Is technology destroying our basic core skills?

As we progress to an increasingly automated, self-aware digital ecosystem (seriously, I’m having flashes of Skynet and Terminator as I wrote that), I have to ask myself a very key question as I type this away on my tablet…

Is humanity losing its skill to communicate? To feel, interact and communicate as we once did?

As I’ve observed on many occasions whilst I have been going about my daily chores and activities, I’ve notice that our ‘fingertips’ are increasingly becoming the ones with the ‘voice. You might think what I’m rambling on about but take a second and think how many times you’ve spoken to someone (outside of work). When I was at the gym earlier today, I see at least 50% of those in there looking at their phones, busily typing away (but not any sort of exercise tracker).

I was at the cinema last week and within the reception area of the lovely Everyman Cinema in Leeds, only two couples (including me and my girlfriend) were having a conversation. All other eyes were fixated on phones, the bright white and blue hue shining into their zombified eyes. It then dawned upon me that not only has technology gripped us in a vice like chokehold, but its starting to become a need or a drug, which some of us don’t know how to operate without it.

I read an exceptional piece regarding children and how they are becoming less patient, easily frustrated and lacking interaction due to bright and vivid images and digital interfaces they are becoming use to these days.

I remember being allocated perhaps an hour (maybe two if I was lucky) when I was a child to play on computers and watch videos (It was all VHS back then or whatever movie was on the very limited five channels) whereas the rest of my time was spent playing with friends, reading books and being outside.

Times have significantly changed – Children (and adults) have been captured by the Pied Piper of technology and we’re all following him into the river of digital and slowly drowning under it.

Whilst I hate to sound like a ‘preacher’ it’s something I’m aware off and very much hope the wider population is as well. Not just in our social lives and business as well. Instead of sending an email, pick up the phone and talk, even better go see the person.

All the great spokespeople and business leaders use one key tool in their skills repertoire – they use speech to communicate their vision, their goals and ultimately their ideology.

Those who are poor communicators and give the impression they have no idea what they are talking about? They use Twitter (ahem not saying any names but it start with a T and ends with ump).