This past week I read an article on a recent invention that made me think that we are really beginning to lose it. Melissa Kit Chow artist and designer along with Andy Payne, and Phil Seaton at MIT lab have come up with a” Like a Hug Vest”. The wearer feels like they’re receiving a hug every time they receive a “like” on Facebook. It’s supposed to be a way to bring the wearer closer to their friends. I have to admit I got the creeps when I read about it. What’s next? Technology has huge advantages, but it is also removing our ability to be social, and is perhaps more evident with the millennials who seem willing to take virtual encouragement than to find time for personal relationships. Phone calls, visits, and quality time seems more and more a thing of the past. It’s far easier to text or post on facebook. I often think we are on the path to the De-evolution of man. I see future humans hunched over texting grunts into their smart phones. Language as we know it will vanish as we use less and less verbiage to communicate. After all you want to get on with whatever you’re doing. No need to waste time on being overly loquacious. It was inevitable that someone would come up with a substitute for a sensory substitution like a hug vest. I’m sure we’ll soon have purses and wallets that look like lips. Perhaps anytime you post on facebook, the lips will pucker and you’ll hear a big smooch. I fear for the next generation when it comes to their emotional lives. I grew up in a time where having conversations were a daily part of life. Chatting with shop owners or someone waiting in line was commonplace. A couple of weeks ago I was in the airport waiting for a flight and almost everyone waiting was either on the phone or scrolling to see if they had a message. They might have had a fascinating person seated next to them, that could have enriched their lives, but the phone was far more intriguing. Could there be a balance between being a human being and a human doing? I have high hopes. While being a click away from getting a hug might be appealing, it will never be as gratifying as the real thing. “’