From my mobile device, I’ve negotiated employee contracts, led conference calls, conducted interviews, set up meetings, planned potlucks, updated bank data, mediated conflict, supported teams, watched TV, researched homework questions, shot videos, uploaded photos, managed multiple social feeds, drafted presentation notes, organized date night, purchased a dress, planned menus, shared calendars, edited reports and written this blog post.

My “phone” is also my GPS, encyclopedia and main news source. It gives me freedom. Others concur, as eMarketer released 2012 data saying the total number of smartphones increased by 31%. I believe it. My device allows me to continue to be an HR leader, a non-profit board director, a community manager, school volunteer, study group facilitator and—most importantly—a wife and mom. Because I’m no longer tied to a desk, I can pick my kids up from school and still meet a deadline. And because I haven’t wasted time while mobile, I can set my phone down, confident that I’ve met my goals for the day, and fully engage with my family.

In a conversation with my kids recently, I had to admit I didn’t know the answer to a question. To which my son replied, “Just ask God… or your phone.”

But don’t do it while driving.

Illustration credit unknown. Also published on www.kellihuff.com.

Keep in mind, this is all very exciting and very progressive. There doesn’t seem to be anything the newest start up isn’t doing to make your life, job, career, experience or relationship easier…cooler…more efficient. If only they could make those bare foot-looking running shoes disappear for good.

But something started to happen this year in the midst of all of this progress…and I wasn’t the only person feeling it. Twinges of apathy are starting to creep in with all the COOL that surrounds us. Yes, that’s to be expected…I mean, do you know and respect anyone who would rock those Google glasses? I don’t.

What I’ve been feeling is tinged with such entitlement that I feel a little embarrassed by it. I couldn’t help but think, “So what?” during almost the entire conference. What are we doing with all this technology—besides not have real, face-to-face conversations anymore? Are we going to make any of this count? So what about web fonts? So what about user experience? Where’s the soul behind all these fun, tasty little widgets that are, in theory, helping us to re-connect with each other? The rulebook is brimming with best practices on how to apply all these incredible technological gifts we’ve been given. We have a greater opportunity than ever to connect, but is it actually happening?

I’m excited about the progress I’ve witnessed over the past five years. The strides we’ve made are astonishing. I’m also proud to be an active part of this community. But, I just can’t help feeling that we’re missing a very human opportunity…and maybe I’m the worst person to call this out, considering I don’t have an answer. All I know is what I’m capable of, and armed with an arsenal of genius-inspired technology, I feel that it’s time I make something count…otherwise we all risk being as “meh” as our iPhone 5.

Here’s to seeing our community doing something truly great on the horizon. We need technology with a real human narrative. The story of what it all means remains to be written.