Cables: Our Digital Arteries and Veins

Can you imagine how the world could function during a pandemic without the Internet? No Zoom meetings, no emails to read, write and reply to, no online collaboration with colleagues, not getting in touch with our families and friends. In terms of entertainment, no movies or online games to play, no news in the palm of our hands, no social network interactions. Imagine if you want to search for some information and learn something new during a lockdown? You will rely on TV broadcasting. We will be living a boring life, and many of us will be isolated. Many industries that can function fully online, like universities, banks, and government agencies, won’t operate. The world will be in chaos. Internet and digital technologies are a great support during the pandemic. But the Internet also contributes to increasing our levels of anxiety, especially during the outbreak of the Delta variant. It is the value-laden nature of digital technologies, the dichotomy: good vs evil.
 
Now I want you to imagine having Internet, but no cables to connect or charge our devices. Although we live in the wireless era with Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth and related technologies that make data transmission seamless, still we need cables. The question is, how will you recharge your devices such as phones, tablets and laptops without cables? How will you connect your computer to a large monitor to enhance your productivity? USB-A, USB-B, USB-C, HDMI, mini-HDMI, Display Port, mini-display port, headsets, LAN, and even old-fashioned cables such as RCA, DVI and VGA. Will you think it will be a good time for digital detoxification? Do we need such detoxification?
 
These ‘loco’ ideas came up in my mind a couple of nights ago when I finally collated my different cable boxes into a massive suitcase. I questioned myself for the first time how essential those cables are in my life, my career, to communicate in the digital space. As a photographer, video and graphic creator and deploying interactive content for learning purposes in the last 15 years, I could not do it without my cables. As a researcher, how will I analyse my data, built my EndNote libraries and write papers if I cannot use a computer to type? How will I collaborate with research partners? How will I communicate with my family and share memories of my trips and important events in life? Without cables to connect and charge devices, it will be impossible.
 
I conclude that cables are my digital arteries and veins, the vehicle where my ideas can propagate and reach different audiences. These cables helped me to learn more about myself and other people, and the world around me. It helped me to learn new knowledge published online. Yes, the NBN is mediated by cables from a node from the exchange to my home. Then via phone socked, the modem is connected, mediated by a phone cable too. Even if your phone charges wireless, you still need to plug your AC adapter into the wall and use a USB cable to power the wireless charger device.
 
Computer and devices cables are everywhere, and they are the arteries and veins that transport our digital blood from the mind to the Internet. Whether it is part of our work, self-expression, learning, coaching others, meeting new people or sharing experiences. This analogy can be considered a bit extreme. I could be said, what about no electricity? But the analogy I wanted to develop should trigger your inquiry, and comparing the cables with the arteries and veins could help us reflect.
 
Now with this scenario, transfer this to what is happening now in Australia, particularly in NSW. You probably feel you lost all the cables in your life due to the lockdown. The big question is, did you? Or maybe it is an excellent opportunity to think about stuff you thought were not so important? You will never think cables were crucial in our digital life; we cannot exist digitally without the cables. But we still can exist during the lockdown. We have our wings cut for the benefit of everyone, but they will grow again eventually. Look around in your life and think about the things that matter to you. Stop for a moment, take a deep breath and reflect. You are alive, and you have too many things to feel optimistic about it. Exercise and the most important thing, get the bloody jab!
 
In my subsequent transmission, I will discuss why ‘doing the right thing’ and ‘common sense’ does not resonate in a multicultural society. We all have seen this happening in NSW in the last weeks. I believe language is powerful, and we need to be inclusive, be clear and ensure everyone understands the message.
 
 
Jorge