Opinion - More Smart Tech, More Lazy Humans: Why We Should Limit Its Use and Stay Responsible
Smart technology is everywhere. It’s embedded in our homes, cars, workplaces, and even on our wrists. From smart toasters and watches to fitness trackers and voice-controlled assistants, we live in a world where convenience is king.
But here’s the problem: the more dependent we become on this tech, the more we risk losing essential life skills and natural human habits. As someone who values an active lifestyle and strives to maintain independence from unnecessary gadgets, I’ve seen firsthand how smart tech, while innovative, can make us lazy and less capable.
The Rise of Smart Tech: Convenience or Dependency?
Technology has certainly evolved to make our lives easier. But the question we should ask is: at what cost? Smart tech started as a means of making tasks more efficient.
However, today it’s creeping into every aspect of our lives, sometimes in ways we don’t fully realize.
Take, for example, smart refrigerators. They can tell you when your milk is expiring and automatically reorder it for you. Sure, that’s convenient. But now we don’t even need to open the fridge and check ourselves. Is this really a necessary advancement, or is it breeding a generation that can't perform basic household tasks?
Hazem Abbas
According to a 2023 study by the University of Texas, nearly 60% of Americans say they rely on smart devices to manage daily activities they used to handle manually.
From alarms to grocery lists and reminders, smart tech is becoming a crutch for simple tasks. As a doctor by education and a software developer by practice, I see this trend not only in the software industry but also in everyday life, and I’m concerned about where it's heading.
Personal Opinion: Smart Tech is Making Us Lazy
While technology can certainly be beneficial, I firmly believe that it’s also making us more passive and dependent.
A prime example is the growing reliance on smartwatches and fitness trackers. Many people now rely on these gadgets to tell them how many steps they've taken or how many calories they've burned. This obsession with numbers, in my view, takes away the natural joy and intuition of outdoor activities like hiking, cycling, and running. People no longer listen to their bodies but to a device that might not even give accurate data.
In my own life, I consciously avoid high-tech gear during my outdoor adventures like hiking, cycling, horse riding, and fishing.
Why? Because I find that being in tune with nature and relying on my own senses—not a GPS tracker or smartwatch—leads to a more fulfilling experience. The beauty of activities like these is in their simplicity.
Adding tech strips away part of that experience, in my opinion.
And it's not just in fitness. Even simple things like cooking or cleaning are being "upgraded" with gadgets that remove our involvement. Smart ovens cook for us, smart vacuums clean for us, and before long, we're watching from the sidelines as machines run our lives.
The time saved might be convenient, but it’s also stealing the satisfaction of doing things ourselves.
The Impact on Children: A Warning
One of my biggest concerns is the impact of smart tech on children. I don’t allow my child to use much smart technology, especially at a young age. Studies have shown that over-reliance on technology can hamper critical thinking and problem-solving skills in kids.
According to research from Common Sense Media, children between the ages of 8 and 12 now spend nearly 5 hours a day on screens, and that’s not including school-related work. The same study showed that these children are less likely to engage in imaginative play or outdoor activities.
I believe that children should learn how to navigate the world without relying on a digital assistant or app to guide them.
They should be solving problems, using their hands, and developing physical and cognitive skills—skills that are being eroded by too much smart tech.
Real-World Examples: When Smart Tech Goes Too Far
There are several real-world examples where smart tech has crossed the line into dependency. One that comes to mind is the phenomenon of self-driving cars. While still in development, we’ve already seen multiple accidents involving autonomous vehicles. A 2018 fatal crash involving a Tesla Model X raised questions about how much we should trust machines with tasks as complex as driving.
Regulating smart tech in these cases isn’t just a matter of safety; it’s a matter of maintaining human control.
Another example is smart sports equipment. Companies like Wilson and Adidas have launched smart basketballs and soccer balls that track a player’s performance and offer real-time feedback. While this can be useful for professional athletes, I question its value for the average person.
Shouldn't sports remain an instinctual activity rather than one dictated by data points?
How We Can Regulate and Use Smart Tech Responsibly
I’m not against technology—after all, I work in software development—but I believe we need to set boundaries. For instance, there should be stricter rules around privacy, especially when it comes to children and personal data collection from devices like fitness trackers and smart toys.
At an individual level, we need to reassess how much we depend on these gadgets. Here are some actionable tips:
- Limit Smart Tech Usage: Don’t use a smart assistant for things you can easily manage yourself, like setting reminders or controlling the lights.
- Disconnect Frequently: Spend time without relying on smart devices. Whether it’s hiking or just reading a book, give yourself time away from tech.
- Educate Children Early: Teach kids the value of doing things themselves. Encourage outdoor play, creativity, and problem-solving without the aid of a screen.
- Choose Tech that Serves You: Before buying a smart device, ask yourself if it genuinely solves a problem or if it's just another piece of tech that adds convenience but diminishes effort.
On a personal note
I am a medical doctor by education and a software developer by practice, with a passion for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, horse riding, and fishing. I believe in maintaining a balance between embracing technological advancements and preserving essential human skills.
While I appreciate the benefits of smart technology, I am cautious of its potential to make us overly dependent and disconnected from our natural instincts. This mindset guides how I raise my child, as I limit the use of smart tech in their daily life to encourage problem-solving and independence.
A Balanced Approach to Smart Tech
Smart technology, when used in moderation, can be incredibly beneficial. But when it becomes a crutch, it risks making us lazy, dependent, and disconnected from the world around us.
By regulating its use and limiting how much we rely on it, especially for our children, we can enjoy the benefits of smart tech without losing our autonomy. The key is balance—something that’s getting harder to find in a world where everything seems to have a "smart" version.
