Book Review: M. Darmell and K. Rampal,Connected or Disconnected: The Art of Operating in a Connected World

In the past couple of decades, we have steadily and surely moved towards a constantly connected digital world. This book is a reflection of that journey and it beckons the reader to stop by and ponder on how this phenomenon is changing or is likely to change the way we lead our lives and what are the consequences of the same. The benefits that accrue as a result of connectedness are duly acknowledged by the authors, whether it is in terms of its potential for accelerated development, information availability at lightening speeds or interconnectedness of devices such as the refrigerator, clock, etc. through the Internet of Things (IoT).

The reader’s attention is also sought to the other perspective of connectedness. It brings to light some of the pitfalls of seeking constant connectedness which are worthy of our deliberation. A comparison is done, for instance, between the amount of time that we may be spending in staying connected vis-à-vis the amount of time we may be spending with children on any single day. We may have a few thousands of friends and acquaintances on the popular social networking platforms, but the number of friends we can rely on to call in the middle of the night might only be handful. It is suggested that ‘hereness’ or ‘being mentally present’ may be under threat. Instances of tendencies of the same are referred. The possibility of a new culture rising is indicated. The likelihood of youngsters possessing weakened analytical and memorising skills due to their increasing dependence on external memory through ‘Google’ is mentioned. The phenomenon is popularly called ‘Google Brain’. Apart from the impact on mental health, the side effects that connectedness can have on physical health is also talked about in terms of a weaker eyesight, insomnia, obesity due to reduced physical activity or underdeveloped motor skills in children.

The book interestingly covers the changing ways of communication across generations as the world has moved from a non-digital one to a digital one. The famous statement by the great media guru, Marshall McLuhan of the 1970s, ‘the medium is the message’, is remembered in this context. But it hints towards a warning that the younger generations may be losing the human contact and may be less able to read human expressions or voice tones. A worrying outcome of which could be lesser compassion or empathy.

The likely impact of connectedness at our workplace has also been covered and various dimensions are analysed to see if it is leading to productivity or counter-productivity.

The authors have included the very pertinent perspectives of neurobiologists, psychologists and scientists on the consequences of the connectedness on future generations with a prediction towards declining cleverness and increasing loneliness. Such perspectives also tell us how notifications on mobile phones help in providing instant gratification by being indicative of the fact that someone is thinking of us.

The reader is urged to think if in the drive to become connected, we have actually become more disconnected. This fact that many people today are unable to sit alone and be comfortable with their thoughts signals such a likelihood. Similarly, the addictive connecting device, ‘our smartphones’ have left many of us incapable of striking up conversations with random people. Consequences of ‘connectedness’, as observed across different countries across the world, are duly covered and provides for an interesting read. While covering the context of India, the government’s ambitious clean India initiative, ‘Swachh Bharat’, seems to have been trivialized. The affordable budget for such an initiative in a developing country vis-à-vis a developed country should be considered and quoted for a more meaningful perspective. Also the challenges of such a mammoth initiative in a country like India may have been undermined. Some of the contemplations by Rampal appear to be his personal opinion as they are unsubstantiated with factual data.

The concluding chapters of the book aptly provide a perspective on how the fallouts of connectedness can be handled at the workplace, at home or as a parent. These recommendations seem to stem from the valuable experiences, exposures and interactions of the authors. Micke Darmell is one of the Sweden’s most sought-after speakers on topics related to constant connectedness. He runs a consultancy company which helps organizations and individuals to improve relations at work and at home. Kapil Rampal is a serial entrepreneur who is currently the managing director of a leading company in online education. Most of his career has been in and around social media solutions and he has lived his dream of seeing a constantly connected world, only to have a changed perspective once the milestone has been almost achieved.

The timely advice shared in the book, if heeded to, may help in reducing the severity of future threats to physical and mental health. Quoting Dr Keith Ablow, psychiatrist and member of the Fox News Medical A-Team from the ‘Foreword’:

Young people are disconnected from the reality of their own existences. Facebook, Twitter, Tinder and the like have made them think of themselves as mini-reality-TV versions of themselves. Too many of them see their lives as a series of flickering photos or quick videos. They need constant confirmation of their tenuous existence.

In a nutshell, the book tells us that we may forget how to connect at a human level. It is a recommended read for anyone and everyone as its insights have takeaways for all, whether it is for the individual or the organizations. The book nags us around the thought that the very same devices that were used to be our facilitators are probably running our lives today. The examples used and the situations described from the personal experiences of the authors are thought provoking. In the aggressive race to go digital, we probably need to step back and reflect on the extent of connectedness we would like to have. It is about making the choices around how we would like to lead our life in this increasingly digital world.