Allow me to address this by comparing it to any technological breakthrough.

The topic I’m about to tackle has been a cause of discussion in social circles – real or virtual.

It may also be argued that computers have made people lazier. However, many would still say, myself included that it’s a matter of choice to use computers and how we make use of time on it whether wisely as opposed to skipping time that could be spent doing something more physically active is up to us.

A mom’s life is easier. Take the washing machine. Gone are the days when we pitied our lavanderas because they had to literally wash off soap and water from our dirty clothes with their hands!

Now all one needs to do is separate the whites from the coloreds, pour ample powdered soap, fix the settings and in minutes – voila! Fresh and clean clothes!

The lavandera (and that’s all of us who wash our clothes) while washing may do her nails, cook dinner or chat on the phone! How does it make people lazier?

Perhaps it is just the comfort that may make us lazy (if you are talking about lazy like looking something up online rather than reading a whole book about it, perhaps it is better and more efficient.).

If you ask if technology made us lazier, then the answer is definitely yeah---people used to have to travel using their own energy or with a horse, and riding one is a physical workout itself! With the advent of trains and automobiles, people began to rely on machines for transportation instead of their own physical abilities.

Now you just ride and sit back and relax. Same thing goes for research. Back in the day, I remember not having access to computer dictionaries, encyclopedias, and databases (all of which are now online and in CD-ROM progams) and we had to learn how to use the card catalog at the Library. Kids nowadays never heard of the Dewey decimal system, but most probably know how to use Wikipedia. Just type in whatever you want to know about and answers right there at your fingertips.

It’s all revolutionized and in some ways for the better. It’s faster and data is readily available, although in some ways for the worse (it's making us increasingly sedentary and in constant need of instant-gratification). I think in a way this is where I may attribute my Keoni’s impatience because nowadays it’s the “I want info and I want it NOW!

Culture. One time I pointed out how terrible his handwriting still is at Grade 3 and my son quipped, “Mom, why do I have to write so nice when I can type so fast and well on the computer!”

Oh no!. We must strive to find ways to balance out our daily routines --- 2 hours of TV time and Internet use and at least 2 hours of exercise and or book study. Teachers should encourage students to use not only the internet, but to go to the library and check out the hardbounds.

I think laziness is relative. Have computers really made us, especially our kids less physically active? It all depends. As for me, it’s more of comfort and convenience. I’m not lazier but rather more efficient. Is it considered laziness to get a computer in order to make life a bit easier? I think not.

Lemme hear from yah! techiemommy@gmail.com