Does technology take away the element of surprise?

These days, it seems that technology connects us with everything we want to know. Using our phones, Facebook, the pages of Wikipedia and YouTube videos, we instantly fulfill our desires for information, connection and amusement. But as a result, have we eliminated many of life’s surprises?

Nick Bilton, technology writer with our partner The New York Times, says no: Technology actually enables new surprises, maybe even better than ever.

And Dr. Scott Eberle, vice president for interpretation at the Strong National Museum of Play and author of “Classic Toys of the National Toy Hall of Fame,” argues that technology isn’t taking away life’s surprises. Rather, it’s taking away something else related to surprise, but equally important to our happiness.