An ‘Appy’ Time @ Magic Kingdom
Hana and Kaimana in line for the Pirates of Caribbean ride at Disneyland TANNYA JOAQUIN PHOTO
What would we do without our smart-phones, tablets and computers?
We can’t live without them. Depending on your view, they’re either a blessing or a curse. My sentiments fall somewhere in the middle.
I love modern conveniences, but I also see the negative side effects of living in a digital age.
I can’t tell you my parents’ phone numbers off the top of my head. Why would I need to know? All of their numbers — home, cell, work, etc. — are programmed into my phone. I do know my parents’ address, but I don’t bother to remember their ZIP code. When I have to mail something to my parents, I usually end up Googling their ZIP. Don’t ask me why I just don’t add their ZIP code into my contacts.
Give directions? Forget about it. I just input my destination into a map app and my smart devices guide me there. Sometimes in a roundabout way, but hey, it didn’t require any of my brain power.
We’ve become dependent on our digital devices. In other words, we’ve become lazy because we’re used to having everything at our fingertips.
I’ve heard about an app that will keep track of all of your accounts and passwords. A quick search reveals a host of free password managers that store your important information in one “secure wallet.” I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to reset passwords because I forgot mine.
I should get an app like this to help, although I keep kidding myself that I wouldn’t need it if I just made a mental note of my passwords. Note to self: Yeah, right. Get the app already.
One of my favorite apps is Yelp. It’s guided me to restaurants off the beaten path, family-friendly parks/playgrounds/attractions (complete with pictures and reviews), and fun places to work out and discover.
Another must-have app, if you visit Disneyland, tracks wait times for the rides. Seriously, how cool is that? After all, tickets for a family of four will set you back about $400. Obviously, you want to squeeze in as many rides as possible.
Speaking of rides, I finally used Uber. We got an Uber ride to a park that I learned about on Yelp. Now that’s a one-two punch for a modern mom.
I guess the good outweighs the bad. You know, a lack of real-life interaction because our heads are buried in our smart-phones. Or, for children, tunnel vision playing with iPads and LeapPads instead of exploring the world around them or enjoying good old-fashioned books, puzzles and drawing pictures.
So what’s the answer? Obviously, moderation. Short of that, I will look up what the experts say online as soon as I can reset my password to get into my account.
tjoaquin@hawaiinewsnow.com
