Hello. My name is Matt and I am an information junkie.
Personally, I use technology in seemingly every aspect of my life. I pay my bills electronically, I do my banking online, I DVR stuff, I Skype friends and family, I use digital cable and I use a secure high-speed wireless network at home and work. I am almost genetically connected to my iPhone and all of its apps.
Five years ago my obsession would have been viewed with dubious curiosity. Today, I am in the mainstream.
In 2009, my wife and I relocated to Ft. Lauderdale. This stimulated a big change for us. We decided to drop out dependence on a “land line” in our home and switch to cell phones for communication. The change was a huge success. We got rid of the thermal fax machine, and switched to scanned PDFs and email. After a year, we began to use Facetime to talk where we could and moved into an unlimited text plan.
Learning how to best use all of these great tools, indeed, will require an investment of time, however, once in place the technology gives me much more control and freedom. I can find the best prices on items I am going to buy for the house on a Saturday afternoon. My wife and I can find maps to new restaurants and other locations on the fly. This saves me time and money.
This summer my wife and I went on a two-week vacation in France. We would not have survived without the amazing cellular network that we were able to tap into for maps, tour guides, information and communication.
Allow me to be clear. Email is not the best form of communication for all situations, nor is Facebook or texting. Voice has its best fit as well. As long as we remember this concept, we will keep all of our technology in perspective and benefit from using it.
Ozolnieks 
Matt,
You did an awesome job describing your dependence on technology! I think you made a great point in the value of voice. The main thing is that words in black and white lack feeling and can be misunderstood.
I love the way you used technology in France. My husband and I traveled around Europe 20 years ago and we had no such advantages. We used a paper map, train schedules, and a pocket translation book. We could have used an iphone! Of course, I am wondering how much it cost to use it. On the other hand, when my family goes camping I enjoy it when we have no cell service. It limits distractions and encourages engaging interaction.
Thanks for you post!
The new technology really transforms our ability to get around in all environments. I remember the first day we were in France, we rented a car at Orly in Paris and drove to Orléans. There were so many one-way streets and pedestrian avenues that it was impossible to find your way around as a first-time tourist to that city. I dropped my wife off at the hotel which was located on a pedestrian only Avenue. As it turns out there were a pair of surface trolleys that ran up and down the street, too.
So, in an attempt to not get in the way, I dropped Jamey off at the hotel and she would gather the necessary information about where I should park to drop off luggage then park.
I only got a block away before my phone battery died. UGH! A frustrating half-hour later, and after I got a tour of the major sights of town, I happened upon the hotel again. I was to park on the street in front of the hotel in the “NO CAR ZONE.” Welcome to France! I should have guessed.
This one incident reminded me how tethered to technology I am.
I kept my phone charged the rest of the trip.