"Attached to technology"

Step one: getting ready to read.
I am now sitting at my desk, getting ready to read the article "Attached to Technology and Paying a Price"... using my computer. I could read it from the class packet, but it will be useful to see how effectively I read while online. Will I be able to focus? I did close the window to Facebook, but I am listening to Bartok on Youtube.

Step two: actually reading.
The first thing I notice about this article online is that it has hyperlinks to other articles or features. I think they distract from the article, which oddly enough, is about distractions. Speaking of which, I am noticing how much technology is around me, which means it is distracting. I am very focused on my phone, even though the article online is short. Noises from technology in other rooms takes my attention and I constantly have to remind myself of where I am in my reading.
Later in reading the article, it makes sense to me that multitasking does not help people retain more information. If multitasking causes people to divide their attention, they're not going to be able to focus on all of what they observe. Information cannot pass from their short-term memory to the long-term, so it is best if they focus their attention more so their efforts are actually effective.
Stephen Yantis, a professor from Johns Hopkins University quoted in the article, stated that since he became more acquainted with technology, he feels an "internal ping" telling him to check his email or phone. I can sympathize with that, since I, too, struggle to turn those thoughts off.


Step three: reflection.
Richtel's article discussed the disadvantages of technology being distracting. I admit, it is very distracting. However, in class today, Matt brought up a good point about that; technology doesn't force us to be distracted. We let technology distract us. For example, I could have put my phone away instead of checking it so often, or I could have turned off the music. I had already signed off of Facebook, which was my way of limiting distraction in the first place. I have already had a lot of experience wasting time on the site while doing homework and decided it was best to focus on my assignment this time.
I have always noticed that times in which technology has been limited to me, I have felt much more peaceful. With my old phone service, I didn't receive service when I came home from school, so winter break was a vacation from the extra stress of my phone. Things seemed a little simpler when texts were not coming my way at all times during the day. Also, my family visits a friend near the Pocono mountains one weekend each summer. During this weekend, we use no phones, no computers and no television. My family spends the time doing crossword puzzles, talking and reading, making the weekend very relaxing.

My goals, after reading Richtel's article and reflecting on my own experiences, are simple. I want to keep up to speed on technological advances, but try my hardest to limit their use in my every-day life. Doing so will keep me less stressed and aware of my actual surroundings: people, nature, old hobbies. I feel healthier when I follow the guidelines of using less technology, so I hope to keep myself from neglecting the most important things in my life. Is it too late to make a new year's resolution?