{"id":3103,"date":"2020-12-09T14:16:46","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T14:16:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/CESI\/?p=3103"},"modified":"2022-04-13T15:46:24","modified_gmt":"2022-04-13T15:46:24","slug":"techno-detox-are-you-ready-to-switch-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.cardiff.ac.uk\/LTAcademy\/techno-detox-are-you-ready-to-switch-off\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Techno\u2019 Detox \u2013 Are you ready to \u2018switch off\u2019?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our relationship with digital technology and the online environment feels almost natural by now. In real terms however, this is a fairly new enhancement to our daily lives. In just a few decades it entered and affected our existence almost without realising this change. Many of us remember painfully slow dial up signal connecting to the Internet in 1990\u2019s, following with gradual information sharing via floppy discs, CD-ROMs or USB sticks using the famous \u2018real\u2019 save button, continuing with chats and taps using various early apps focusing on answering common needs of users; moving on to the communication revolution utilising Bluetooth connection, talk-to-text messaging and social media alerts. Suddenly conversations became fun; we turned to use of emojis, gifs and memes (and bitmojies)<\/a>. But we can\u2019t stop the progress and we have entered the era of face-to-face connection, virtually speaking. Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, live-streaming via Teams or broadcasting thank to Vimeo Live – all of these advances allowed us joining in practically, they brought amazing improvements of broadcasting our own content, captivating and satisfying audience from all around the world.  Almost naturally, without strong endorsement, the cloud-based smart trends moved into our everyday lives. Internet of things (IoT) is perceived almost like a \u2018glue\u2019 to a network of physical \u2018smart\u2019 devices connected together and being able to exchange data for our benefits. Connection is everywhere. We cannot escape it. But where does it lead us \u2013 especially after recent events of global pandemic?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There has never been a greater need to switch off from all the technological noise than now. Early 2020 brought a different means to our day-to-day activities and lives while we are still trying to understand the appropriate and healthy harmony between professional-private life (for many of us mostly occurring from safety of our own homes). So-called work-life balance has never been this important and yet, it has never been so hard to separate one from the other.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remote working became a new norm and almost expected in many cases. The new phenomenon is here to stay; but are we truly ready to commit to our remote work-life? Are we genuinely accepting the new ways of dealing with our work affairs, personal businesses, or even romantic relationships?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with any relationship and contact, we call for reflection and question ourselves how dependent we are on using digital technology and, ultimately, who is in control?   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working on this blog with my colleagues in the Centre, we offer five tips to scale down on use of technology in our everyday lives:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Are you ready to switch off?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Look into your relationship with digital technology. We have been asking the same question in the past couple of months because of what we think is important here. What is the impact of technology and how does it affect us? So, our awareness of how much time we spend being \u2018connected\u2019 and \u2018glued\u2019 to the screens, is a self-journey to recognising the positives and negatives of technology and its impact on us.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To check upon your digital behaviour ask yourself these questions: <\/p>\n\n\n\n