From Our Founder July 1, 2010 By Bob Wichlinski Counterproductive Technology   In a recent conversation with my sister-in-law we raised the issue of effective communication.   She was describing a recent race down & back to/from West Lafayette to retrieve their Purdue student for a family function.  I wondered aloud, “my niece is on Facebook, so is my son (I know this because I routinely read their posts).  She attends Purdue in West Lafayette, my son attends Wabash in nearby Crawfordsville.  When he returns home he drives right by Purdue.  Our home near Boone Grove is ~5 miles from their home in Valparaiso.”  Get the picture?   Despite e-mail, cell phones, Facebook, Twitter, and texting neither employs these tools to communicate and cooperate.  They post pictures, comment on each others’ status, offer insight to their daily goings-on; but they can’t, won’t or don’t seem to see how these toys are tools.  She had to express the need, “Cousin, if you’re goin’ home this weekend I could sure use a ride.”  He had to extend an invitation, “hey, if you ever need a ride home, be sure to let me know.”   All that time saved.  All that fuel saved.  All that hassle eliminated.  All that money invested in technology.  So close, but yet so far.  We made our way to bucket #5, but missed critical bucket #6 and through our fingers slipped the grand prize Schwinn “Fastback” bicycle.  All we get is the hosiery for mom and the pizza for the family.   My sense and my fear is that technology is distancing us from one another physically and it draws us closer socially.  We know more about one another, but have reduced contact.  We’re in touch (communicating & socializing), but not in touch (physically).   Technology is the means to an end, not an end unto itself.  We’re talking, but are we saying anything to one another?  Is our conversation meaningful?  Is the technology really improving our quality of life or is it complicating it?  Are we making music or noise?  Are we confusing activity with achievement?   I can provide poignant examples of how Facebook, texting and tweeting has complicated people’s lives and even destroyed relationships.  I wish I had as many examples of how it has created, improved or strengthen them.  Sadly and regrettably, I don’t.   I live in the world of technology.  It’s my passion and profession.  But I value technology only the extent to which it frees human beings of the mundane and improves their quality of life.  There’s a sobering side to technology.  While it helps us go further, faster… it also reveals our selfish side.  The side that says, “I need what I want, and I want it now.”   The sword is double-sided.  The question is which side we choose to use.          As always, I can be reached via e-mail at b@219.com Notice to Reader: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of editor of the article or 219.com. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats