When Is There Too Much Tech at the Table?

Think about your favorite restaurant for a second – and ask yourself, what makes it your favorite place to dine out?  Sure, you love the food, and the service is always excellent.  But it’s something more than that, right?  It’s comfortable, relaxing – and a place where you can shut-off the rest of the world and get some actual face time with your family or friends.

Now, ask yourself how you would feel if the restaurant suddenly bolted a device (or even a large screen) to your tabletop. Rather than being greeted by a server and presented a menu, you get a tablet that’s now your permanent meal companion.  Instead of the cozy, dimly-lit atmosphere that wraps you like a warm blanket, your face is now awash in the cold fluorescent light of a screen constantly vying for your attention and requesting your interaction. Instead of the desired personal discussions with friends, family or colleagues, this uninvited third-party with greasy fingerprints all over it is now front and…