A work published jointly by the University of St. Gallen and the Columbia Business School wants to illustrate the meaning and impact that the use of the most modern technology has on our lives. In particular they focus on the use of autonomous equipment such as robot vacuum cleanerssmart assistants and other similar tools.
We do less and less
Logic tells us that, if technology takes away hard work, we will be happier. You do not think the same? Personally, I think I’m happier since I have a Roomba going through the house completely on its ball and sucking up all the society that is on the floor. But in the study, which is published in the Journal of Marketing, they say that this is not the case. And now that I start to think about it a bit, maybe they’re even right. Scientists, in the end, are always right.
The work is being done by Emanuel de Bellis, Gita Venkataramani Johar and Nicola Poletti, who are surely not going to hit it off with the tech makers. Because, as we are telling you now, what they come to explain is that with this type of device we are losing those things that make us feel satisfied throughout the day.
Roomba, do not heat, you do not go out
The content that is included in the study has fascinated us because of the way in which it “opened our eyes.” His theory is that the most mundane household chores make us feel a sense of satisfaction and fullness every time we finish them. And that, at the same time, makes us happy. They are simple household jobs that do not require any technical complications, such as washing the dishes by hand, sweeping the floor or looking for some type of information on the Internet.
When we do those things, we feel fulfilled and we find meaning in life. But if we leave all that work to the machines, as much as it is more comfortable, you get less tired and you can have free time for other things, what you do is not score “points” in what you do throughout the day. day. Do you know that typical thing to think that a Sunday has spread a lot because during the morning you have swept, put two washing machines, washed the dishes and did a thousand other things? Well, you couldn’t do it if you had robots or machines for everything. You would have all Sunday morning to lie on the sofa or enjoy free time, but there would be something inside you that would be telling you that you have not used the time.
How complicated is the human mind! At the same time, the study argues that there are many people in the world who are reluctant to purchase autonomous machines for this reason, because they see them as something unnecessary in a day to day where they enjoy small household chores. In any case, the study does not launch the poison without giving a solution to the manufacturers. They tell them that they have to start redirecting consumers’ attention towards the positives of having that free time, like taking advantage of it to enjoy activities with the family or to do things that also help you see the meaning of life.
What do you think about your robot vacuum cleaner cleaning the floor and that you don’t have to do anything? The statistics published by iRobot say that using one of its vacuum cleaners you can save 110 hours a year. That’s a lot of time to invest in other things. And isn’t it a good thing to use Alexa’s commands instead of using the mobile or computer browser? But from what we’re learning today, it’s clear that if we’re going to use this kind of technology it should be in a way that complements that quest for satisfaction in a different way. You’ll forgive me for finishing this story now, because I have to sweep the floor, wash the dishes and spend 15 minutes searching the Internet for the recipe to prepare the ratatouille that the children have asked me for.
