Christmas was not widely observed in the nineteenth century. It wasn’t until the turn of the century that it became an annual event that expanded all across the world. Since then, the Holiday Season has been transformed by transformation, adaptation, and the impact of significant technology breakthroughs.
In terms of future technology, we can anticipate some important developments in the next years that will have an impact on the Holiday Season. However, it is difficult to predict if Christmas will continue to exist in the far future. Perhaps one day it will be like one of those festivities that once occurred but no longer exist.
Consumer behavior is the most obvious example of how technology has affected Christmas. Purchasing in stores has been mostly displaced by internet shopping.
In-store purchasing has supplanted handcrafted presents with a wide range of products. More recently, the Internet has enabled what many believe to be a shopping utopia: online purchasing and home delivery the next day. Only a few mouse clicks separate you from your Christmas shopping.
People may shop for all of their Christmas items from the convenience of their own homes. For those last-minute buyers, there’s even the option of sending a Christmas gift card through email.
All of your Christmas shopping is completed with a few clicks here and there. Shopping has become much simpler and quicker. Play some Christmas carols on Spotify, drink some hot chocolate, and just much all of the typical components of Christmas shopping are available online, without the crowds. Christmas trees have evolved as well. LED lights and commercial decorations are becoming commonplace. Plastic decorations have taken the role of handcrafted decorations.
Adults and children alike anticipate technology gadgets as the most desired Christmas gifts. Handmade presents are no longer as common as they once were. It was simple to send text messages and WhatsApp messages to friends and family all across the world thanks to mobile technology. Family members can participate in video chats from anywhere in the world.
The Holiday Season has been impacted by Twitter and Facebook, making it even simpler to send a single message with a photo of the family tree beautifully decked to hundreds of people at once. A Christmas message may be sent to hundreds, if not millions, of individuals with just one click.
Personalized greetings in Christmas presents are uncommon. On the plus side, postal delays caused by snail mail are no longer an issue. Everyone receives their digital greetings on time and without the use of paper.
It’s enough to post a simple Instagram update around Christmas Day. Short films and snap photos can be added to this. The Christmas gift is all about fast satisfaction and digital Christmas.
When traveling is not an option, technology has made it possible to bring relatives and friends together. When family members reside all over the world, video calling and chats allow them to practically be present at the Christmas dinner table.
On a cultural level, technology influences how we share and communicate. Everything is tweeted, taped, instagrammed, uploaded, shared, liked, and retweeted at a breakneck speed, leaving little time to reflect on what it all means. Everything is forgotten the next day.
People will be able to send holiday wishes by hologram or robot in the future, similar to how R2D2 sent Princess Leia’s message to Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars. A personal Virtual Reality gadget will also receive holiday pleasantries. Time travel or teleportation might be part of future technologies.
The truth is that, with Artificial Intelligence progressing at such a rapid pace and the Internet of Senses (IoS) emerging as one of the top technology trends, the Holiday Season will feature brain-to-brain communication, social robots assisting in the preparation of Christmas dinner, and drones flying through cities delivering Christmas gifts.
Meanwhile, somewhere, Dr. Who tries to persuade Mr. Scrooge that having a shattered heart is preferable to having no heart at all.
In that spirit, let’s renew some basic human values before the Holiday Season gets us too hooked up by too much technology.
Whatever changes technology may bring in the future, keep these things in mind:
Face-to-face communication is always the most effective. There are some things that can’t be communicated through displays or virtual reality. When having a serious conversation with someone, no technology can match what can be said via the eyes.
The finest presents are undetectable to the naked eye and come at no cost. Sharing moments with family, friends, and other loved ones is a present that cannot be wrapped in a nice red ribbon and placed in a box. However, not everyone is lucky enough to spend the holidays with friends or family. During the holiday season, it’s important to remember to express gratitude and appreciation for such valuable presents.
