Not sure who to say ‘wow!’ about but somewhere between WordPress and Google, I’m very impressed. 15 minutes after publishing the previous post, there it was, top of the Google rankings. Ok, the search criteria was a bit specific, but what an amazing thing.

The reason I’m interested in this specifically is that it reminded me of an instance earlier this year. The UK had a relatively decent earthquake at about 1am. I was on the computer at the time and my first reaction was to Google something like ‘earthquake London’. I remember being a little confused as to why nothing came up. I tried the BBC news site, nothing. In a world of instant everything, I expected it to be on the web instantly. Moreover, I got the nagging feeling that if it wasn’t on the web, did it really happen? I needed the web to back up my real-life experience.

It’s a scenario that plays out in many areas of our modern lives, reducing the responsibility or validity of our own actions. We can leave for a meeting with just a phone, safe in the knowledge that when we can “call you when I get there”. No organisation or forethought needed. Sat nav allows us to travel without the faintest idea where we actually are. Even in shopping, we can’t feel happy with a purchase unless we know we got it at a good price… because we’ve done a price comparison. If we’re not sure about a real-life transaction, we walk away comforted by the fact we can probably buy it cheaper online anyway. I did it recently, dithering over £5 difference on a £30 printer. I’d argue the wasted time was worth more than £5, especially as I’d spent £3 in petrol getting to the store. Even the vast resource of the web means we don’t really have to remember anything… it’ll always be there, right?

Relying on technology, especially information technology can be a worryingly addictive thing (ask any Blackberry user). The slightly uneasy feeling I get when I forget my phone reminds me of that first lone journey after passing my driving test. Like a slightly risky adventure… will I even survive past the shops on the corner?

Nothing quite demonstrates our dependence as well as the dreaded power cut, especially during a working day. Utter paralysis is the usual reaction until the old, dusty synapses start to fire. I can’t help thinking to myself, what would we all do if there was no technology? No electricity even? Oh hang on, I how will I set the alarm on the way out… See!

On thing’s for sure, we’d have to use our own skills a hell of a lot more and I’m not sure we’d all survive. Next time you’re with your friends or at work… look around you, who would be the first to perish? I know who’s on my list… do you? Makes your tea round a lot easier to prioritise, that’s for sure.