Technology: The Best & Worst of Times

Something’s different these days. There is less fighting at my dinner table and I think it’s because of technology. I’ve concluded that we’re arguing less because virtually all debates can be resolved with a few taps of the cell phone.

I was watching a TV show where a wife was frustrated by her husband’s lack of attention. She said, “What’s more interesting that phone or me?” His said something like, “Well let’s see, I have access to 2,000 years of human kind’s collective knowledge in my hand versus….” He cleverly didn’t finish that sentence but he makes a good point.

How did we ever live without these things? I remember as a college student backpacking through Europe one summer. After six weeks and eight countries, I decided to call my parents. This was the first inkling that I had even arrived safely. Today our need to be connected with others is so much stronger.

About the time I was traipsing through Europe, IBM was launching the first mass market personal computer. Today’s cell phone is at least 200 times faster and can store 100,000 times more stuff at a fraction of the price.

So how has a smart phone changed your life? I’ve only been “smart” for a few years now, but I’m amazed at how much of life is now phone-centric. I call, I email and I text. I check the weather, check the news and check the stock market. I check my flights, change my seats and get my boarding pass. I take photos, edit photos and then post the photos. I pay my bills, track my wife’s credit card usage, and deposit checks. I take videos, have video chats and make custom ringtones. I take notes, set alarms, make lists and schedule my calendar. I play music, watch movies and set my DVR. I shop for the best gas prices and comparison shop on-line while I’m in a store. I get news alerts, sports alerts and birthday reminders. And I do all of this with my nose buried in my phone.

Let’s review. Everything in my life is apparently easier because of my phone plus I’m fighting less, communicating more and am always reachable. I forget less and get my chores done faster. Can we conclude that this is the perfect time to be alive? Maybe. But let’s look at what else all this technology has enabled.

I went to a website that could show me what information about me they share with anyone who wants to buy my information. Now I’ve been known to walk out my front door in my bathrobe, so privacy is not my most vital concern in life, but I was curious what I’ve been inadvertently sharing. I went to AboutTheData.com and registered myself to see what they knew.

I felt like it was cheating when they asked me a ton of personal information before actually showing me my profile. They assured me that they were simply making sure it was me so that not anyone could view my profile (unless they wanted to buy it).

To register they asked me my date of birth. I told them. And when they showed me the results the first entry was date of birth and it was wrong. Hmm, not off to a great start. I was offered the ability to edit my profile, but I wasn’t going to give them any help.

And then I started reading the 150 data elements they have amassed about my life. And for the most part they knew a lot about me. My ethnicity, education, marital status, and how much equity I have in my home are all data points available for sale. My profile knew my kids no longer live at home and what kind of car I drive. They had what they called a “household income” estimate. It was close. My profile listed a long list of purchases and it knew I buy on-line more than I buy off-line (it’s my business after all). A close reading demonstrated a personal weakness for electronic gadgets and women’s apparel (and just to be clear I don’t wear women’s clothing; that was a mistake). The world apparently knows I’m a pet owner, that I own a PC and apparently I’m an avid music listener. Both my political party affiliation and the type of home heater I have are secrets to no one.

Despite what you might learn about me, I don’t fish, don’t hunt and don’t frequent antique shops. I will admit right here and now for all the world to hear, that yes, I’m interested in my health (are you surprised?) and yes, I’ve purchased food and beverages before (I’m more interested in the person who hasn’t).

The profile was generally accurate, but somehow it was reassuring that the profile wasn’t perfect.

Technology is most certainly a two-way street. These are the best of times and the worst of times. I’m personally willing to trade a little privacy for the wealth of information that’s flowing through our fingers these days.

April 16, 2015