I swear, today the machines (well, at bare minimum computer and computer based devices) decided to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day one day early. Consider the following ‘phun’ these beasts had with me:
• My handheld mobile device for work decided to only download half my jobs (as the paper backup evidenced that the entire queue was released for download). Shame I wasn’t let off the hook for the truant orders.
• My personal handheld mobile device (read iPhone) ‘decided’ to hang up on all calls one minute in the early afternoon today. I actually blame the Rogers network over my physical piece of technology, but when I or others stress over mobile communication, I try to remind myself that for the majority of my existence, this technology did not exist, and we got along just fine.
• The most heinous, my Score mobile application for my phone decided to tell me that in the English Premier Football League, the Toronto Raptors would face the Charlotte Bobcats. They would also simultaneously golf, play hockey, baseball, and the North American brands of football. The NBA must be fully CGI by now.
But machines can’t make mistakes. Well, that’s what the powers at work claim. There is some logic. They just follow instructions without question (how Orwellian, as it is managements dictum for us in regards to our orders).
But still, macines, like man, wear down. And ultimately, the instructions given by the operators, who are human, have the potential to be flawed. Which brings to light the real point. People are far less inclined to think when using a computer or reasonable facsimile.
So why not pen and paper anymore? Paper is more and more recycled stock, and trees can be replanted. If my return to post secondary was any insight, young people’s dependency on computers has eroded their capacity to think individually.
Could this be by some design?
Interdum vos ut volvo ferris six.