Learning how to spell (AGAIN)

The benefits of predictive dictionary will be endorsed by anyone who uses a personal computer or it's fancier brethren, including the iPad, Apple Inc.'s latest gift to the techno-savvy world that even your's truly is guilty of being addicted to. However, what we have seemingly overlooked is how dependent we are on our gadgets to correct our spelling errors as we keep hitting key after key. Gone are the days when you would have to hit a single key, at least thrice, to type the correct alphabet, as we framed our first text messages using the Short Messaging Service on the then-newly-introduced cellular phones in the 1990s.
While the purpose of the dictionary is to eliminate spelling mistakes, punctuation marks and record an overall increase in efficiency of writing, no one seems to have spared any thought to the consequent decreased ability of adults to spell.
An acquaintance, whose line of work requires him to work on the Web for the most part, recently asked me to spell out the word, "assistance" to him, when he was filling out an admission form for his daughter. "I want to know if you spell the first set of 's-es' with just one 's' or a double 's,'" he said.
While one such incident wouldn't prompt me to write about it online, I noticed how depending* I had become on the dictionary's help for every piece of writing I did using some or the other form of digital media.
With no intention whatsoever to sound hypocritical, I must admit I truly enjoy the blessing of technology that saves me the trouble of typing out every single letter. However, the realization that I may well have forgotten how to spell some crucial daily words has obviously bothered me enough go write about it.
Can we find the right balance? If so, where do we begin?
As creatures of habit, who thoroughly enjoy the benefits of technology, may be we could start out by making a conscious effort to spell words that seem lengthy or difficult to us.
Have you ever had the dictionary predict a word that was not the one you intended to write in a sentence? It isn't uncommon to hear people narrate embarrassing experiences that resulted from the use of a wrong word In a different context.
Dedicating five more minutes of your time to ensure that your document does not leave you red in the face seems like a good way to keep the predictive diction* in check.
How many of you reading this article found words that were out of place thanks to the predictive dictionary I used while typing it out?
At least a couple, eh?
Thank God, we haven't let our fancy gadgets come in the way our ability to read and comprehend words, yet!

depending* should read "dependent"
diction* should read "dictionary"