I remember the first desktop computer I ever saw...it was in the first grade reading lab. Yes, it was one of those ancient kinds that had only one color on the screen...neon green. And it didn't have any images either...all there was was text, and it was practically dotted it was so pixelated.
In middle school I took a typing class, but it was literally for the typewriter. I will never forget the annoying rhythm of that video: "A-A-A space. S-S-S space." Who knew how much I'd really need to know how to type as life went on...
In high school there was a computer lab, but it was sort of for "special projects." I could still turn in a term paper in my own handwriting. Is that even acceptable these days?
In college, I still didn't own a computer. My roommate and I both had a word processor, and we thought we were really hip. It was a typewriter of sorts with this little skinny screen on it that showed you what you typed, one or two lines at a time. You could make edits to those lines before you hit whatever key it was that made the processor type on the paper whatever was on the screen.
We did have quite a nice computer lab in college. I will never forget that is where I got my very first email address and sent my very first email...to my mom, who promptly sent one right back!
So, I'm totally dating myself, aren't I?
Well finally, after I got married, my DH and I finally bought our very own computer. A Mac, what else? But even as I sit here typing on my G4, I still feel behind the times. My big 'ol monitor and my big 'ol tower, is quite far from the hippest set up out there.
So I'm intrigued with - and a little saddened by - how the computer is changing the world and the people in it. Unfortunately, I can't say that I'm not contributing to this culture change.
The last office job I had was a good example of how things are changing. I worked with a small team of people that sat in a relatively open area with no walls to speak of...I could literally reach out and touch the gal that sat next to me. But there was way more emails flying back and forth than actual face-to-face conversations. My boss (from an older generation) regularly reminded us that it was okay to actually talk to each other. Sad.
So, I'm totally dating myself, aren't I?
Well finally, after I got married, my DH and I finally bought our very own computer. A Mac, what else? But even as I sit here typing on my G4, I still feel behind the times. My big 'ol monitor and my big 'ol tower, is quite far from the hippest set up out there.
So I'm intrigued with - and a little saddened by - how the computer is changing the world and the people in it. Unfortunately, I can't say that I'm not contributing to this culture change.
The last office job I had was a good example of how things are changing. I worked with a small team of people that sat in a relatively open area with no walls to speak of...I could literally reach out and touch the gal that sat next to me. But there was way more emails flying back and forth than actual face-to-face conversations. My boss (from an older generation) regularly reminded us that it was okay to actually talk to each other. Sad.
As useful and quick as email is, I think even it may be rapidly becoming a thing of the past. It's my understanding that the generation behind me uses text messaging and online "social utilities" like Facebook or MySpace in the place of email. Wow.
For the generation I'm in, I generally consider myself averagely hip to modern technology, but I'm definitely struggling to maintain that status. I don't have a PDA, a bluetooth, a GPS, a Wii or even a laptop. But I am definitely attached to my computer, however large it may be.
I generally think of my computer as an asset...it instantaneously connects me with all sorts of resources and people, and is a great outlet for finding answers and voicing my opinions (like right here on this blog!). But as great as it is, on the contrary, it's just as bad. I can easily sit down at my computer with a sole purpose, and before I know it, I have clicked on some advertising link and am off pursuing some rabbit trail, completely off task. And the next time I look at the clock, it's two hours later, and that precious period of life has gone down the drain, and I have relatively nothing to show for it.
Speaking of which, it's time to flush. This is an excessively long post, and I've spent more than my share of time on the time toilet today.
For the generation I'm in, I generally consider myself averagely hip to modern technology, but I'm definitely struggling to maintain that status. I don't have a PDA, a bluetooth, a GPS, a Wii or even a laptop. But I am definitely attached to my computer, however large it may be.
I generally think of my computer as an asset...it instantaneously connects me with all sorts of resources and people, and is a great outlet for finding answers and voicing my opinions (like right here on this blog!). But as great as it is, on the contrary, it's just as bad. I can easily sit down at my computer with a sole purpose, and before I know it, I have clicked on some advertising link and am off pursuing some rabbit trail, completely off task. And the next time I look at the clock, it's two hours later, and that precious period of life has gone down the drain, and I have relatively nothing to show for it.
Speaking of which, it's time to flush. This is an excessively long post, and I've spent more than my share of time on the time toilet today.
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