Some Simple Thoughts on Tek-naw-lo-gee
Dec. 28th, 2006 05:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
storytimewithjoeNo question about it – I am not what one would call a techno-geek. Now mind you, I don’t have a problem with techno-geeks. Some of my favorite people in the world slide down that bleeding edge of technology in a frenzy of futuristic delight. I am just not one of them, and I can’t say that I understand them.
It isn’t that I don’t like modern convenience. I like modern plumbing (although plumbing isn’t particularly new). I like medical advances (though more often than not, they find out that there really IS something to just eating that root). I like being able to drive around in my Jeep-Jeep (although a Jeep is probably one of the most “primitive” of modern cars, when you think about how stripped down it is). To me, there is a fine line when it comes to actual “progress”. Some inventions clearly did rise out of some sort of necessity, whereas others come from a sense of “bolder, faster, more cutting-edge” for the sake of… for the sake of… oh heck, just cuz.
I recall years back reading a “Cathy” cartoon where America’s favorite average gal sat outside of a record store (remember those?) saying that she wouldn’t purchase a CD player until they promised that there would be no new technology coming along to make it outdated like all of her cassette tapes, which had of course replaced all of her albums. What an ironic example to have been used! Fast forward to today where my ipod is now a year old, and it is by today’s standards “out of date.” After all, it only has 2 gigs. GASP! ONLY 2 gigs, as opposed to new models that hold music, games, movies, and fold your laundry for you. But despite being an “old” model, mine does the trick. I wanted an ipod simply to have a convenient lightweight music player for when I work out. 2 gigs is plenty for me – there just ain’t that much good music out there, after all. Sheesh!
Ironically, would you believe I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science? What a joke! Back when I was in high school, my parents did their best to convince me that computers were the way of the future and that I should go in that direction to make my fortune. I was good at math, and it made sense. If only I had been more stubborn then, I would have pursued a degree in English. Then… just maybe… I would have a better command of spelling and punctuation, and not drive my friends and dear husband crazy with my horrible grammar and creative punctuation. Instead, I have a degree that declares to the world that I am a cyber-geek. NOT! When I entered college, I stood out like a sore thumb from my classmates. Surrounded by techno-geeks who viewed circuit boards as more useful than soap, I was a lost soul. I scraped by and managed to earn my degree, but knew that the last thing I wanted to do was spend my time perfecting that all-important-algorithm. So over the evolution of time, I wound up on the business end of things, and have left technology behind.
At home, I can take technology or leave it. Yes, I use the microwave oven. But I do not use the bread machine. My version of a bread machine involves flour, a heavy bowl, wooden spoons, and upper body strength. Yes, I use the computer. But ultimately it is used to keep lists, spreadsheets, recipes, and as a forum for e-chat. Not a lot of bells n’ whistles there, either. I have a sewing machine, and it goes forward, backward, and zig-zag. And when in doubt, I handsew. Does this make me weird?
This Christmas, my hubby decided to go shopping on the techno-front. Among other things, he gifted me with a shiatsu massage chair and a digital picture frame. The shiatsu chair seemed intimidating at first. Once it was set up, though, I realized that it had a very simple three-button remote that even a goon like me can understand. And somehow, that thing presses and moves me enough to make me roll my eyes back in my head more than a pair of muscle-bound furry Brazilian twins could do (in theory). So, technology or not, it has won me over.
The digital frame still scares me. It isn’t that I don’t appreciate it – I just can’t wrap my brain around it. To me, the “functional” and “practical” end doesn’t make sense. My hubby got it for me figuring that I would be able to load in pictures and have it sit on my desk at work. But, but, but, I HAVE pictures up at work. I have two framed pictures on my desk, in fact. One shows a portrait with the two of us. The other shows one of my favorite pictures of Paul. Call me a simpleton, but what else do I need? The idea of “programming” a picture-frame with changing pictures is just all future-shock to me. I don’t even know where to begin. I’m not sure how to do it, or even what I would want to be there. I need time to think about this and just get the concept into my brain, I guess.
Until then, I will try to accept future advancements while also enjoying the simple things. I love walking to and from work. I love being able to bake bread – preferably in a dutch oven over an actual fire. I love being able to walk out to the garden and pick a fresh bouquet. Yes, maybe I am a simpleton in some ways. But like that old song says, “T’is a gift to be simple, T’is a gift to be free.”
It isn’t that I don’t like modern convenience. I like modern plumbing (although plumbing isn’t particularly new). I like medical advances (though more often than not, they find out that there really IS something to just eating that root). I like being able to drive around in my Jeep-Jeep (although a Jeep is probably one of the most “primitive” of modern cars, when you think about how stripped down it is). To me, there is a fine line when it comes to actual “progress”. Some inventions clearly did rise out of some sort of necessity, whereas others come from a sense of “bolder, faster, more cutting-edge” for the sake of… for the sake of… oh heck, just cuz.
I recall years back reading a “Cathy” cartoon where America’s favorite average gal sat outside of a record store (remember those?) saying that she wouldn’t purchase a CD player until they promised that there would be no new technology coming along to make it outdated like all of her cassette tapes, which had of course replaced all of her albums. What an ironic example to have been used! Fast forward to today where my ipod is now a year old, and it is by today’s standards “out of date.” After all, it only has 2 gigs. GASP! ONLY 2 gigs, as opposed to new models that hold music, games, movies, and fold your laundry for you. But despite being an “old” model, mine does the trick. I wanted an ipod simply to have a convenient lightweight music player for when I work out. 2 gigs is plenty for me – there just ain’t that much good music out there, after all. Sheesh!
Ironically, would you believe I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science? What a joke! Back when I was in high school, my parents did their best to convince me that computers were the way of the future and that I should go in that direction to make my fortune. I was good at math, and it made sense. If only I had been more stubborn then, I would have pursued a degree in English. Then… just maybe… I would have a better command of spelling and punctuation, and not drive my friends and dear husband crazy with my horrible grammar and creative punctuation. Instead, I have a degree that declares to the world that I am a cyber-geek. NOT! When I entered college, I stood out like a sore thumb from my classmates. Surrounded by techno-geeks who viewed circuit boards as more useful than soap, I was a lost soul. I scraped by and managed to earn my degree, but knew that the last thing I wanted to do was spend my time perfecting that all-important-algorithm. So over the evolution of time, I wound up on the business end of things, and have left technology behind.
At home, I can take technology or leave it. Yes, I use the microwave oven. But I do not use the bread machine. My version of a bread machine involves flour, a heavy bowl, wooden spoons, and upper body strength. Yes, I use the computer. But ultimately it is used to keep lists, spreadsheets, recipes, and as a forum for e-chat. Not a lot of bells n’ whistles there, either. I have a sewing machine, and it goes forward, backward, and zig-zag. And when in doubt, I handsew. Does this make me weird?
This Christmas, my hubby decided to go shopping on the techno-front. Among other things, he gifted me with a shiatsu massage chair and a digital picture frame. The shiatsu chair seemed intimidating at first. Once it was set up, though, I realized that it had a very simple three-button remote that even a goon like me can understand. And somehow, that thing presses and moves me enough to make me roll my eyes back in my head more than a pair of muscle-bound furry Brazilian twins could do (in theory). So, technology or not, it has won me over.
The digital frame still scares me. It isn’t that I don’t appreciate it – I just can’t wrap my brain around it. To me, the “functional” and “practical” end doesn’t make sense. My hubby got it for me figuring that I would be able to load in pictures and have it sit on my desk at work. But, but, but, I HAVE pictures up at work. I have two framed pictures on my desk, in fact. One shows a portrait with the two of us. The other shows one of my favorite pictures of Paul. Call me a simpleton, but what else do I need? The idea of “programming” a picture-frame with changing pictures is just all future-shock to me. I don’t even know where to begin. I’m not sure how to do it, or even what I would want to be there. I need time to think about this and just get the concept into my brain, I guess.
Until then, I will try to accept future advancements while also enjoying the simple things. I love walking to and from work. I love being able to bake bread – preferably in a dutch oven over an actual fire. I love being able to walk out to the garden and pick a fresh bouquet. Yes, maybe I am a simpleton in some ways. But like that old song says, “T’is a gift to be simple, T’is a gift to be free.”
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Date: 2006-12-29 02:11 am (UTC)For Christmas this year he gave me an MP3 player. Huh????? It's about the size of a zippo, and he has loaded it with things he thought I might enjoy, I guess. Yeah, when did I become such a fan of Annie??? The problem is, I don't even listen to music, and ear buds make me nuts. I can't find one that works for me for my cell phone, and I don't expect to do any better with this cute little gadget. What I found amusing was that he thinks I asked for one of these things. Gotta love him.
Sorry for the rant. I guess the button got pushed, and the flood gates opened. Now I need to learn to appreciate gifts, and go figure out how to make this one work (as soon as I find it again).
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