Many people find that they use their computer on a daily basis. You may also have a regular routine of computer use, but when do you begin? This week’s article looks at people’s mornings in the Internet age. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions. Go to the link below and read the article. Write a reflective comment that shows you have read the article, expresses your views, and addresses my questions.
How does your family normally begin each day? What do you think about the use of texting as an intercom and alarm system? Do you feel that the situations described in the article are excessive or are they commonplace? What rules and guidelines do you think should be set for families regarding the use of technology in the morning?
Technology for Breakfast Article
10 comments:
Normally in my family, once someone wakes up, she/he heads to the family room or wherever the wireless reaches to check email and Facebook. The TV is usually always on as well, switching between the news channels and others. I think that using texting as an intercom is useful because cell phones are always nearby. Some of the situations described in the article are excessive- especially playing video games for a whole hour before going to school. For technology in the morning I do think that it’s an impulse to check email and Facebook but it may be a bit much to do it at the table but if that’s what works for the family, who should judge them?
Well, I use my cellphone as my alarm clock because it's the only alarm (besides my mom) that wakes me up. Sometimes I'll send a message or two to say good morning or to ask a question... but I never find the time to talk on the phone or check my email/facebook or even watch a bit of TV in the morning. I'm doing other things like sleeping and getting ready for the day. My mom barely touches her Blackberry... only the quick glance to see if anything urgent needs attending to... otherwise it's left on the kitchen table, where it stays all night.
My house is small- yelling is easier. Plus my mom doesn't even check her texts. I guess it works, especially if you don't want to yell or can't leave what you are doing, etc. But honestly, face-to-face communication is key in a family. I'd rather wake my own kids up (as my mom used to do by tickling me awake) than send them a text.
To be honest, I was a bit surprised at some of the morning activities. I just don't have time in the morning to get on the computer... nor the energy. Whatever is online can wait until I get home, it's not going anywhere. I love my Mac, but I enjoy my quiet time in the morning.
If I was a parent, there would definitely be some ground rules but they would differ depending on age (meaning my 5 year old isn't going to be checking Facebook at 6:30AM) I'm all for phones, computers, video games... but family time is important. I don't agree with spending the entire day spread apart on the computer or whatever. Usually when I use the computer, I'm in the same room as my mom- so I'm still interacting with her even though I'm online. Mealtime is vital- whether they it is at the table or on the couch watching some TV. The computer almost always goes away at dinner and if someone calls, I tell them to call later. It's simple- just step away for a bit. IT WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU COME BACK.
I think that people are being too wary about this "issue" - things change and grow. Years and years ago, we didn't have a newspaper to read with breakfast, but did people complain that they were taking a way from "family time" when they were introduced and became popular? Probably not. That would be somewhat silly. People should be ready to accept the direction technology goes in and how the times change.
Me and my mother usually eat breakfast with some kind of technological device - a laptop, cell, blackberry, etc. Prior to that though, we put showering and preparing for the day in front of checking Facebook, g-mail/hotmail, and so on.
I think that it is entirely unnecessary to use texts as an "intercom" or alarm clock. It's irrational - an alarm clock repeats itself when you don't address it, is usually louder and more likely to wake you up, and is FREE. Why spend money texting someone, when they can be woken, probably more effectively, by something already on their cell/mobile phone?
I think some of the situations, like the one I addressed above, are excessive, but that simply checking your e-mail while eating breakfast or texting while doing so is perfectly fine. We live in a society that works around technology, and it is very much a part of our life. If someone were to read during breakfast, would we complain? Probably not, but reading is a huge part of the global society right now. I think technology use is seen as excessive in an unjust way - it has become some kind of irrational taboo. Reading an e-mail distracts you just as much as reading a chapter from your favorite novel does.
I don't personally believe there should be any guidelines for technology use at home. It makes things easier for us and helps us, so why try to limit it? Because we spend less time talking during meals? That seems illogical to some extent. I don't think we lose enough family time or conversation time to justify any guidelines being placed on technology use in the home environment. But, if a family were to ask for guideline suggestions I'd recommend...
1) Only prohibiting phones, laptops, etc... when the family is actually together, rather than saying you can't use them during this time, period. If the family is together, they should be put away, if not, limiting their use should only be done in specific situations (a child neglecting homework, for example).
2) Not letting the family get in the habit of using them as soon as they wake or at any other time - making sure phones, laptops, and so on are used at different times every day, instead of them being consistently used at 4 every day. Why make them a specific part of the day-by-day structure, if you want them out of your family's life style?
This article I believe is very untrue. I wake up every morning, take a shower and eat breakfast. I have never woken up on a weekday and checked my facebook or sent some texts. I think using texting as an intercom/alarm is just a result of lazy parents. I think that the study for the article should have been used on more people than just two families. I think the rules and guidelines should be set by the parents, I think it's fine to check your facebook n the morning as long as you do everything your supposed to do first.
Personally I don't wake up in the morning and have my phone right exactly by me. Nor do I check my email or facebook in the morning. People have other things they can do than just going on the computer. If you don't have anything better to do, then you should find something better to do, like read the newspaper, or exercise. My family normally wakes up early and my dad and I get ready to go to work or school. As for my mom, she doesn't work, so she helps to prepare our lunches or is there to wake me up or to make sure we remember what's going on that day. I think that the texting thing can really bring you behind on what you are doing that morning. The alarm thing is ok. Maybe you have a hard time waking up, so you need something to wake you up. I think that some of those points are exessive, some people do go on the computer and other just stick to their phones. I think that families that are "too busy" to know that they are or their children are using technology in the morning just prove that they don't teach their children that it's not just about 'technology'. And that they themselves should cut down on it.
I totally agree with this article. I wake up every morning at 6 20, first thing I do is checking my phone whether I got any missed calls or text messages, and then I just turn my laptop on to check my facebook before I shower. Eventhough I do these things everyday before I go to school, I have been never late. It is giving me some relax because I don't take bus to my school. I ride my dad's car to go to school. Also I have television on while I eat. I'm always with technology in the morning.
Normally my family wakes up and starts getting prepared for the day ahead of them. I will admit that I sometimes sneak a little facebook time up in the morning if I was ahead of schedule. I think that texting as an intercom and alarm system is a great idea, for those who are too lazy to walk up the stairs. In my opinion, if one of my parents texted me to get up, I would honestly ignore it. I think the situations that are described in the story are exaggerated. My family would not bring a laptop or iPod to the dinner table and I know many others who would not do the same. In my opinion, every family should have their own rules to fit their likings, but if the use of technology disturbs the rest of their day, such as missing the bus or doing daily chores, I would figure that its best to be left for later on in the day.
My family normally would wait for all of us to wake up, but after 7:20, we all have breakfast, but during summer vacations or if I wake up very early, I would check my facebook & youtube account for any updates whatsoever.
My breakfast almost never intervenes with technology at the table unless
it's the TV on while a rerun of The Tonight Show is on.
I think the situations are excessive, because it's only a 5:95 chance I would find my family hooked up to their electric appliances, including me.
I would use a golden rule at my table is 'no-one all at once should use technology at the table at the same time, including myself', because I am always the most likely to start a conversation at the table or may extend it.
I could completely relate to what the article is saying. I wake up early in the morning just to check iphone for text messages and the Facebook. It is quite tempting to go through you text messages and mails but I truly believe that there should be a limit in using technology as a companion. I remember when I was in elementary school I used to go out with my friends and play basketball or "hang out", but now it is really difficult to see kids running around the yard playing games.
The fact that technology will make our lives easier is not as comforting as it was thought to be couple years ago. Now its simply a battle between your emotions to check your cellphone or do your daily responsiblities.
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