Assignment - The No IT Challenge
Information technology (IT) in the form of smart phones, tablets, Chromebooks, laptops, the Internet, software applications, television, radio, movies, recorded music, etc. is an integral part of our lives, helping to increase our efficiency to share information and communicate effectively with others, in addition to being our main medium for entertainment. However, some observers are concerned that widespread IT has led to a dependency of sorts-providing a convenient escape that robs us of time which might otherwise be used for problem-solving, creativity, personal interaction, and physical activity. A more significant concern is that continually using IT distracts us from our awareness in the moment, and the habits of some clearly suggest IT is no longer just a tool, but is now an addiction.
These concerns derive from recognizing that human beings are designed to interact with and learn from the three-dimensional reality of the world-that is, physical reality, not virtual reality. The entirety of human history before the early part of the 20th Century had none of the above mentioned IT. So how did people use their time?
Your challenge is simply to go a full day-24 hours without using any IT or interacting with any electronic device. Simple, right? Okay, 24 hours may be too much for some. However, if that is the case, make a conscious effort to go as long as you possibly can without using any IT. Maybe it is 12 hours, 6 hours, or only 3 hours. Take the challenge and write a 750-1000 word essay about your experience. In your essay, address the following:
1. Explain how long you went without any technology. Briefly explain what you did.
2. Briefly describe your experience-was it hard or easy? Were you bored or frustrated? Why did you feel this way? What did you learn about the environment (i.e., the world around you)? About yourself? Were you more productive or less productive? Why? What stood out the most to you in your experience?
3. Explain what you learned from this challenge that you might apply going forward.
4. Answer two of the following questions:
a. Do you think society as a whole is too dependent on technology?
b. How does this apply to a business environment? Are businesses too dependent on technology?
c. What drives the prevalence of technology? Do businesses require individuals to be update-to-date on technology or does human fascination with technology require businesses to use technology to stay competitive?
Your essay should have appropriate introductory and concluding paragraphs
Formatting and Submission Instructions:
- Compose your paper in MS Word, double-spaced, using a 12-point font, and 1-inch margins.
- You will submit your assignment by uploading your Word file in eLearning. Be sure to allow enough time for eLearning to upload your file-sometimes wireless connections can be slow or some other technical issue may occur. Your assignment is submitted when eLearning has finished uploading the file.