Pavlov’s Digital Dogs and the end of the World.
My daily life is spent working on my laptop, Outlook 2007 is always open and it’s usually partnered with OneNote and PowerPoint open on my desktop. Even when I’m looking away from my machine I know when mail has arrived or my machine wants attention because of the various familiar ‘bing-bongs’ or ‘pings’ it gives me.
The over-familiarity with these noises means that if I hear something that is remotely close to them in my life outside of work then I give the same reaction I’m used to giving. The familiar ‘you’ve got mail’ chime is the worst and if I hear a someone else’s mobile phone with the same ring as mine then I’m reaching into my pocket to check mine too.
I can’t find a link to it right now but I read that you should be booking the end of the world as a calendar appointment for 2010. The culprits behind it will be technology as it becomes so self sufficient that it sees mankind as inefficient and lacking in purpose. They’ll cut off our supplies and everything we depend on technology to do and starve us out of existence - the ‘bing-bongs’ and ‘pings’ are just the beginning…
… I think I’m going to have to start switching ‘off’ from technology.
If you’re anything like me then you can’t go too long without those comforting pings and bing-bongs! Even when I made a conscious effort to go away for a break recently without my Windows Mobile device or Laptop, just taking an older model of mobile phone (you know, it makes and receives voice calls - remember them?) I got withdrawal symptoms and somehow managed to set it up to grab e-mails over a 9.6kbps data connection! Then there are those pesky Internet Cafes dotted everywhere with their tasty sandwiches and lovely cups of tea, tempting you in to catch up on your favourite blogs and web-sites!
I admit it, I’m weak and pathetic when it comes to resisting technology! Anyway, got to go, I’ve got an e-mail come through!
I knew I wasn’t alone…