Quality Time Redefined

The concept of family has changed in many perspectives throughout the years. Nuclear families started back in the 1950s also known as ‘ideal families’. Today family comes in many varieties whether it 's nuclear, accordion, or extended families and even same sex marriage. One thing that is undoubtedly true is that family will always be the one that you have an unbreakable bond with. American families have evolved in many ways leading us away from what was known as nuclear families.

In the Article “Quality time, redefine” by Alex Williams, the author discussed the influence of technology in today’s family’s interaction. In the past, families used to get together to play games, watch television shows or have dinner. Now, they are using their laptops, iPads, smart phones, and eBooks to work, to shop online, to listen music, watch television, sports and movies. For some people the internet and the use of these gadgets are responsible for bringing families apart. For example, in some case wives and husbands send e-mails to each other while they are in the same room and for many families their time together is spent in the living room with everybody doing their own thing. On the other hand, the author explains how in the

Ever since technology began so prominent in the modern world, can anyone remember going outside for more than 30 minutes and not see a cell phone or computer? Probably not, as these pieces of technology have become so ingrained in people’s lives, no one wants to leave their home without still being connected. And there is no reason to, as friends, family, and strangers share the same sentiments. Unplugging from technology is not only a decision people don’t make for personal reasons, it simply isn’t conducive to a productive life, as many people’s work and social lives wouldn’t be the same, if exist at all, without being connected to other people or the internet with just a single touch.

As much as I regret to admit it, I’m attached to my phone. I’m constantly reaching into my pocket to check the time, make sure I haven’t gotten a new update, or to send a message. I do this even when I’m not talking to anyone! It’s become an addiction, having to make sure I’m not missing anything, and I'm not the only one who has this problem. Seventy-five percent of the world population has a cell phone, and that number will only increase. With the creation of new technology portions of life have become easier. Technology has changed the way we go through life. It’s made talking to people easier, as well as keeping up with the lives of others. However, the effects have affected the aspects of our lives that don’t include technology.

Today, he says the two spend more evenings staring at their phones than they do at each other.” (Morris). The article provides information that families are affected by technology and can not keep conversations or continue relationships. Similar to Montag and his wife being so intrigued in their technology they forget about each other and the bond they could have if they had conversations after work or at the end of the night rather than making their devices seem more important to them. “If one partner in the relationship disengages from a face-to-face interaction while engaging in technology...the other person may experience a sense of threat to their need to feel attached and in control in that relationship.” (Morris). The lack of communication in a relationship due to technology seems to push away others in the friendship or relationship, the article proves that when others are more interested in their phone or other devices other party/parties feel distant and pushed away and do not want to continue the relationship.People can start building stronger relationships by putting down their pieces of technology and making time to have a real conversations with the people they

“Turn off the phone(and the Tension)” is an article written in 2012 by Jenna Wortham. On a summer day, Wortham and a friend decided to take a trip to their local pool. Upon their arrival, they noticed a sign stating that all electronics were to be kept in lockers. Flabbergasted, Wortham did as instructed and put her phone away. She spent a while lingering by her locker, desperate for social media and for the feeling of typing underneath her fingers. However, she soon got over her need for electronics. Wortham realized how technology impacts one’s life, she could barely go a day without her phone. As the author said, our phones have become our lifelines. When the majority of society has a smartphone and can’t take their hands off it, we know that our lives are run by our phones. We, as a society, suffer from the Fear of Missing Out, FOMO, we are afraid that we might miss a tweet from our favorite singer, actor, or role model and that will drive many insane. The day at the pool relaxed Wortham and she realized that not everything needs to be recorded, photographed, or snapchatted. Wortham’s article proves that we as a society cannot properly function without access to social media, technology, messages, emails, and phone calls.

In his June 12, 2015 article” Flick Flick”, published in Commonweal, Rand Richard Cooper argues that the technology of “handheld devices” interferes with being in present with others and being present with ourselves. He measures pieces of evidence to illustrate his point; for example, he mentions teens in a school bus busy with their phones and they do not communicate with each other. The author uses technology; however, he agrees that with the excessive uses of technology we lose the ability to communicate, the personal freedom and our time to our selves. Also the author claims that we lose the appreciation of nature around us and our ability to do the daily actions. Cooper even explains how people interact with their phones and cannot stop

Technology already consumes most of our lives. In fact, the average American teen spends around 9 hours per day on electronic devices, more than the average amount of time they spend sleeping. However, what if we bring that to a whole other level? What if we spend every single moment of our lives attached to technology? This is what the novel, “feed” by M.T. Anderson, addresses.

Electronic devices are consuming the lives of everyday people. Everywhere you look someone will be locked in staring at their phone screen, unaware of what’s happening around him or her. Electronic devices have become a daily necessity for people. Electronic devices are a controversial topic today. While some believe that electronic devices are harmful, others believe these devices benefit society. In, “A Thing Like Me,” Nicholas Carr brings up the extent on which humans depend on devices. The dependence on electronic devices has consequences. The consequences that come from electronic devices are in takes away from face to face communication, the devices cause distractions when driving which can lead to serious injuries or even death. Electronic devices also have changed the way of learning, people no longer feel the need to learn when typing a question into Google gives people the answer. Electronic devices are a part of society and can cause negative impacts in peoples lives everyday. People do not realize the consequences that electronic devices bring into their

Matt Richtel tells the story of how the Campbell’s spring break went. “We didn’t go out to dinner,” Mrs. Campbell mourned. “We just sat there on our devices.” Her husband joined them at the aquarium for a little while until he begged to do e-mail on his phone, and later she found him playing games. But finally they unplugged, “It changes the mood when everybody is present,” Mrs. Campbell said. Richtel goes on to say, “In the modern world, the chime of incoming e-mail can override the goal of writing a business plan or playing catch with the children.” The ultimate risk of heavy technology use is that it diminishes empathy by limiting how much people engage with one another, even in the same room,” Mr. Nass from Stanford thinks. If the students put down their electronics, and encourage the rest of their family to do the same, it could be an opportunity for them

When her family got their first color tv, her father was so happy because now he could see the different football team’s colors when he watched the game. But no one really sat in front of the tv all day, because there weren’t many shows on. She then got her first computer in her house in ‘98, a little after she had her first 3 sons. She thought it was so neat that she was able to email her old high school friends and reconnect with people who she wouldn’t have ever talked to again. Of course, her boys liked to play video games, but they were largely outdoor people. Today she mostly uses an iPad, for business, research, and the occasional Netflix binge. Sometimes when work is getting hectic, she says, “It helps stop my mind from thinking about everything at work.” She can use it as a stress reliever, or a distraction. But even then, sometimes she feels that she has to pull herself away and take a walk. At work, she notices that when people are in the waiting room, they no longer reach for the magazines that have been set out, they are all on their phones. She deals with lots of parents at her job, and she realizes that parents seem to be using technology as almost a “babysitter”. When their toddler gets fussy, their mom hands them her phone so that they have something to do. That is starting the dependency from an

Personal devices have evolved from being a source of guidance in people’s lives into becoming an emotional encumbrance. Over the course of the years, personal devices have evolved from facilitating people’s lives to causing them to experience a wave of toxic emotions. Stephen Marche, a sophisticated journalist for The Atlantic, has discussed the incredible potential that technology has granted for individuals: “Over the past three decades, technology has delivered to us a world in which we need not be out of contact for a fraction of a moment.” Personal devices have advanced the lifestyles of many people around the world because they have opened the door for unrestricted communication. With unrestricted communication, a person has the ability

In the article “Who says smart phone addiction is a bad thing? The case for constant connectivity.” (Toronto Life, 2012), Jesse Brown breaks down his reasons and beliefs on the negativity surrounding smart phones that perceived as an addiction. Correspondingly, Brown states that notification sounds and buzzing from our devices tells us, we are important and wanted, however we fear that we won’t be able to live without this constant stream of reassuring stimulation. Moreover, Brown tries to convey that smartphones are not the problem, we’re the problem. We reply on smartphones for everything way more than we need to. Furthermore, we make checking our smartphones our top priority by immediately jumping when we hear sounds that indicate notifications. Accordingly, we are on high alert because of these notifications, which could be anything from an important work update or a friend’s text.

Technology has become a great benefit to us but many people have taken it too far. According to researcher and surveys taken all over the world shows that a large number of people may have become addicted to their technological devices and are not able to make it through a day without their cell phones or other technological devices. Many have concerns that people would rather use these devices than to have a face to face conversation. The addictions of technological devices are on the rise. Although these devices were meant to make our lives easier there have been many problems to arise ranging from health risk, relationship problems, classroom, church, and work interferences. Statistics show that cell

As asked by the English alternative rock band Muse in their famous song “Screenager,” “Who’s so phoney and always surrounded?” This song perfectly depicts the effects of technology on America. People are engulfed by different types of technology everywhere they go and even carry around technology such as phones, laptops, and iPods. These items may seem like a blessing, but they are potentially dividing America. Every day, eight to eighteen-year-olds watch four and a half hours of TV, listen to two and a half hours of music, use the computer for an hour and a half, and spend two and a half hours on their cell phones, two hours for texting and one half hour for talking. This adds up to eleven hours dedicated on the media per day (Crawford).