In words that may ring a little ironic to Google search users everywhere, CEO Eric Schmidt has told college graduates that they shouldn't forget about life outside the computer. According to an AP report, the Google guru has told wide eyed students that we all need to take a minute to see the world outside of our LCD screens and smell the roses, so to speak.
In a world of chat rooms, fan forums and instant knowledge at the click of a single button, Schmidt warned students from the University of Pennsylvania that they shouldn't trade human connections for keyboards and motherboards.
"Nothing beats holding the hand of your grandchild as he walks his first steps," Schmidt told his audience. Although convincing graduates - aged mostly in their early twenties, some of which would be happy to spend hours couped up in a dark room somewhere drinking caffeinated beverages and playing first person shooters - to trade the virtual life for the one outside, may prove be a little tricky.
In the late 1970's, Schmidt earned an MS at the University of California, Berkley, where he designed and connected a network across computer science labs. So if anybody should knows the value of hard work and multiple hours in front of a computer screen, it's this guy.
"Turn off your computer. You're actually going to have to turn off your phone and discover all that is human around us", AP reports Schmidt saying.
We suggest that Schmidt's advice is not just common sense, but words of wisdom coming from a guy with a vested interest in having you sitting in front of your search browser 24 hours a day.