iEmotional - When Good Gadgets Go Bad

Human emotions, like tech gadgets, continually evolve over time. As we race through life, we almost trip upon new feelings and as technology becomes more and more integrated into our daily routines, it's no surprise that our devices can trigger some of these feelings, at some point.

Not too long ago, I had to console someone that was absolutely crushed by an iPhone sync and update experience gone wrong. Precautions were made ahead of the process to make sure that nothing important would be lost, but somehow something still went wrong.

Replaceable, yet annoying to have to re-track down items were erased, and precious memories that can't be recaptured permanently fell by the wayside. Anger, sadness, frustration, and confusion all took hold of the room until it was time to attempt to let the situation rest for a few hours.

What struck me about the whole circumstance was just how emotionally attached we can become to something like an iPhone. Unlike previous generations of phones, a smartphone is not only a communicator, but also a memory bank that can be packed with photos and videos, and apps that have kept you entertained, informed, and distracted, when you needed to be one of those ways. More significantly, a loaded up iPhone represents aspects of what and who we are, and where we've been, and who those experiences have been shared with.

As the realization of what was lost came into the forefront that night, not only did I feel terrible for the crappy misfortune that had been bestowed upon someone close to me, but I also began to wonder how I would feel if such a situation happened to me.

I'd like to think I'd be well prepared enough to ensure that nothing goes too horribly wrong. But, as this situation showed me, sometimes preparation isn't enough. Sometimes bad things happen to good people, for no real reason at all.

I'd also like to think that I'd be able to logically handle the idea of stuff, and important stuff getting lost, and perhaps permanently vaporized. But, I doubt that my brain and heart would allow me to swallow hard and tell myself that everything will be okay, and that things could be way worse.

Of course, I often rail against the idea of being totally devoted to any piece of technology, and often chirp at people that can't seemingly go on without their device(s) of choice. But now, I have to change my tone just a little bit.

While I still don't believe that people should totally rely on technology to keep their most intimate and important items safe, I can't argue with those that think the opposite way. Some people expect this heightened technological landscape to not let them down, and who can blame them?

They spend lots of money, and absorb lots of conversation and marketing content that suggests that they should trust something as random as a phone to keep aspects of their lives stored and saved. Not only that, but these people are fully embracing the now. They want to take advantage of all of the great innovations out there, and they don't want to be like me, and second-guess just about everything. I have to respect that.

To my compadre that fell victim to a rotten apple: I'm truly sorry that your trust in a system and an innovative update left you without so much of what's important to you. It certainly sucks to see a ton of memories get mysteriously wiped away, but by no means should this sink your belief in the iPhone you cherish. I may not always root for this passion of yours, but I can certainly applaud your willingness to explore its every avenue and belief that it'll always serve you well.

Photo by Idea go
www.freedigitalphotos.net