June 21, 2003
Will Technology Make Recluses of the Human Race?
Smit, who is Deputy Sports Editor at Business Day South Africa, cries out against too much technology and wonders if our children growing up in this new world "are going to lose the power of personal communication. Will they know the meaning of "body language" and "facial expression"? As they converse through text messaging and chat online. "Between television, computers, cellphones, faxes and the like, will they simply sit at home and conduct their lives electronically"?
Well it's true, they do do all of that, but I find with my own teenage son, friends are EVERYTHING and they are always getting together whenever they can, as soon as school is out and they are allowed too. SMS is for changing plans on the fly, confirming a tennis match or a soccer game, sneaking in a "gd nite" when lights are out, video more fun when playing with a friend and online chats and I.M. to gossip after school hours, at home. Were we so different, driving our parents crazy spending hours on end on the phone? Their world is all about communication and the richer for it, I think.
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