Technology and Mind

Technology makes people lazy? - True / False..

Leaving to individual's opinion. I feel it kind a makes people lazy and dependent on it.

Until seven years back, I had never heard of cell phones or possessed one. If anyone conveys their contact number to me, it was a customary practice for me to either register it in my mind (Had a little memory power that time ;) .. or pen down in a paper and immediately transfer it to a diary. Interestingly, many people nowadays look at their cell phones for their own number of their residence number. It makes me wonder with surprise as to how people could not register in their mind a small 8 digit number. What if you do not have cell phone with you in case of emergency or that you want to call home? I see a higher dependency factor here. I feel people should learn to live without gadgets or live with fundamental non-electronic, non-electrical gadget called paper and pen. What was thought to be an emergency item or an essential item is now a luxury item. Where will this type of technology lead people to? Will it make people lazy?

Having said this, the addiction towards social networking sites is also to be considered. I begin to feel that people (any age as long as you are a user of that SN site) do not know the real meaning and purpose of social networking sites. What are they meant for? What do people get to see? What is the privacy level? What are the related hazards to it? etc. Having asked so many questions, I myself being an active member of couple of SN sites except that I have clear limits in disclosing any information.

This began to rule my mind and a spark came that what if I live without it for sometime? Will I lose anything? Well the answer was a search for controling my mind. Thus began my MCE - Mind Control Exercises. To begin with, I decided to stay away from electronic gadgets for 24 hours christened as E-GAP - Electronic- Gadgets Abstinence Program. Thanks to my friend who coined this term for me. Initially tough for an hour or so. I slowly diverted my mind. At the end of 24 hours, my crazy or affection or dependency - whatever you call it faded away in toto. Even after 24 hours I was not inclined to watch TV - where favorite teams were playing. I guess its all in the mind.

The second program was away from Facebook or similar networking sites. This time around I decided I will go on for 48 hours. As of now, going on well :).

If someone asks me what would be your happiest / peaceful day in your life - my answer certainly would be

A day - A peaceful, serene environment with birds chirping, greeneries, and with a beautiful set of books - be it sci-fi - Matthew Reilley or Michael Crichton or authors like David Baldacci or Jeffrey Archer or our own beautiful writer Sujatha Rangarajan's books. Added to it would be a minimal food to feed my tummy and bottles of plain drinking water to quench my thirst. You live that life for 12 hours. I bet that day would be the HAPPIEST DAY IN LIFE.

Any views, please comment. Thanks!!

Kutty kutty thoughts on instructions

Here are some situations which really kinda made me wonder! Thanks to technology too.

Generally I see people tending for instructions when it comes to directions or dining at restaurants etc. There are very few who make genuine effort to figure out. Suppose we decide to meet up and say lets meet at ABC and it is located on Road and landmark A. This landmark is very very prominent in the city. Now isnt it easier to reach the place..

The questions related to this typically are!

1. Is it on the LHS or RHS? (No equations here)

2. What would be the color of the board? will it be visible or not?

3. How far should I go from that landmark to reach that place?

4. Will it come as soon as I cross the signal or should I take any U turns there? so on and so forth.

These generation people are so pampered and protected and that they are given directions so clearly with all the aforesaid questions answered in the directions to reach the place. Many dont take that small extra bend in life in figuring out or asking people / shops in the nearby location and get there.

This really annoyed me and I was reminded of one incident - (Not comparing here). When I was searching for job in mid 90s, I hardly knew the city of Chennai (then Madras) and I was new to Chennai. Haven't even had the luxury of stopping by or taking shelter in 3 /5 star restaurants due to rains. I was given one address called Poes Garden (dont remember the door number) for a job requirement. I figured out the way to get to Poes garden from West Mambalam and enquired some 7 - 8 people to get to that location(We never had the luxury of Google Maps). I am really wondering why people these days dont take small efforts to just ask people for directions. Female readers dont mistake me. I have observed this more in women than men. I genuinely would like to understand the possible reasons. Again I am not accusing one gender alone. This case is there in both men and women except that the ratio is different.

Also, everything is set for them.. Is it a good thing for this generation?? Should parents allow girls to learn by observing or teach them? Seriously I do not know. All I could say is No doubt the present generations (Generations X or Y or whatever) are street smart and are very clear in knowing what they want. Its great to have that clarity at very young age. Certainly it helps!!!. At the same time, I feel everything is provided to them. They do not learn to search for it. Having said that, should we blame the parents, society, technology?

Readers, please share your views, comments / opinions.. This is not to hurt anyone.. Just my views.

AJSS for a grand finale

Again my feelings on AJSS.

It has been about 11 to 12 months of continuous singing for the kids. Day and Night rehearsals, takes.. Cherishing moments, surprising prizes, disappointments, dramatic exits so on and so forth...

Now AJSS has reached a final stage where 4(now it has become 5) strong contestants are pitted against each other to find the "chella kural"... I guess Chitra and Mano would have had 2- 3 full weeks of rest before they appear before the audience on Jun 17th..

Srikanth - a whizkid/prodigy definitely. He has innate potential to grasp each and every lines / sangathis of any song and above all singing without fear at that age is not an easy task.

Coming to the new rule of bringing in the 5th contestant when there was no need at all... This is the point of difference for me and am not able to accept this being called as 'unbiased' approach. Ever since AJSS reached a mid - stage, somehow I have been having a feeling of showing biased approach(which I shared earlier).

This is my view point...

I am beginning to feel if this is to appease judges, and the sponsorors. Personally, I do not buy in to the concept of voting which definitely is not a transparent medium of selecting. This is just a small math - Assuming I have a continuous Internet connectivity and I log to the mentioned site and keep clicking on a favourite person a full day, it would result in generating at least 10000 votes. If I do it for 2 - 3 days, it goes to 30k votes. The real way of judging the kids talent vanish at this point. I strongly feel that there should be a transparent way of selecting the xth contestant in a highly TRP ranked and highly popular reality show like AJSS. I feel in the wild card round, Srinisha and Priyanka sang really well than Nityashri.

Seeing all this, I would really not be surprised if the promoters and the sponsorors have already decided the winner and the finals is conducted more as a formality show!!. Lets see if the finals throws surprises in selecting new finalists Nityasri or Srikanth or the already in the finals - Roshan, Alka or Shravan.. But may the real talent steal the show. Got to wait till the 17th..