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Sometimes we just need to put down the tech

Technology is a major part of our lives in this nation.

It’s the same for many countries around the world. No matter where you look, computers and other digital devices are a mainstay in the way we go about our daily business.

Without digital technology, you wouldn’t be reading this column right now. It is written and published through the use of computers. The newspaper is printed through both mechanical and digital means. I am sure many of you are reading this either on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

Banks, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, traffic lights, etc., they all work today because of the use of digital technology in some form.

Even our cars have some sort of computer built into them these days to help monitor and regulate various systems.

So, when you think about it, if something were ever to happen that much of our digital technology would suddenly be wiped out, much of the world would be in big trouble.

We wouldn’t necessarily go back to the stone age, but it easily would set us back about 150 years. Of course, we probably would have no idea how to operate any of the machinery which was used back then to help us get through.

But, every once in a while, it’s not a bad idea to put all of that modern technology to the side.

Even if it’s just for a couple of hours, we can get by for a little while without our phones, computers and video games.

When I have the time available, I often like to just sit back and read a book. That’s right, I actually own books.

I don’t have a tablet or an iPad or a Kindle to read my books on some screen. Those are nice if you are going to be traveling and think you will be able to get through multiple books while on your trip, but there is still something about holding that book in your hands and turning the pages.

Some days, after a long day at work, it’s just nice to go sit out on the porch with a good book and try to relax for a bit.

It doesn’t matter the type of book. It’s all about getting away from your worries and disconnecting.

We’ve come to rely so much on our technology, I think we sometimes forget that it’s not always been available to us.

There were days when the only way to watch a movie was to go to a theater. There weren’t 400 television channels or digital pay services such as Netflix or Hulu.

A phone was simply a way to call someone, not a hand-held device with which we could take pictures, play games and access all information on the Internet with just a touch on a screen.

We didn’t have social media. If you wanted to keep in touch with friends, you actually had to call them, write them a letter, or actually meet up and talk about their lives.

When I was in college, you could barely get a cell phone signal in West Liberty.

There are still some places in this world where that is the case.

Sometimes, it’s nice to be able to pretend it’s that way everywhere.

We can just put down the phone or the computer for a couple of hours, and maybe take a walk or go for a bicycle ride, maybe take the family on a picnic.

Talk to each other. Look around at your community.

It’s not a bad thing, and you might just learn a little more about yourself and the world around you.

The texts, messages and Tweets will be there when you get back.

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter @CHowellWDT)

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