There is no doubt that we are an instant gratification society, especially with our media and the development of mobile devices. With social media channels such as YouTube, Vine and Twitter, we are able to gain information instantaneously, leading panelist Julie Barrios to believe an underlying condition is being developed with our media and technology usage. All information worth knowing should be processed at the speed of a smart phone.

This panel will be looking to see how technology, music and other media forms can be used to create a balance of instant gratification and delayed gratification.

“I hope the fact that our panel was selected is an indication that people are interested in having this conversation.  Many friends and colleagues in the tech industry and across sectors seem to resonate with much of what our panel hopes to further illuminate…I hope we are able to articulate with greater clarity the potential consequences of a culture driven by the unspoken values of our devices and media trends,” said Julie Barrios.

Though this panel is within “The Future of Television” category, it will combine the aspects of media, technology and spirituality. The goal is to start the conversation about the instant gratification culture that our media and technology has developed, and to explain that it is okay to “power down.”

“This kind of awareness can be formed through thoughtful reflection and a type of “fasting.” Nearly every spiritual tradition holds fasting as an important spiritual discipline. Humans tend to be quite unaware of actual balance, moderation, or homeostasis, without some rhythm of fasting, or in our case, simply powering down,” explained Barrios.

This panel was derived from the concept of “The Marshmallow Experiment,” which took place at Stanford University. During this experiment, researchers were studying the effects of delayed gratification through young children. The children were brought in to an empty room, sat down at a table where a single marshmallow was sitting on a plate. The researchers then explained to the children if they waited the allotted amount of time without eating the marshmallow, they would receive another one. This research showed that the children who delayed gratification, by not eating the marshmallow, were significantly more competent.

Panel Date: Monday, March 16

Time: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Location: Four Seasons Hotel, 98 San Jacinto Blvd