Today, across the country, Americans gather with their families to reflect on the theme of gratitude in their lives. Although Thanksgiving may involve different celebrations for many of us, whether that’s watching a big game, making a family meal, or prepping for a big night of shopping, the concept of gratitude remains a uniting component of Thanksgiving. So today, let’s identify some tech tools we are thankful for.
The lightbulb
Throwing it way back to one of the first tech gadgets, the lightbulb is something we all should say a little thank you for. The lightbulb has allowed us to expand our waking hours, work and create on our time, enjoy outdoor spaces, and travel to see our friends and family regardless of daylight or potential weather.
Wi-Fi
For many of us, Wi-Fi is probably number one. If asked to name three things to bring to a deserted island, how many of us would name Wi-Fi or a device that uses Wi-Fi to keep us connected? Wi-Fi has cemented itself as a necessity in the modern world. Try to imagine your life now without it.
Virtual Private Networks and encryption
Catching wind of a major security breach is a scary thing. We can all recall horror stories of hacked accounts, stolen data, and cyber-attacks that make us want to shut the blinds and lock the doors. So, remember how much these advanced technologies, like encryption and VPNs, do to keep your data private and bring you a feeling of privacy.
Social networks
It seems that social networks become more essential to our lives every year. Not only do we use social networks for entertainment, but it keeps us connected to breaking news, our local communities, family and friends, and our passions, and even introduces us to new connections and interests. Without social media, it would be challenging to keep your online DnD group functioning across time zones and cities or get advice from other hobbyists worldwide who specialize in basket weaving. Social Media has allowed us to remain connected with those people already in our lives and made the rest of our lives more enriched and colorful.
Portable devices
Sometimes being so connected via the internet feels overwhelming. It feels like you can never unplug or shut that part of your life off. Although some would complain that laptops, tablets, and mobile phones only amplify this problem, these devices have allowed us to break free from our desks and offices. Rather than being locked into your desk or anchored to the home phone, you can get paperwork filled out by the river, grab lunch with friends while still being available for others on your phone, and even video chat with grandma while running errands. This portable connectivity has allowed us to stay plugged in on our own terms and in more flexible ways than ever before.
While technology may be confusing, frustrating, and draining at times, it has still undoubtedly expanded our everyday lives. You may even be using all or some of these devices to celebrate holidays with your family! So, try and use some of these devices to strike a better balance between screen time and face-to-face time, and find harmony between the real world and the digital world.