Screenspective

I am going to make up a new word. At least I think it’s a new word.

Screenspective.

Screenspective is perspective shaped through screens. It’s a view of the world formed by the various screens one looks at.

Let’s take a quick poll. How many of you are reading this on some type of screen? Unanimous!

I use a screen to get information.
I use a screen to market to others.
I use a screen to communicate with others.
I use a screen to watch life in my community.
I use a screen to watch life in everyone else’s community.
I use a screen to tell time.
I use a screen to entertain.
I use a screen to teach.
I use a screen to learn.
I use a screen to engage others.
I use a screen to disengage from others.

I use a screen every…single…day.

It’s tempting to say “well that’s just the way it is.” We love technology (I love technology). But if we always keep our eyes on the screen we run the risk of missing the out on the life that’s playing out right in front of us. Leashed to the technology of our cell phone screen or our laptop screen or our iPod/iPad screen – we may find our attention diverted. Concepts like proximity and community slowly lose their meaning. Our connection to the screen community can lead to a disconnect with the community that lives next door (or is standing right beside us in line).

If our eye’s are always on a screen, then our view of the world is shaped by our screenspective. Screenspective influences our overall perspective. Did I mention how much I love screens (and the technology behind them)? Most of the ways we use screens are incredibly beneficial. Screens are changing our world. They’re making the world smaller. But is there a dark side we should be aware of?

I guess it comes down to what we do with our eyes. If our eyes are always looking for the next screen, we’ll miss out on some pretty good things – like looking into the eyes of others.

What do you think? What do you see as the benefits/consequences of a screen-filled world?