Memory vs. Technology

Saw Muse at the O2 in London on Sunday. Their opening interlude was 'Drones' and they put the lyrics up on one of the screens. One line really struck me 'we live our lives between our fingers and thumbs'. Just as I was pondering on this, someone in front of me pulled their phone out and started filming. The irony certainly wasn't lost on me!

Personally, I'm old school. I will succumb to the odd photo at a gig but tend to refrain from a full on video. I truly believe you should just be present at these things and not spend too much time trying to record it. Although it has now become something of a tradition to take a few selfies on the train on the way to said gig! I may try to limit myself with technology but I try not to be a complete troglodyte!

I read somewhere a while back a study done on recollection. It was a tour of a museum. One group were given a camera and allowed to take as many pictures as they wished. The second group no camera. It turned out the group without the camera were better able to recall everything they'd seen. It seems technology can make the memory lazy! That those with the camera didn't try to keep it all to memory because they knew they could rely on the camera.

I've never forgotten this. It's probably another reason I like to write things down. As I know memory is selective and we do tend to forget certain bits of detail. Writing gives my memory a chance to recall, without having to rely on just a photo. Which, in this day and age, is hard to avoid anyway! I love photos too, they refresh the memory and there's certainly still a place for them. Memory, to me, can be hazy. It's sort of like recalling a dream. You can see it in your mind's eye but never as fresh as a photo.

Again, probably another reason I draw the line at taking videos at a concert. I want the fantasy of that dream like memory. To use my imagination in keeping the memory rose tinted.

So what's your stance on this? Memory vs. Technology. Are you mostly 'present' and take the odd photo? Are you living your life through the screen of your phone? Do you try to limit your use of screen time/social media interaction etc? Or do you shun technology completely? I would love some interactions so please feel free to leave your comments with your thoughts.