Whether we like it or not, we are hooked on technology. Whereas not too many years ago cell phones, laptops, desktop computers, and tablets were found more in science fiction novels than in our homes, now we not only love technology, we rely on it.

However, does all this technology that we have at our fingertips bring us closer or further away?

The fact that today we take for granted that we can comfortably sit in our living rooms or offices and talk to someone on the other side of the world via Skype or another webcam program is nothing short of amazing. Yet we take it for granted. We can communicate in real time, send documents, videos, recordings, almost anything we want to anyone anywhere, and we do it naturally and without a second thought.

One would think that our ability to communicate with others globally would bring the world closer together. It wasn’t that long ago that we had to get in a car or plane and travel to another city, state, or country for a face-to-face meeting. It also wasn’t that long ago that we had to use the US mail or pay for a courier service to send a document across town. Today, that is solved with the simple PDF.

But does the fact that we can communicate with anyone instantly make the world a smaller or bigger place? One would think that technology makes the world smaller and more intimate for obvious reasons. Today, if we want to talk to a relative in China, Europe, or Australia, we can do so at any time, and usually for free over the Internet.

But at the same time, these technological tools that we have at our fingertips make it almost unnecessary to visit each other, sit at a table and have a meeting or go for a walk together. Why go to the trouble of having lunch with someone when a simple text message can accomplish the same thing?

I maintain that technology is a two-edged sword. Yes, we are addicts. When our hard drives fail, we panic, and rightly so. Not only are we afraid of losing what is near, dear and important in our lives, now we are also afraid of not being able to access Facebook, send emails or video chat. We feel separated from our friends, family and business associates.

How sad that we rely on gigabytes instead of a phone. How sad that we see each other through words on tiny screens instead of face to face. Yes, technology is fast, but does it really replace a cup of coffee with a family member or friend? I hope not.

The key is to use technology, as we all do, but without losing sight of the personal touch that really keeps us in touch with each other. We’d all do well to put down the keyboard or handheld once in a while and have a conversation in person.

Yes, a revolutionary thought.