The transition into the Information Age has undoubtedly brought many benefits along with it. Advances in medicine, mechanics, and communication are among countless fields to benefit from technological improvements. But as we learn to navigate these new horizons, there are also many threats, which must be addressed as well. The second episode of Whistler Blackcomb’s Documentary series, The Big Picture, looks at the impact of technology on children, in particular at the question, “What if children stop playing outside?”
The improvements within the tech field have very rapidly changed the way in which humans interact with the world. Children are learning how to navigate the Internet on tablets before they even learn to walk, and the accessibility of the Internet is making it more of a part of us each day. Perhaps most importantly though, is the influence of tech advances on pass time activities and entertainment. Where our parents, and theirs before them were forced outdoors to socialize with peers, children today need only to turn to one of their many devices for immediate entertainment. This realization is only further emphasized when looking at a recent study conducted by the Guardian, which found that 75% of children in the UK spend less time outside than prison inmates.
So how do we combat the accessibility of technology and promote outdoor interaction? The people at Whistler acknowledge that while technology will not be going away, there are both times when it can be switched off, and others when it can be used to further the outdoor experience. The important goal now becomes learning how to live a healthy lifestyle outdoors with your technology as a tool to further the outdoor experience, rather than to replace it all together. From apps that track and record your time on hill, to safety systems that protect you in the outdoors, the next step in our dance with technology becomes discovering the proper balance, and making the return to the outdoors.
Plan your winter vacation to Whistler Blackbomb here
Watch also: Whistler Blackcomb presents The Big Picture, official trailer
A few words from Whistler Blackcomb:
A look at the next 50 years.
Whistler Blackcomb takes a big picture look at the future of skiing & snowboarding in a four-part documentary series exploring climate change, backcountry access, the state of the industry, and the risks of losing kids to technology.
Presented by: Whistler Blackcomb and TELUS
Produced by: Switchback Entertainment, Whistler Blackcomb, and Origin Design & Communications
