Reading the rant, it made me realize how much we’ve settled for touchscreens as our main way of interacting with technology. Sure, they’re easy to use, but I think they’re holding us back from something much richer. Kids today are glued to screens, swiping and tapping all day, and I feel like it’s making them “finger-blind.”. They’re losing the chance to understand the world through real touch. Instead of feeling textures and weights, they’re just seeing everything through glass. In my opinion, that’s robbing them of a huge part of learning and growing.
And it’s not just kids. Even for adults, I feel like we’re missing out on deeper connections with tech. Take virtual reality games. Everyone loves the visuals, but games like Beat Saber feel empty to me without any sense of touch or resistance. It’s a hollow experience, one that relies only on what we see, not what we feel. I think this disconnect leaves us with flashy visuals but no real engagement.
In addition, I also think that the obsession with brain-computer interfaces is just as disappointing. Sure, it sounds futuristic, but I think it’s actually a step back. The idea of controlling things with thoughts alone ignores the importance of our bodies. We’re already sitting at screens too much, and this just pushes us deeper into that immobility. I believe technology should encourage movement and real interaction, not trap us in a still, disconnected state.
“Pictures Under Glass” sums up the issue perfectly. It’s like we’re numbing one of our most powerful senses for convenience. When I pick up a book or a glass, my hands get all kinds of feedback from weight, texture, and balance. But with a screen? Nothing. Even something as simple as making a sandwich taps into a level of interaction that a screen can’t touch. In my view, designers need to stop treating screens as the final answer and start creating tech that actually respects our bodies’ abilities.