By Roberta Geraci
Technology, the Internet, Computers and increasingly Smart phones have altered almost every aspect of modern life and there has been much written about this digital revolution and its benefits. While the technology and web services like social networking, blogging and picture sharing keep changing and continually advancing it is difficult to take a step back and assess what the long term impact has been and if there are any negative effects.
It is increasingly clear that modern technology and the Internet have had a profound effect on tourism, travel, overseas volunteering and gap years, to such an extent that some individuals now question the very value of travel. An interesting article in The Guardian titled, “Has technology robbed travel of its riches?” questioned whether the use of technology while travelling had diminished the experience. Rolf Potts a travel blogger commented in the Guardian that “The world is as interesting for travellers as it’s always been – but as wanderers we need to balance the utility of new travel technologies with the quieter, more organic rewards previous generations of travellers discovered on the road.” Technology and the Internet have provoked questions about the effect on travel and arguably to an even greater extent, the ability to fully immerse oneself in a new culture.
Advances in technology have allowed us to travel further, faster and importantly more affordably, opening up travel and overseas volunteering to all. With these advancements have come a number of more recent changes in the “internet age” for example, being able to remain in contact via social networking, blogging or by phone, being able to share pictures, thoughts and comments with friends and family back home and an ability to remain constantly connected to news from around the world.
These changes are reflected by the increasingly common question for travellers, or those preparing for a gap year, namely, should I take a laptop, Smartphone or iPad with me while travelling or volunteering overseas? While many can see the benefits and obvious risks of theft or damage, there is arguably a greater reason to think twice about our relationship with technology.
The risk is by being always connected to back home, you may not immerse yourself in the culture, sights and sounds of your new destination to the same extent. The feelings of culture shock and homesickness experienced by some volunteers can be both aided and diminished by the use of technology, and so gappers, travellers and volunteers, must aim to strike a balance between being connected to back home and immersing themselves fully in their new culture in order to gain as much as possible from their experience. The relationship between technology and cultural immersion then is as complex as it is dynamic. We believe that technology should be used to enhance the experience of travel and volunteering and not diminish it. Accordingly it is important to consider the balance between living in the moment and capturing it for all to see, and the difference between staying in contact with those back home and immersing yourself in a new culture, community and experience.
