Mother, writer, tech consultant. I love cooking, relaxing, and furry pets. Digital life too – sometimes. Let’s talk about the tech to make daily life better, and not every new gadget or trend.

Hi there! I’m Samantha Sand. I started Digital Zen to write about the technology I use to make daily life better – not every new gadget or trend. Technology can be inspiring and fun, complicated and frustrating – sometimes all at the same time, so there is a lot to talk about!

You’ll find tech tricks that save time and money, strategies for parenting in a digital world, tips for keeping technology in check, and solutions to common tech problems.You won’t find stylish $300 iPad cases, corporate news about tech mergers, or exhaustive lists of the top 57 must-have travel apps.

Let’s talk about which technologies to embrace (when we have a choice), and what pitfalls to look out for (when we don’t). The goal here is sensible, manageable, affordable technology that adds value without overcomplicating life.Is this even possible??

Zoom In

My professional background includes eleven years in New York City working in Information Technology in the fashion industry. Next I founded Trolley Cat Tech, a full service digital studio including web design, social media, email marketing, blog writing, and more. Despite the hard work, I enjoy the flexibility that self employment brings to my family life.

Delaware is my home now, where I live with my two children, two cats, and one fish tank. We enjoy good food, good books, arts and crafts, and staying home as much as possible. We love our pets, and at year’s end I add the few dollars this blog makes from affiliate links to our annual support of the Delaware Humane Association. Otherwise, Digital Zen is ad-free.

Zoom Out

As we evaluate technology and how it fits into our lives, I encourage you to think about the big picture. Technology is not just electronics and software. It’s everything!

From smoke signals to iPhones, humans have manipulated our environment and resources to innovate and solve problems with technology. New-fangled developments are not always welcomed, but change always happens.

Most of the time, this is a good thing. Just look at how we live today. In developed countries, even the poorest citizens enjoy modern amenities that not much more than 100 years ago, the richest didn’t have. Indoor plumbing, thank you!

But I wonder, though, if some technological evolution hasn’t gone beyond a point of maximum benefit. Do we really need drones to make same-day deliveries of the latest consumer electronic when others don’t have a toothbrush? What if that drone is delivering food and supplies to otherwise inaccessible hurricane victims?

Maybe most importantly – who gets to arbitrate, and set the priorities as we navigate inevitable change? Good governance is important, but ultimately it’s science and technology that will solve the world’s most pressing problems. Like alternative energy and feeding nine billion people.

The big picture view keeps me grounded, grateful, and fosters a sense of citizenship and community over individual consumption. If this sounds good to you, welcome and thank you for reading!