How involved are you with technology?

For the longest time I just simply couldn't wrap my wits around the way technology was moving at such lightning speed. I was stuck in the days of VCR's and corded landline phones, a remote for each device rather than a universal (and it didn't really matter because I hardly knew how to work the thing anyway,) and a microwave that had little more than an on, off and power level button. Somehow, as I was so totally focused on raising my children, technology not only passed me by, but took leaps and bounds ahead of me and left me in the dust.

A few years back, when I still had two kids living at home and between the two of them they were doing everything technology-related FOR me, it occurred to me that I was going to be completely helpless once my own personal "geek squad" moved out. Who would program my remote? Who would hook up my printer to my computer? Who would figure out why my phone would freeze up? Who would get the DVD player to work? And on and on. At the same time, I was starting to look into various programs, applications, etc., that would help keep my brain engaged. Both parents had suffered from dementia and I wanted to do everything I could to avoid that for myself, and my doctor had suggested a variety of things to help with that..doing crosswords or sudoku, engaging in computer/phone apps like Luminosity, buying and working the various brain games type magazines.

I tried. I did. I just couldn't get into that stuff. It was work, and if it felt like work then I knew I wouldn't keep it up. So, after surveying everything out there that I could do to keep my brain engaged and busy, I decided to dive head first into technology!!! Scary, but hey...it was the future, and I was tired of having to WAIT for my kids to help me with the stuff any time there was a glitch in anything!

Thankfully I have very patient kids!! They helped me endlessly, answered what had to be really stupid and ignorant questions patiently, and told me the same things over and over again until it finally sunk in! I still remember the joy with which I announced to them (after a move) that not only had I figured out how to hook my computer up, AND hook the printer to it (before bluetooth printers were as common as they are now) but I had ALSO figure out how to get my DVD player to work with my TV, AND programmed the remote ALL BY MYSELF!!!! Doesn't sound like much right now, but MAN was I pleased with myself, given where I'd started out...I could barely figure out how to turn on the damn TV!!

I've worked really hard over the years to keep abreast of technology. I will never be as savvy as my kids, who just grew up with this stuff and somehow managed to absorb it effortlessly, but I've gone from being computer/technology illiterate to being the go-to person for all my friends and my clients about how to deal with this or that computer/phone/internet/etc problem. I've learned how to do some basic programming and have created my own spreadsheets to track my financial information because the templates that were available just weren't working for me. I've customized spreadsheets for clients to create everything from master contact lists to ways to keep track of their digital images. I created a website for the dance studio that I dance at and am the webmaster for it. I created a private forum for friends and am the Admin and Moderator for it. I use an iPhone for everything....my calendar, grocery list, to do lists, calorie counting, exercise, health, notes, images, keep track of Facebook, instagram, snap chat etc., to name a few...it's actually funny, I use my phone less to make calls and send texts that I do for everything else!!!

My technology is portable and collaborative. I can access whatever I need to access from either my laptop or my phone or my tablet, which are all synched so everything on every device stays current.

Learning this stuff, just getting to this point, has strained my brain lol! But it's been worth it. I feel more in control of my life as a result of learning, I am of more value to my clients and have increased the range of services I can offer as part of my job description, and best of all my brain is fully engaged and functioning at a level that is challenging and rewarding. Far better than Luminosity for sure!!

 

Well I must admit it's a bit sick in our household, 5 remotes for the tele / blue ray / subwoofer besides Virgin box...mind you not watching the tele much hubby has control.
I work my android phone ok besides laptop / small notebook and tablet but can I get my head around the digital microwave no way...hubby has showed me no end of times but I keep forgetting ...why he couldn't have just gotten a normal control one I don't know

 

Well now, I am something of a Luddite. I don't watch television-at all. I have a smart phone two or three generations old. I still barely know how it works. I am typing this on a desktop computer using Windows that is three or four generations old.
I have zero interest in this technology stuff. To be blunt about it, I'm pretty lazy and don't want to waste the energy needed to learn this stuff.

 

FBG. you are a man after my own heart! My telephone makes and receives calls. It also has other features which I ignore. Our computer is kept up-to-date by my husband. If it were up to me, we'd be writing with quill pens.
I feel that humans should use the technology that serves their uses. Technology should not drive their lives nor their interests.

 

You know the saying as long as it keeps going use it well

marlingardener I do agree with what you say but not seeing no one besides my hubby...coming on the forum besides ordering my books off amazon has been a godsend to me, if I need other things hubby goes out and gets them for me

 

Whether you like it or not, your life is ruled by technology. Your TV, phone, possibly your appliances, your car (the new cars have more lines of code in their computers than a fighter jet), and I won't even go into the technology involved when you use a credit or debit card.

It all boils down to whether you're a Nerd or a Geek. A Nerd is someone whose life is ruled by technology. A Geek enjoys it.

 

I quite agree mate and call me a Geek.