Your Mind on Gadgets
Have you spent any real time this summer unplugged? This New York Times story covers brain scientists on a river trip without their iPhones and Blackberrys.
I was in New Hampshire last week sitting beside a fabulous lake. I could see a loon.
Something buzzed in my pocket, I looked at my iPhone, and in seconds, I was talking to Washington, DC, about the Boulder-White Clouds way back in Idaho. All the while I watched the loon.
In one way, it's great to be so connected. We can stay in touch and keep the many balls we're juggling from dropping.
But while I was looking at that loon, my head was with my colleague in DC. As we talked about Idaho's U.S. senators, the great value I was finding beside the lake moments ago was drying up, at least partially. After I hung up, I looked around and turned off the phone.
Today's New York Times features a story about this very issue. The article describes a river trip with a handful of brain scientists who discuss the impact of us all being so connected—and distracted—all the time. It's a good read.
And it's a good reminder. I was recently on a backpack trip with most of my ICL colleagues in the White Clouds. We were really outside, meaning out of cell coverage. And we all benefited from it.
Summer is winding down fast. We need more time out of cell coverage. Please excuse me if I don't get back to you right away...
