The Challenges of Unplugging
Let's be real, we're all glued to our electronic devices. Whether you're checking Instagram on your phone or watching Netflix on your smart TV, almost everybody is at least somewhat guilty of spending too much time in front of a screen. That is why the first Friday of March, which happens to be March 4 this year, has been designated as National Unplugging Day, a day where you don't use an smartphone or computer for an entire day.
While this sounds like a great idea in theory, in practice, not using any electronics for an entire day is challenging, and for many, it is almost unthinkable. In this day and age, we use our phones and computers for a variety of important tasks, including, but not limited to:
bringing our phones whenever we leave the house so others can reach us in case of emergency
using the phone as a GPS on the go
completing schoolwork or doing remote work
writing important documents and doing research
using smartphone apps to control household appliances
staying connected with friends and family through social networks
For those who are blind or visually impaired, our phones can be our best friends. We use them for important daily living tasks, including but not limited to:
utilize apps for identifying objects, scanning barcodes, etc
using services like Aira or Be My Eyes
asking Alexa or Google assistant to read a recipe
As you can see, our electronic devices can serve important functions in our daily lives, and for those who are blind or partially sighted, technology can play a significant role in their independence. While National Unplugging Day is a great concept in theory, and decreasing our screen time is definitely something we all need to work on, observing it exactly on March 4 will only work for a small number of people. If you want to unplug for an entire day, I recommend finding a day when you can be home all day and do not need to do any important tasks requiring the use of electronic devices, rather than observing it exactly on the first Friday of March.
by Ella