24 really busy hours.

24 hours without technology was not a difficult task.  Really, it was a bit irritating at the most.  No technology ended up having to be no phone, social media, or use of technology outside school and work. Although a few hours were spent writing papers and doing other online homework, I did not break any rules.  My strategy may have been a form of cheating, I gave my phone over to my roommate for the day. I honestly don't know if I would have had the ability to stay off my phone. Maybe because I wanted to be connected, but also because checking my phone is a habit.  Searching my pockets or purse for my phone has become habitual over the years. 

I noticed throughout the day that I wanted to talk to people. I had things to talk to my mom about, and also friends.  Some of which were important, and others not so important.  I felt uncomfortable when I went to meet my coworkers for dinner and had no idea when someone had arrived, or how many people to put in for the table. The inconvenience of not talking to people when I felt I needed to was irritating. 

On the other hand, I thoroughly enjoyed the absence of social media.  No Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter was a relief, a breath of fresh air. It makes me think about deleting it all. And although I do not know if that will happen, it will continue to be a thought in my mind as the class progresses. I completed a large amount of homework, which I know would not have been completed had I not been doing this experiment. Yay me, and yay school!

Overall, a day without technology made me feel good! I can go without constantly being connected to people, and feel good about it. I know that social media is just a way to fulfill some emptiness in me and a way to make me feel, well, social. I encourage you to try it.

Fire up! But don't fire up the apps, computer, and phone. Enjoy those around you.

Fill Me Up

I went to church this morning.  I used to go to church on a regular basis, but over the years my church visits have been very irregular.  It was refreshing to be back in that environment, but what shocked me was the 5 minute video we watched about technology and social media, along with other things like food, shopping, etc. being what "fills people up" temporarily. The "emptiness" we feel the need to fill up every day with social media and technology is real.  We reach for our phones in any moment of discomfort and hide in technology when we're feeling sad. That temporary fill of whatever emptiness is inside of us satisfied for just a bit before the next spell of emptiness pours on us.

I'm interested to see what I am using to fill my emptiness and help with my discomfort while I'm off technology for 24 hours.  I am also interested in seeing how I feel afterwards.  Will I be counting down the seconds to bury myself in another episode of Grey's Anatomy? Or, will I be enjoying my space from the cyber world, catching up on homework and having concentrated conversations with my roommates.

The video hit home when it pointed out that the world relies on technology to fill a hole.  It is true; I see it, and I do it.  I wish I could be less reliable on social media to fill me up when I am feeling down.  Sometimes, I learn the hard way and realize that social media has its ways of tearing me down even more. I'm glad my eyes were opened to a new way of looking at the way we use technology and what motives we have behind the excessive use.

Fire Up!

PS: Thor: The Dark World was SO GOOD!

24 Whole Hours?!

I love technology.  I use it every day.  Honestly, I cannot imagine being my age 10 years ago and not having the ability to do the things technology allows me to do.  While talking to my cousin, who also happens to be a close friend and 11 years older than me, I realized that life was possible without the constant connections and communication that I have today.  I am a people person.  I love staying connected with people. Or at least knowing I can be connected with anyone within a matter of seconds.   I'm not a huge texter, I would rather talk on the phone, but I do not do that very often either.  I sit on social media for a pathetic amount of hours reading up on people that 1) I don't like, 2) don't care about or 3) do like and care about, but not to the point where I need to know each aspect of their life.  I'm the type of person who is content with a few great friends rather than a lot of good ones.  Social media keeps me up on those "good" friends that really, without social media, we would not be connected at all.
My cousin allowed me to understand that his generation lived, communicated, and succeeded without what we have now.  Not that technology is bad, but I am ashamed at how much I rely on it.  I do not want to rely on technology like I do.

Since I love so much communication, I get very nervous when I don't have it.  I do not like driving without a phone, as I feel that if I were in an emergency, I couldn't contact people.  I do not like to go anywhere without my phone for the same reason.  I am terrified of getting lost, being left behind, and missing out on important details.

For class, I am going to give up my phone, iPad, and computer for 24 hours other than for school or work purposes.  I will not check social media, I will not watch Netflix, TV, play games, or anything other than email/online homework.  I am going to live like my cousin did when he was in college.  I am going to do this by giving my technology to my roommate, who will only give it back to me if I need it for school purposes.  As a precaution, because of my admitted paranoia, I am going to have her keep my phone on her so that in any emergency call from a family member, I can be contacted.  This is a test.  Can I survive a day without feigning for technology? I'll report back later.


Fire Up!

Morbark

Morbark is a world class manufacturing company that produces high-performance equipment for forestry, recycling, sawmill, biomass, landscaping/irrigation, and tree care.  Their facility is 1.1 million square feet and is incredible.  Luckily, I was involved in a tour of the facility.  It involved a lot of walking, some protective gear, and a lot of information.

I was fascinated by the machinery and processes used in the Morbark facility.  From nothing, they make huge, functioning, dangerous machinery that has the ability to destroy materials in a matter of seconds.  I have a friend who is involved in manufacturing, and have always wanted to see the facility and machinery he works with.  Although he is a CNC programmer and works in a very, very small facility, the ability to see the types of things manufacturing companies are capable of gave me a clear picture of how talented he really is.

Morbark seems to be a very organized, smooth working company.  Each employee I saw was diligently working on their part, no matter how small, to make the big picture come together.  My favorite part of the tour was the huge piece of metal that was incased in a room with sound reducing insulation.  Machines work to carve out pieces of that metal and I relate it to the CNC milling that I am familiar with.  I've seen machines carve out metal (only in videos) to make precise details, and I imagine the same happening with this piece of metal.

The negative side of the tour involved my personality, and my health.  As a person who likes to move, likes change in projects, and likes to communicate with people while working, the factory would not be a place for me to work.  Also, as a person who is prone to headaches and migraines, the factory would end up triggering them and I would be unable to concentrate or work for that matter.  The smells, sounds, and lights triggered headaches while I was on an hour long tour, I cannot imagine spending my days in the factory.

Overall, I am thankful for the experience at Morbark.  Although my field is not involved in manufacturing directly, it was an experience many people should have.  The manufacturing field does fit many types of personalities, and has opportunities to move up in the company, which is a great aspect.  Morbark is impressive, and now I can understand where manufacturers come from when they say that people can be successful with or without a college education.

Fire up.

iPad Technology in Child Life

Its quite apparent that my life spun into chaos, and my blog became low priority.  However, my thoughts have not even begun to stop on topics we are dealing with in class, and in my personal life.  I learned through a project I was assigned one of my passions in child life is stronger than I originally thought.  I gave a technology presentation on iPad/tablet use in child life.  Through research and practice, I learned how much I love, and will use iPad technology when I am a CCLS.

Distracton. First off, in any human being, distraction is a tool that works.  With physical pain, emotional pain, any kind of pain, being distracted causes our brains to focus on something other than what we are feeling.  No, it does not eliminate the pain.  However, in children, it has almost that effect.  Distraction on iPads can be through television shows, games, videos, or education.  Since apps are available for any age, infants through teens can easily be distracted.  Sometimes children cannot be distracted and physically interact with the device, so a video, movie, or moving image may be used.  Other occasions allow the child to interact.  This is where a game, educational app, or even just controlling the device on their own is appropriate.  Next time you go get your blood drawn, put on a YouTube video, check social media, or engage in a phone conversation.  Distract yourself and fully engage, then see how much you feel that needle prick.

Preparation. Preparing children for procedures and tests is essential.  Yes, children in the past have gone through procedures with no preparation and survived.  But think, if we could help children understand why they have to be poked and prodded, how it works, and why it happens to them and not their brother/sister, don't you think they would be better off psychologically? Children are smarter than society lets people believe.  They can comprehend what happens to their body, as long as we explain it in terms they understand, and take time explaining it.  Luckily, child life specialists can use iPad technology for preparation before or during the child's visit.  There are apps that hospitals have made that include videos taking children step by step through procedures like a blood draw, casting, CT scanning, etc.  The child can watch as many times as they'd like, and an adult can talk them through using developmentally appropriate terminology. Adults want to understand what will happen when they undergo a procedure, now imagine a child in a terrifyingly unfamiliar place, not knowing what is going to happen to them. Prepare them. Inform them.

Relaxation. Hospitals are stressful.  There's beeping, crying, yelling, rushing, death, and illness.  No one likes hospitals. To children, hospitals are unfamiliar territory.  Between strange people in their faces, machines, tools, and the environment all together, its no question that a hospital is a highly stressful environment for kids.  The iPad can be used in many ways to calm children.  Distraction and preparation are relaxing in themselves.  Apps involving music, visual and sound apps, even FaceTime will allow children to relax.  Over all the beeping and medical talk, a child's favorite song can change their mood immediately.  Reducing stress is essential in the hospital environment.

Overall, iPads can have huge effects on children's reaction to and experiences in the hospital.  Distraction, preparation, and relaxation are important for each and every child's hospital experience.

Here is a video example of a child being distracted during a procedure:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkID_TF8n0s

Fire up!