The Role of Technology

       Elliott is concerned that peole are starting to depend too much on technology and how electronics are starting to control your lives and interfere with vacations. He wants you to think about not using technology during travel. Sure, you want to capture what you see and show your friends and family but you should use it in moderation. When I went to Washington D.C. over Spring break with my Dad and uncle, my uncle kept stopping to take pictures every couple minutes. Sure, he is a photographer, but it was starting to ruin the experience. I did not take any pictures but I felt the experience was phenomenal. I wanted to absorb what I was seeing and take it all in.
      The reason I want to go to Australia is because it has always been a dream of mine to go there. They have many animals that you can't see anywhere else in the world. When I go, I am going to use technology at its minimum, I am not one of those people who are constantly on the phone or using technology, although I always feel weird without my phone in my pocket, even if I don't need it. The only time I would need my phone would be when I call my parents back at the hotel. I probably just use the hotel phone for that anyways. I want to barely use technology to enhance the trip as much as possible and try to make it feel like it is my home away from home.
      I think I probably won't use technology during the trip because it tends to control your experience. Nowadays when I travel I don't use my phone or camera as much as I used to. I feel there is not much of a role for technology because for me it is more memorable without it. I don't really look at pictures, I usually hold my memories in my head and somewhat take mental photographs. The reason for trip is for change and nothing changes if you take your life with you. I prefer to put my life on pause and resume it after the trip is over.
      I feel that when we travel to Australia and New Zealand, we should have restrictions on our technology, because you don't want it to interfere with experience. We should just be able to use our phones and Ipods in the rooms. When we use our cameras, we should only be allowed 200 pictures during the whole trip. We don't want to stop every couple of minutes and take photos. What will we do with all of them anyway. It will take a very long time to sort out 500 pictures. For me, I prefer to take a break from technology and just go and relax with nature.
     
"...some travellers see the world through the tiny screens of their smartphones before they bother looking at the real thing. They perceive a vacation as a film director might, blocking off each shot, concerning themselves with backlighting and background interference rather than taking it in with all their senses". - Christopher Elliott