I love my GPS device. Driving to Montreal was so easy. I love my GPS; its feminine voice, its robotic intonation; I feel like in a science fiction movie. “Wouldn’t it be boring? You won’t be able to argue anymore as in “why did you take that turn now we will never find the road again!?!” my friend Izhar pointed matter of factly when I told him about our new acquisition. Oh but we do! That’s the beauty of it: “You have to realize the system is not perfect yet”, husband patiently explains when I almost lose my mind as SHE (whomustbeobeyed) festively announces in her robotic voice: “lost satellite reception!”
The system is still in its diapers, so to speak, which makes it almost human. It reminds me of sleeper. Facing numerous difficulties (losing satellite reception, often losing its voice), she manages (“RECALCULATING!”) to direct us to our destiny with a firm but gentle hand.
The world feels so small. You feel at home in every city, in every country. No maps, no guides – SHE tells you everything. Are you hungry? She will guide you to the nearest restaurant. Thirsty? To the nearest bar!
It can get a bit absurd; you become dependent; You find yourself standing (on your first night in a strange city) at a corner of the street for 5 minutes waiting for her to find her satellites, and when you give up you cross the street to find the grocery store you were looking for right in front of you. You become dependent on yet another device, after your computer, your palm pilot, your digital camera.
I look at Daniel and think of how he was born into the world that I saw in science fiction movies. How all these things are natural to him: a robot directing our way, or the Internet (“we will have to check on the internet”, he knowingly informs me).
I first flew out to a foreign country when I was 14. Daniel is four and a half years old, he has double citizenship, he is bilingual, he lived in three different countries and visited many more. He is a child of the future.
The Olympic Stadium, as seen from park Mont Royal.
Technology really excites me.
As in any dependency, we fall into them willingly, or not. I for one, am becoming a woman of the past by trying to resist the technology trap as much as I can. Oh the joy of finding your way using an old fasion map.
Posted by: Gloda B. | May 03, 2006 at 12:03 PM
Darling, it is called progress. I see no reason to resist it, unless your religious commands you to (Amish and orthodox Jews are two examples that come to mind). If you were referring to the dependency - you are dependent on maps and guides, not on your animal instinct. Innovation is brilliant. And as I have the honor of being your friend, I do know that you prefer to put your dishes in a dish-washer, rather than wash them with your bare hands, so I don’t see your point.
Posted by: hadas | May 03, 2006 at 04:57 PM