We live in a time when it is almost utopian to separate the average student from the tools of technology. In this context of the omnipresence of digital technology, it is relevant to question the place we give to it in our lives and the need to find a balance.
Coming out of my second year of university completely mentally and visually exhausted, I began to ask myself serious questions about my addiction to digital tools, especially academically. Being a full-time architecture student, I obviously have no choice but to spend most of my time glued to a computer. Despite all my efforts to reintroduce hand drawing, I am forced to work mainly with digital tools to meet the imposed deadlines and requirements, which are increasingly tough.
My questions about the enormous amount of time I spend in front of screens coincided with the purchase of a Smith Corona typewriter, found on Marketplace. After having quietly familiarized myself with the operation of my new device, I stopped for a moment realizing that I perhaps held the solution to my problem in my hands. Using a typewriter for college essays may have seemed like a crazy idea, but it would take the strain off my eyes by giving me a few crucial hours without a screen.
The relevance of this device in our time lies in my opinion in the fact that it imposes a rhythm. It is simply impossible to go faster than the machine itself, which forces us to take the time to think before putting the inked letters on the sheet of paper. The indelible characters also force us to weigh our thoughts and words more carefully. Thus, this rhythm allowed me to relieve myself of the burden of speed: I am aware that performance is expected of me, but my work tool forces me to take my time, to think more attentively, and to take a step back.
Obviously, this will not be a panacea for all students in Quebec, far from it. The typewriter is certainly not for everyone, but I use this little love letter to typists to open the door to a broader reflection.
We are constantly pushed around these days. We expect higher and higher levels of performance, which forces us to rely more heavily on digital tools. The typewriter has been a way for me to reduce my dependence on digital tools, but also to improve the quality of what I produce. I therefore invite all readers of this post to reflect on their relationship to technology and to find the tool that will allow them to move away from it, if only temporarily.