Posts Tagged ‘technology’

What is it with a piece of fruit that we shouldn’t eat?

The Twittersphere has been buzzing for the last 24 hours about the release of the new Apple iPhone 4. Everyone wants to have it. It’s the latest, greatest, fastest, sleekest, most beautiful handheld device pumped with technological steroids that humans have every seen, held, and smelled. Admit it. If you got a new one, you smelled it, too.

The iPod was pretty rockin’ sweet yet was outdone by the iPod Touch. In the midst of many other computer and mobile device “upgrades,” the iPod Touch grew up and became the iPad. And now here we are. The iPhone 4. Because the iPhone 3 just wasn’t enough. Phone. E-mail. Navigation. Music. There’s an “app” for all o’ that.

From aluminum casing paired with a black keyboard to tiny white, recognizable earbuds, Apple has artistically designed their products to be sexy and sleek – visually appealing on a number of levels. Apple products are so appealing that large numbers of people stood in line for hours to get their hands on their very own little new release. It seems as though the newest Apple product is irresistible. Somewhat similar to the story recorded in the Bible of the first man, Adam, who was unable to stay away from the forbidden apple in the Garden of Eden.

Apparently, whether we’re talking about a communication device or a piece of fruit from a tree, that is one seriously sexy Apple. And we can’t resist it.

What do we do with our temptation?

Continually seek to fulfill our self-focused pleasures?

Justify our addictions to technology and/or having the newest, trendiest product?

Aren’t we in somewhat of a predicament (as I type on my MacBook Pro)?

What do we do with our temptation and addiction?

A map connects me to other people. An app. distracts me from other people.

I appreciate those of you who commented on my mobile phone dilemma. I need to clarify that the problem with my current phone is not a battery issue. The charger simply does not connect correctly. A special thank you goes out to Josh Schluep for crafting a comment marked by humility and genius and to Beau Carlson for actually going to the Verizon store with me. After hearing your input in conversation and in comments, having LiveChatted with a helpful AT&T sales representative, having visited the Verizon store, I have determined that “there’s a map for that.” Though the iPhone boasts some 92,000 applications, the cost for AT&T is just as bad as its coverage area. The Google Android OS has 10,000 applications (which may be enough to start out) and is quite impressive. I didn’t like the Motorola Droid. It was too clumsy and complex of an interface. I couldn’t figure it out. The HTC Droid Eris on the other hand was quite impressive and only half the cost of the Motorola Droid. It is clean and simple and quite similar to the iPhone’s usability. I hope that HTC upgrades from Android 1.5 to 2.0 in order to include GPS.

Theological and sociological implications:

Use of a Smartphone will streamline my productivity and free up more time for relational interaction.
Fewer applications encourages fewer distractions that could deter me from the Christian life.
Monetary savings using Verizon rather than AT&T and HTC rather than Motorola for increased giving to others.
I am consuming.

What are other positive or negative implications are involved the purchase of an HTC Droid Eris.?

My number (1) strength as identified by the Clifton StrengthsFinder assessment is “Input.” Essentially, I am inquisitive and collect as much information as possible primarily in words or books. Though I am quite aware of the cultural shift from word to image and value input from video, image, and social media resources, I am highly skeptical of propaganda.

Recent propaganda from Verizon Wireless is promoting the “smartphones” that run on the Google Android operating system. Motorola makes the Droid and HTC makes the Droid Eris. Both function somewhat similarly to the Apple iPhone. I would like to use an iPhone (since I have a MacBook Pro and like the simplicity and syncability) but it is only carried by AT&T whose coverage area in the United States is awful. I have also checked out various types of Blackberry phones such as the Storm, Storm2, and Tour. There is also an Apple iTouch that I have that must be factored into the equation. It came with the MacBook Pro and I have yet to open it trying to decide whether or not to use it. It would work great seeing as I live on a college campus with Wi-Fi everywhere but would be a secondary device.

I would like to think that I do not need an iPhone, Blackberry, or Droid, however…

(a) The demands of my new position at MVNU are beginning to necessitate higher mobile technology access.
(b) Social media and their equivalent mobile applications have become standard for communication and marketing.
(c) My current LG Chocolate phone is no longer charging properly.

What should Travis Keller do? What is the most socially and theologically responsible decision and why? What should I purchase or not purchase?

Many MVNU students have been attending the Sunday morning gathering of Christians who call themselves "Journey Church." Here is the fifth (5th) of six (6) reasons why MVN(azarene)U students have been so highly attracted to the non-Nazarene gathering place that is Journey.

From post #4 of 6…
[There is also…]

5. The idea that everyone is doing it.

I’m not precisely sure what defines a trend except the idea that "everyone is doing it." After a discussion with my friends Nate Okuley and Lee Yowell in Nate’s car on the way to Hunan Garden for some dialogue and General Tso’s Chicken (insert another prepositional phrase here), I am offering a list of cultural and branding trends that exist within MVNU:

North Face : These branded jackets may be seen on many students walking around campus. I do wonder if North Face jackets worn in warmer spring and summer weather are symbols of one’s need for identity to be justified by a trend/brand.

Chipotle : I had never tried the oversized burrito from the McDonald’s Corporatio n owned mexican grill until I worked at MVNU. I will admit, I likes me some Chipotle even though I loathe McDonald’s and even have a hard time saying the last name of a certain clown named Ronald without having moderate to severe reflux in my esophageal tr act. Flour tortilla, rice, cilantro, chicken, onions, peppers, black beans, corn salsa, fresh tomato salsa, and cheese. Trendy and tasty for a mere 950 calories, 28.5 grams of fat, and 43% of my daily intake of iron. I heart you Chipotle (but I hate your mother).

Mac : The musical group/band/singer Feist would be relatively unknown if Mac had not used the now popu lar "1, 2, 3, 4" on a quite catchy advertisement for the th en new ipod nano (Am I supposed to capitalize the word "nano" or the "p" in "ipod?" What is the trend?). I confess that I do own a very nice, new generation, large capacity ipod Classic which I enjoy very much ("Classic" is capitalized just in case I got it wrong the first time. I want to be justified by my trendiness.). I also have MacBook envy. I have battled lust for the new aluminum cased media and online connectivity machine largely do to the slow proc essing and occasional random shut down of my now archaic HP Pavilion. I am also wanting to use iLife 09 for video and picture editing of my daughter, Kyla. I simply can’t quite justify spending $1299+ on a laptop when we’re trying to save and raise money to adopt internationally . It’s not easy fleeing green. "Tell me that you love me more. Buy me, Mac."

Journey Church : "If everyone’s going there and says it’s sweet then I’m going to go check it out." Is this a good enough reason? No previous connection with the gathered community? No theological research?

This of course leads me to the number one (#1) reason why MVNU students go to Journey…

TO BE CONTINUED.

^ This post is dedicated to Lee Yowell.

I updated my previous installation of WordPress 2.5 to 2.7 using Fantastico within my AN Hosting account. Due to heavy reading expectations in my M.A.R. Missional Leadership program, I have had a difficult time keeping my blog posts recent and current. Hopefully, the new look and feel of my upgraded dashboard will encourage me to continue posting regularly. I really am enjoying the flow and usability along with the fresh and appearance.

I also hope to continue to refine the look of subversiveREFORMATION.com as I continue to learn CSS and HTML along with web hosting and image creating/editing. I don’t find the process of blogging and learning web-languages an irresponsible use of time. Our culture is one that has become dependent upon  or at least adjusted to online forms of connectivity and communication with images, video, and instant response systems at the core of interaction.

An interesting question arises with web-language and communication technologies: What is the appropriate Christian response to decreasing human-to-human interactions ?