On Technology

Yesterday I blogged about e-readers and how I'm all for technology.  To put your minds at ease, I'm still for technology today, but I thought a bit about it last night at a Michael Buble concert.

Before the show began, the couple sitting next to me were busy with their cell phones, playing games, checking messages, and whatnot.  I looked around the arena and sure enough, I saw little glowing screens here and there.  Once the concert began, to make the show more enjoyable for people like me sitting high up in the rafters, a sophisticated sound system was in use and huge screens magnified Mr. Buble's well-groomed, scruffy chin.

At one point it hit me: why do people go to live performances anymore?  Where is the magic when people are doing the same things at a concert that they easily do at home or at work?  Why go to a concert only to play with your cell phone when you can soak up the atmosphere and energy of the other people around you?  Why pay top dollar to go somewhere to watch Michael Buble on a screen when you can watch him on PBS for free?

Then at the end of the concert something truly magical happened.  Michael Buble came out from behind the curtain and started singing "A Song For You" without instrumental accompaniment and without the use of microphones.  Nothing between the Canadian singer and his audience, just pure Michael Buble projecting his voice unaided out into the great space of the area.  Without the use of the sound system his voice wasn't booming, but it was all him.  And everyone hushed to hear the true Michael Buble.  For me, at least, it was the highlight of the evening.

The point of all this: technology--whether it's in sound, television screens, e-book readers, computers, or what have you--is a wonderful thing that has changed and improved our lives in many ways, but let's not allow technology to take over our lives.  It's good to keep a healthy balance between being plugged and unplugged; live in the real world and not exclusively in the virtual world of gadgets.

Oh, and I did enjoy the concert. :-)

Crooning "A Song For You" from the perch.