Barbara Harris: technology a blessing and curse for disabilities

Looking at some of the gifts people receive makes me reflect on the whole technology scene and people with disabilities.

I would never have imagined when I was four years old that I could take a picture of someone on my mobile phone and not only view the picture almost instantly but also be able to ‘morph’ the photo into something entirely unrecognisable.
At that age I would not have even known the word “morph”. Have we progressed?
Today, we seem to have more ways of getting in touch. Today we have ipods, ipads, vodcasts, podcasts, facebook, twitter, blogs, tweets, and the list goes on. How did we get here? Does the technology widen the gap between “the haves” and “the have nots”?
Does technology work against or for people with disabilities?
As a starting point, without going as far back as the drums of the jungle, we can perhaps think of Alexander Graham Bell’s invention of the telephone to help his deafened mother to communicate.
It didn’t help his mother but it did help people with hearing.
Years ago, the CB Radio was a breakthrough. This device enabled people to be in touch with others and form a kind of electronic community. It probably kept many truck drivers awake as they communicated with other road users. It was primitive by today’s technology standards.
It worked, though, and brought people together.
Think of the internet’s online discussion forums. The subjects are varied. It is difficult sometimes to follow the thread of the “conversation” because the discussion can quickly break up into many different issues. People seem to rarely follow the thread as a whole.
Responses seem to be directed at a previous response rather than the substance of the original message. Does that help people to come together? Maybe these discussion forums promote individualism rather than community.
A young friend of mine was sharing how a friend of hers had made arrangements with her to get together with some other friends. At the ‘meeting’ however, each one was busy individually texting other ‘friends’ with a bare minimum of acknowledgement of the physical presence of the others.
That was ‘normal’ behaviour I was told.
Many people, myself included, have shied away from embracing modern technology. I remember back to 1982 when a friend suggested that Emmanuel Centre maybe could get into computers, I responded with, “No. And don’t mention it again.”
Not long after, though, I realised the potential and even did a computer programming course. The computer made it possible for the people of Emmanuel Centre to achieve goals that would have been impossible previously.
For example, one young man whose maths skills were nearly zilch, with the aid of the computer could accurately administer the financial books of the Centre.
The computer has had some very positive effects for individuals and society. Does anyone remember FreeTel? It was a computer programme that allowed voice calls over the Internet.
It was rudimentary and didn’t always work well. Maybe like the CB Radio the simplicity and technical breakdowns made everyone grateful for any communication.
Today’s Skype is more reliable and also includes the ability to add video so that both parties can hear and see each other. For people who cannot hear, the video component allows communication through sign language or text.
For many years, Emmanuel Centre has had an Email Ministry where emails are regularly exchanged with people who cannot get out for face-to-face encounters or are living remotely. Adding video to this ministry will be even more personal.
The question for me is what would Jesus make of all this? How did Jesus spread the Good News? He used the images and realities of his own time to make a point or to illustrate a teaching. The image of the sower planting seeds would have been a common one. The importance of the “lost coin” would be readily apparent to Jesus’ hearers. Maybe developments in technology are the message medium.
People with disabilities are also involved with modern technology and not immune to cyber scams.
People with disabilities, like any people, are seeking relationships.
How many countless people have “fallen in love” with a cyber predator who is a close “friend” until he/she has cleaned out their bank account? It can be difficult to resist the temptation to respond to a message that says, “You have won $1 million.” Or “your true love is as close as a mouse click”.
The key to how I use technology and the computer in particular is to allow it to help me serve the people in my life. At the moment, I have restricted myself to emails, web page of Emmanuel Centre, producing captioned videos of Catholic devotions such as the Rosary, not to mention PowerPoint presentations with lots of graphics for simplicity and clarity. No doubt, as we move through 2011, it will be a challenge to expand ways technology can help serve people with disabilities and their families.
If you have some skills in the area or are interested in this area and want to know more, please contact Barbara Harris 9328 8113 or email emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au. The Emmanuel Centre hopes to hold a Workshop on this topic after Easter.