Slaves of our own machines!?

             The era which we are in can more or less be called the golden era of technical inventions for mankind. From launching rockets and satellites to mars and space, to creating human look alike robots, smartphones that can talk to you, guide you directions replacing the human touch, and laptops which no longer need to be on the top of your lap to use it, humans have been on the edge with an intense adrenaline rush of evolution. Till today we have created a lot of things in the name of inventions. But how necessary are these inventions to us, apart from our basic necessities of food, water, shelter and clothing?? Every other invention was made to add luxury to our life, and to relive us from the little effort that we used to put in earlier, to get things done. Has our inventions made us brisk or lazy? How far are we going to stretch our skills and limits for creating something that might just be another junk in our closet? Every invention has its pros and cons. But how much are we looking at the cons? Are we giving it the same kind of leverage that we are giving to the pros.? Do the multi-billion dollar companies really do a market study before they create something new, and launch it in the market as their new product for the convenience and comfort of the consumers?

              Today consumers are brand literates. Earlier there were very few brands and products to chose from, which made it easier for the consumers to shop. Today the scenario is entirely different. When we enter a supermarket or hypermarket or an electronics showroom, one can find a wide range of products and brands confusing the costumers. One enters the store with the intention of buying a particular product they have already made a list of, but when you step out, you are carrying those additional bags which you wouldn't have even planned to buy or use, eventually making you a debtor to those credit card companies who will screw your happiness if you default a payment, irrespective of whether you used the product or not. They will chase you and hunt you down until they get their every last penny they lent to you. But I doubt if all this attitude towards the consumers from the credit card companies and loan sharks has made us any less alert and less shopaholic.

            We are still on our shopping frenzy and we still keep buying things we don't need. The worst effect that all these inventions have had on us is that we have become torpid. We have stopped realizing what these inventions are doing to us. Of course for every research and development team of the MNC"s, finding something new will always be exciting and brainstorming. It will be like their baby which they created with great care, love, and difficulty in this world. But this baby of theirs is turning to be a monster in the lives of the consumers. 

            Earlier life was not so complicated and busy like it is today. Things were much simpler back then. The commodities available in the market didn't perplex or put the consumers in a dilemma. They didn't need to memorize a lot of things like the situation is today. Proudly we can all say that we are owners of all those bragged about products that are available in the market, but little do we realize that we do not own them, but they own us. With every step towards evolution, mankind has taken several steps ahead towards destruction and slavery. 

           Slavery was long abolished by great men like Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr. However, we are slaves even today. We are slaves of our own creations.!? Earlier one could step out of the house with just a wallet with some money in it, and the ladies of course had their share of cosmetics and toiletries to carry in their little purse or handbag. But today one cannot step out of the house without their smartphone, car/bike keys, sunglasses, in addition to their wallet or handbag. You can add ipad, laptop, palmtop, digital diaries, cameras-cybershot, powershot, DSLR, etc. depending on your financial credibility, job, status in the society, and how much pretentious and conspicuous you are.

          It has become a habit for us to carry most of the above mentioned gadgets with us, irrespective of whether we need it or not. These gadgets have made us reduce our circle of socializing. The etiquettes and manners which were taught and passed on from generations, have come to a stand still in this era. Thanks to our inventions!! We are loosing the human touch, and are more or less spending majority of our time with the gadgets we created in the name of luxury, comfort and convenience. I don't think our brains had to stuff in, remember, and recollect vast information's earlier. But today, whether we like it or not we are forced to do so. Our very own inventions control us. A very good example that I can think of is the number of ID's and passwords we have to remember today. The previous generation had only the bank account number and landline phone numbers with them. Our era offers a wide range of products with its complexities. If we need to use these products, we need to create an ID and password, and remember it as well to use it. If not ,we are at the mercy of our gadgets, and technical experts who can help us rectify the error done. Isn't that shameful? Why have we stooped so low to our own creations?

         These gadgets have created a web, a labyrinth for the humans to fall, and once trapped in it, coming out of it is a Herculean task. People end up admitting themselves to the rehabilitation centers made just to help people realize the extent to which they have become slaves to these products. Its like a spell, a curse. The inventions have created a spell on mankind, and every now and then one needs to find a cure, a way to break from the spell and set oneself free. 

         One should never forget that God created us. What we invented , and are still inventing is only for our convenience, not to walk around thinking we are God !! We are still humans with flesh and blood, and if we wish to remain so for generations to come, we must stop the slavery and encourage a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Am sure we don't want our children marrying robots instead of humans...