I own an old(er) car, but it’s simply a joy to drive. Shifting gears through the manual transmission alongside the purr of an 8-cylinder engine and the sun streaming through the all-glass rooftop has always been a haven for me. What this means, however, is that I don’t have a backup camera, side collision warning system, or a navigation screen. It requires me to remain alert and focused, which is obviously a good thing. It makes me wonder how dependent we have become on technology in all aspects of our lives. Would it be better if it didn’t exist at all? I was about to seriously consider that statement, until something enlightening happened on an otherwise ordinary errand run.
As some of you might now, I’ve recently migrated to, and completely immersed myself in, the Google ecosystem. Pixel phone, watch, and software tools. So, that logically means that I’ve embraced the use of Android Auto. Without a navigation screen in my car, that means all the information is captured on my phone screen. I set everything up to remain safe while driving, enabling do not disturb and auto read of any incoming text messages. You’re probably wondering why I’m sharing all these seemingly irrelevant details. I assure you that it’s more than just me entering geek out mode due to the coolness of it all. The thing is, that in order for this automatic read feature to work, one must be in “navigate” or “drive” mode. Initially, I was annoyed by this requirement, but I would quickly change my stance.
As part of our weekly household shopping ritual, I headed out to pick up our online orders from Publix and Walmart. I dutifully connected my phone through Bluetooth and asked the “all-knowing” Google to navigate to Publix. I use that all-knowing term as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the fact I know all too well how to get to the grocery story. I only do it every single week, and more often than not, I make that trip what seems like countless times in the same span. But, I swallowed my pride (and annoyance) in the name of safety. Google would keep me informed of any traffic delays, obstacles on the road, alternate routes should either of those occur, and of course, auto reading any incoming text messages.
So, I arrive at Publix, call up Google Keep on my watch and methodically make my way up and down the aisles to pick up any items from our Walmart order that were out of stock. I leave the store feeling efficient and accomplished, and with a slight sigh beneath my breath, I ask Google to navigate to Walmart, again an unnecessary task to assign it. I know darn well where I’m going and how to get there. And perhaps, ironically, you know exactly where this is going.
I’m driving down Stadium Parkway, enroute to the home of “Save Money. Live Better.” My mind is cataloging what is on my agenda for the day (I suppose I could have asked Google about that too), when said digital assistant rudely interrupts me. “In a quarter mile, turn left onto Napolo Drive.”
What? I knew I shouldn’t have trusted Google. Perhaps I should have migrated to the Apple ecosystem instead. Siri wouldn’t have messed up something so simple. Out of some compulsion to follow directions, and as if by doing so I could send an I-told-you-so in Google’s direction, I turn left when instructed.
And then it happens. With each sapling oak I pass in the median, my feelings of immaturity match that of the young trees beside me. “In a quarter mile, continue straight.” I almost can sense a smirk on the face of my faceless digital assistant as she speaks the command. As I approach the traffic light ahead of me, I see Walmart directly in front of me. It’s a road I’ve never taken before. Nor have I ever thought about, considered, or was even aware of its possibility for the taking. And yet, it’s exactly the route that got me to my destination more efficiently than any I had taken in the past.
Google provided me with a new direction. Literally, yes, but also in so many other ways. It’s easy to become accustomed to doing the same things, over and over again, in exactly the manner we “know” is right. But there are always other ways, new ways, that we might not have ever considered before in our lives. And while technology helped me gain appreciation for this fact, it has caused me to begin searching for new ways of doing things that Google, nor any search engine, will have any part in deciding.
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