I'm Touched(screen)

As I consider my experiences, I often equate my pronounced thoughts and feelings to yellow Sharpie Accent Highlighter messages.  I don’t have to reconsider what is important – they simply surface that way.  When something passes my thoughts and is highlighted, I take it as an indication to explore it further.  

Recently, I was unexpectedly touched by several individuals in their genuine show of support for me.  The circumstances were different in each case, but their genuine encouragement struck my awareness – a thread of harmony through my week.  They could have gone unnoticed like pleasant, non-descript background music, but they came highlighted.  In thinking about the sequence of events, I noticed the word “touched” emerged to describe my experience with each action.  As I often bounce back and forth between associations with IT/ tech terms and personal experiences (a quirk of mine), it’s not surprising I began thinking about “touchscreen” and how that works. 

According to TechTerms.com, “A touchscreen is a display that also serves as an input device. (When you enter data into your computer, it is referred to as input).  While a touchscreen may look like an ordinary display, the screen includes several extra layers that detect input.  The first layer is a hard protective layer that protects the actual display and the touchscreen components.  Beneath the protective layer is an electronic grid that detects input.  Most modern touchscreens use material for this grid in which the electrical charge changes wherever the screen is touched.” 

Playing with touchscreen as an analogy, I agree that we have a protective layer; some are harder than others, for sure.  I believe wholeheartedly that our actions change the electrical charge wherever we touch.  Whether it’s a single point pierce, a multi-touch counterclockwise rotating wave, or an expansive spreading motion, our input registers. 

The primary function of a computer is to process input.  How we personally process data is fundamental to our perspective and view of the world.  To have a comprehensive viewpoint, I believe it is as essential to highlight harmony and cooperation, as it is to consider caution and discord.  It secures our sense of connection to the whole network.

What’s your input? 
 
The Search is on.  Join me.