate or contributing to knowledge.

So do your homework carefully.

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