Living in the Tech Avalanche Generation

As we approach the new year and many of us reflect on the one that just passed, I find myself compelled to ask the question - are we as human being’s becoming spiritually (not in a religious sense) lost in the after glow of technological advance? Certainly technology has changed my life in a most profound way. I was once a musician and recording engineer and to execute my job required some technological expertise coupled with some artistic flair (I hope). After changing careers and moving into software development, I find that my creative desires are to some extent still fulfilled however my sense of shared experience and the actual amount of time I spend developing my skills ‘with others’ is not comparable at all. No more rehearsals, recording sessions, writing groups, all of which required much human interaction and debate, a lot of which took place in social settings. These days I do most of my learning in isolation, sitting in front of the very computer screen that I see now as I type this post. It is clear that even in my constant education and expression via this blog that I am communicating, however it is still seems to lack some of the interpersonal aspects that traditional face to face interaction can bring.

The Question:

Sometimes it’s not clear whether technology is improving our general quality of life or not. Any thoughts?

Regardless, I hope that 2009 brings an abundance to .NET goodness to one and all. My aim is to be a little more socially inclined next year.