Zen Artistry in the Modern World

 

High Tech - High Touch

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In his book, Megatrends, author John Naisbitt describes the challenge of trying to find the right balance between 
the material wonders of technology and the spiritual demands of our human nature.  He refers to this as the need
for “High Tech - High Touch.”  As technology becomes more pervasive and complex, we increasingly need meaningful and sensory experiences to maintain a sense of connection and wholeness.  Great technology and innovation

can be a thing of beauty as evidenced by a well-designed website or virtual reality gaming system.  High-touch activities are those that keep us connected to our basic humanity.  They link us to our more authentic selves.  The effective use

of technology and balanced living can be mutually supportive.  Creating a high-energy music playlist while running
or training hard at the gym provides inspiration to the workout experience.  So too, is the practical value of carrying

a smartphone while engaged in a wilderness hike – just in case.  Both examples are High Tech — High Touch in their most essential form.

 

The lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the world’s population to better understand the potential of video-conferencing software for everyday communication whether for work, family get-together, or classroom instruction. Remote working from home has now become an accepted practice in most professional working environments.  
And while a Zoom or FaceTime family call is no substitute for an actual get together; it's the next best thing when separated by long distance.  Similarly, the field of education has been greatly strengthened by having a well-constructed website display that enables classroom instructors to post class syllabi, reading assignments and project information.  The Covid-19 pandemic taught us a lot about the power and potential of on-line classroom instruction.  The virtual
"on-line" course has now become an important staple of University class offerings.  What doesn’t change is the responsibility to being a highly motivated and engaged instructor.  Nothing takes the place of inspired teaching. 

This too, is high-tech and high-touch. 

 

Finally, social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Linked-In and TikTok provide a high-tech way of sharing information with one’s friends, family, and colleagues, but it remains our special obligation to tell stories that are purposeful and worth telling.

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