Are we too connected?

Samsung Galaxy Gear Smartwatch - CNET Reviews

I've been hearing about the Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch for a little while now, and, like the reviewer, I have many questions. However, my questions stem from a different place: is this device just proving our society's need for constant connection?

In a nutshell, the Smartwatch connects with your phone to play music, work with apps, track your exercise, make phone calls, and take pictures. Supposedly, the benefit of this watch is that the user is not reaching for his or her phone every five minutes; they can do what they need to do through the watch. But I personally can't see the difference between reaching for a phone and checking a smart functioning watch every five minutes -- essentially, you're connected with or without the watch.

I don't want you to think that I can't see the potential benefits of the watch; for example, if the user is exercising or doing something hands-on, the watch is a great way to still be able to talk on the phone without having to hold the phone itself. For a workplace setting, I can see the same kind of benefit; you don't need to put your phone on the desk to take a phone call. Also, because of the basic nature of the watch, the reviewer explains that it "cuts through" to the most basic features of the phone. I don't have a Samsung phone, so I don't know what features get in the way of the basics, but being able to utilize just a few functions is another benefit of the watch.

The reviewer wrote, "Whether buying another gadget is the answer to reducing your dependence on an earlier gadget is a philosophical question for another time, but the Galaxy Gear has the potential to cut down on the amount your mobile shouts for your attention." Yes, the watch will cut down how much a user reaches for his or her phone, but it won't actually cut down the amount of phone use -- it will redirect that attention to the watch. 

My initial question was, are we too connected? Is this watch just giving us another way to be connected? It seems like it. The only way to really cut down on phone usage is to step away from the phone. In an organizational setting, a person's mobile phone should not be used except for workplace reasons. Having this watch does not change that; in fact, it makes it easier to just use the basic features of the phone. But the watch has other features, too, that are not necessarily workplace-appropriate. The way I see it, this watch, though it has benefits, really just adds to the ways in which we as a society are constantly connected.

Google makes Quickoffice mobile app free for everyone

During my undergraduate career, I dragged my Dell laptop to and from classes, work, and library study sessions. As a result, my laptop is pretty banged up. For being three years old, it's in decent shape, but when I graduated, I received an iPad from my mom as a gift. I've been primarily using my iPad for all the work I do.

I have always used Google Drive on my iPad when I needed to typeset for work or type up an assignment for school. As much as I like it, I have always found Microsoft Word more efficient for typing up long assignments. I had no idea that a product like Quickoffice existed, but I'm so happy I found it.

Quickoffice is a product from Google that allows you to "view and edit Microsoft Office files," according to the article. Up until very recently, the app was only available for free for Google Apps and Business users. The app cost $14.99 for people outside of that network. Now, however, Google is offering the app for free. Users across the board now have the option to work on their Microsoft Office Word, Excel, and Powerpoint documents wherever they are. The product also works with Google Drive. I downloaded the app, and when I logged in with my Gmail account, it pulled up all of my existing Google Drive documents! You still have to use the Google Drive app to edit those documents, but you can view them.

This app is wonderful for all kinds of people; it's great for students who don't want to drag around a flash drive or laptop or email everything to themselves, and it's great for businesses that use Microsoft products for their work. It's also an efficient product because it's effectively its own backup system. I always worry about the stability of my laptop, but by putting my important papers and documents into Quickoffice/Google Drive, I am able to rest assured that my work will be safe.

So far, I'm quite impressed with the app. I'm excited to know that I can use it to work on my papers throughout the semester, especially when I'm on the go. The one thing I'm hoping, though, is that Google combines Google Drive and Quickoffice; as of right now, the Quickoffice app can only open Google Drive apps, not edit them, and vice versa. But for the moment, this app is incredibly efficent and helpful.

Introduction

Hey there, readers! My name is Caitlin. I am currently pursuing a Masters degree in Public and Organizational Relations at Montclair State University. For my New Media Applications class, our professor asked us to keep a weekly blog that reflects different news-worthy technologies that are constantly emerging. Technology is an important aspect of our society, and I am looking forward to relating the newest advances in technology to what I'm studying.