The era of technology, robots, cell phones, internet etc. obviously offers many benefits for human beings. It has to be used in the right way. But , like anything that has potential good, it must also be limited and we must not get carried away. We must not become like robots ourselves!
Computers are great….but too much screen time is unhealthy, affects sleep quality and so on. And of course it all depends what we use computer for: is it useful in our service of God or does it separate us from holiness?
Cell phones have an addictive effect and also are unhealthy to be handled a lot, put to one’s ear, in one’s pocket etc. That is besides the things we may use them for which may not be good…
Robots have their place (such as mopping the house) as do other appliances such as dishwashers and so on. But should we rely totally on appliances and devices? Or should we teach our children to mop, sweep, wash dishes and be self reliant?
Society is becoming very technological but with that comes a certain inhumane aspect. People no longer interact properly, are fully present for one another, or even know how to enjoy family gatherings etc. People are becoming de humanized. We may start to feel like robots after a while, going after our daily routine and barely interacting with another person. Life loses meaning and happiness. And this is how the governments wish to control and influence people: through social media, devices and so on . everything becomes impersonal. So we really have to be careful that we do not get carried away with technology. We need to keep our families intact, our children guided properly and to continue living a life filled with joy and meaning.
Our phones have prayer books downloaded….but it is not the same to pray from a phone as it praying from an ancient text book that has a holiness emanating from it. There is no holiness emanating from a cell phone. But the feel, smell and the look of a prayer book is holy and helps elevate our prayers. The Hebrew letters printed in a Torah text feel very different than Hebrew words being read from a cell phone. The medium through which we learn affects us as well as the words we read and say.
There was a reason the Lubavitcher Rebbe advised to have a home filled with Torah books. Because the day may come when people no longer buy books and rely on their phones, computers etc. We must keep our priorities and customs intact and allow technology to augment things but not destroy anything.