While we regularly should practice gratitude, it is that time of year to be especially thankful. So, as we are gathered with family and friends eating turkey and all the trimmings, we think about those aspects of our lives as to which we are most grateful. And how about technology?!
As we race and dash from one thing to another to keep up with our frenetic schedules, it is easy to forget about how we benefit from technology that supports almost everything we do. There are countless examples of how our lives are much easier by virtue of technology. Let’s consider some examples in the Thanksgiving context.
Many of us are traveling to see our loved ones during the holidays. When on the road, GPS technology built into our cars guides us on our way without the need to fumble through paper maps. Or, if we are not going too far, we hop in a Lyft or Uber to go to and fro. For those of us taking to the air, we can order our tickets online without the need to contact a travel agent or the airline over the phone.
We may be bringing gifts. Easy peasy. No more waiting in lines and enduring the hassles of the shopping center. From our desktops, laptops, tablets or smartphones we visit Amazon and other online retailers to order presents that arrive within a day or two and well before the holidays.
When the guests arrive for the holiday gathering, perhaps we want some background music. No need to get up, just ask Alexa or another tech assistant to play the type of music we desire, and viola, the music comes forth.
And, as it happens, sometimes not everyone invited can make it to the holiday meal. No worries, we can fire up Skype or FaceTime and our distant loved ones are visually in our presence.
Plainly, there are many more examples, but this short list simply provides a reminder of how new technology becomes accepted and expected, and at times unappreciated.
Sure, technology has created problems too. But that is not our discussion today. Right now, we are practicing technology gratitude.
Happy Techgiving!
Eric Sinrod (@EricSinrod on Twitter) is a partner in the San Francisco office of Duane Morris LLP, where he focuses on litigation matters of various types, including information technology and intellectual property disputes. You can read his professional biography here. To receive a weekly email link to Mr. Sinrod’s columns, please email him at ejsinrod@duanemorris.com with Subscribe in the Subject line. This column is prepared and published for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the author’s law firm or its individual partners.