Monday thought of the week: technology and nature

A thought:

Smartphones can get our children excited about nature. Apps can cultivate curiosity about the natural world, allowing kids to identify and study trees, constellations, mountains and birds. The cameras on our phones can draw us closer to nature, and help us relive our outdoor experiences when we return home – encouraging us to venture out again in the future. GPS-enabled devices help families track the topography of a landscape and keep from getting lost. And phones provide access to the critical 911 lifeline when rare emergencies arise in the outdoors.

– Ben Klasky, “Connecting With Nature? There’s an App for That,” Huffington Post: Green (December 4, 2014)