This is without a doubt the digital age. Technology is now well
immersed in everyone’s life. There are apps to help one access taxi services
even at midnight. Or for that matter it is possible to buy medication online at
a cheaper rate. Or even food. It is a matter of great convenience for everyone
without a doubt. Now a new app by Tata Digital will allow people who use this
app to buy a book, a hotel or buy electronics, groceries, medicine, etc. This
is great news for those who love buying stuff online. However one has to ask
the question of whether if the average person is getting too dependent on apps
for every need and missing out on the pleasure of stepping out in the physical
world and interacting with people. Reactions were interesting from different
people.
Joe D’Costa, a music director, said it was
now a world of instant gratification. He pointed out that interactions between
humans were reducing very fast. He said “People are becoming lonely in this
concrete jungle. It is frightening because I foresee a world with mental health
problems much worse than now. Sad”. An observation made by someone who has
lived life.
However an observation by an artist Paresh Kolwalkar also made
sense. He said “Its saves time and we can use that time for better things that
are important in life.” He went on to say that it was important to maintain
balance in one’s life otherwise life would turn upside down.
For Deepika George, a housewife, technology was a bane. She said
“The pandemic taught us to keep away from people. And technology helps us to
continue this trend. We are losing all sense of connection, communication and
interdependence as human species. We may as well turn into robots”.
Fabian Gonsalves was quite amused with the general state of
affairs. Vivian said “The internet space has become like physical space. For
example, you can build a restaurant online but I could also have one in the
adjacent locality. Same goes with the app market, apps keep coming and going.
There is no proper planning as such that I see in recent times. It’s a web of
chaos!!” Well that’s his opinion.
Jason Fernandes who operates in the information and technology
space said “Apps offer a level of convenience that has hitherto eluded Goans.
My experience with in-person shopping in Goa has been disappointing because
with the exception of some very basic items, rarely am I able to find the exact
product that I am looking for. Most times I am just settling for what is
available. The average person gets plenty of human interaction without needing
to go to a shopping store to get it. Online shopping allows me to get exactly
what I want and at rates comparable or even better than I can get offline”.
Conal Lobo an entrepreneur said it was good another app was in
the market to provide services to the consumer. He however felt it was all
about convenience and importantly about the price of the products that were
available on these platforms. He laughed and said face to face interactions
were fine but at times he preferred his own company.
It
goes without saying that technology has certainly moved very fast and made life
easier but the joy of human interaction cannot be discounted.
