the ipad and our hunger for connection
With all the hype around the ipad’s release in Australia I am wondering what is driving all of this. Is it merely the love of gadgets and technology? Is it fashion and the status it can bring? Is it the need to have the most convienient, up to date information or some way of connecting in the urban jungle?
I love my gadgets but I have not yet gone and camped out for the release of one. Trying to scratch below the surface of these phenomenon is difficult. Perhaps grabbing an ipad is how you can become part of a new type of community, I certainly know that not having such devices can make you feel almost obselete at times. In modern society Community and connection are increasingly hard to find and establish. People are more mobile than ever and it is hard to establish local communities with the diverse demands on people’s time today. While devices such as mobile phones, and the next generation including the ipad seem to promise connection it is hard to see how it will be anything but superficial. Often the complexity of technology can lead you to spend more time playing with it than working on meaningful relationships. The ipad is designed more for communication of information and entertainment than any real connection. Admittedly when it comes to the ipad there is more behind it than merely connection, I suspect the novelty value and the perceived power of instant information are big factors too.
As I continue to look for connection I am reminded that through Jesus that God wants more than a superficial connection with us and calls us to find something deeper with Him. Knowing God gives us more reason to get involved in the inefficient process of getting to know others. In my suburban context I think for now I will be better spending my money on coffee at my local and enjoying life connected face to face.
