The author embarked with her three teenagers on a six-month screen blackout (no cellphones, iPods, PCs, laptops, game stations, or television) to discover if the technology intended to stimulate and keep us virtually more connected was, as she suspected, making us actually more disconnected and distracted.

Originally published: Australia, Bantam Australia, 2010.

Who we are, and why we pressed "pause" -- Power trip : the darkness descends -- Boredom for beginners -- My iPhone/myself : notes from a digital fugitive -- The sound of one hand doing homework -- Loss of Facebook : friending the old-fashioned way -- Eat, play, sleep -- The return of the digital native.