This morning at the metro station, I noticed a woman checking her makeup using her phone’s front camera. A small, everyday moment — but it got me thinking.
The compact mirror has quietly exited the stage, replaced by the selfie cam. And, it’s not alone!
Over the years, the smartphone has staged a complete takeover:
Pocket notebooks
Address books
Pens
Alarm clocks
Cameras
Compasses
Maps
Wallets
Even business cards
All gone — or going — replaced by apps and sleek screens. Need a recipe? Pay a bill? Book a ticket? There’s an app for that. Even a simple act like avoiding eye contact in an elevator has found its digital substitute.
At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if my phone starts doing the dishes next (as long as the battery holds out).
Of course, it’s convenient — streamlined, efficient, fast. But as we’ve traded dozens of tools and small rituals for one all-powerful device, I wonder: In gaining so much, what have we quietly lost?
The tactile, the slow moments, the space between tasks, even the joy of physical presence.
Something to think about as we unlock our screens for the hundredth time today.
Author: Raghuraman Kadambi
Image credit – AI Generated Image