Jun
Improvements?
There’s a plus and a minus to change. And sometimes it’s hard to know which was better–the original version or the new and improved version.
In just my four decades (sounds better by decades than years) on this earth, I’ve seen a lot of changes. The squiggly chord I used to wrap around my finger while talking on the phone…gone. Replaced, instead, by phones we take with us–some not much thicker than a piece of paper. Having this option has made us safer and certainly helped with convenience, but it’s allowed people to reach us everywhere. Even when we might not want them to.
Then there’s music. Instead of saving up our money to buy records, we buy CD’s. Instead of carrying boom boxes to the beach, everyone has ear plugs in their ears as they listen to favorite songs downloaded to Ipods.
And while there is certainly a plus to this (not buying an entire album for one good song), the negative is missing out on some great album art.
Then there’s cameras. We no longer have to save up our rolls of film to take to the camera store. We can, instead, see them instantly via our computer screen. But since the dawn of digital pictures, I can’t tell you the last time I held a print in my hand…or put one in an actual album.
And then there’s good old fashioned outdoor activity like kite flying. Sure, we don’t have to head to the beach just to enjoy such an activity (saving gas/time)…but do we really enjoy the same experience via a Wii?
Thoughts to ponder, certainly. And a topic of some Bits & Pieces questions for all of you…
1) What’s something you miss about the past (technology wise)? Why?
2) What’s something you miss about the way things were done in the past (not specific to technology) that you miss? Why?
3) What’s something you absolutely couldn’t live without now that you have it?
~Elizabeth
June 4th, 2010 at 5:55 am
1. not being accessible 24 hours. I like that if I wanted to disappear you could without being tracked via cell phone, email and/or IM.
2. What I miss is letter writing. I loved getting a letter from a friend who is telling me what has happened since the last time they wrote. It would be several pages as opposed to an email which will be a couple of lines.
3. The internet.
June 4th, 2010 at 6:49 am
1-Party lines. You learned so much about your neighbors….as a teenager, it was better than the soaps. (Jk) I agree with Dru, I hate being “on call” 24/7. But the one thing I learned, just because a phone rings, I don’t have to answer. And as my friends and family knows, sometimes I don’t.
2-I miss getting my film developed. I know, it’s stupid. But it was so much fun getting a roll developed and finding the pictures from the last summer party on your roll. Or you kid’s honor court for scouts. Now, I just pop my camera card in the slot and pick the pictures I want developed. No mystery at all.
3-Email, the internet, I start my day here – good morning all – btw, and end my day here. I know when my husband’s favorite team is visiting close by and what it would cost for summer travel.
June 4th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
1) What’s something you miss about the past (technology wise)? Why? I’m a techno geek. I like my gadgets and I like the technology that makes them possible. So I can’t really think of anything I miss.
2) What’s something you miss about the way things were done in the past (not specific to technology) that you miss? Why? I do miss the more face to face oriented communications. Now you can be fired via email or even text message. I preferred it when they had to look you in the face to deliver bad (or good) news.
3) What’s something you absolutely couldn’t live without now that you have it?
The internet, hands down. I do school online; a lot of my friends that I wouldn’t have even known are online (and I’d have never had the chance to meet you, Elizabeth, either!).
June 4th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
I agree with all of you on # 2. And Lynn, I miss the “oh, I forgot I took that picture” feeling, too.
And, yeah, I’m kinda hooked on the internet,too.
June 6th, 2010 at 12:30 am
I miss those curly cords on telephones too. I loved stretching it out as far as I could across the room when I was on it. I sure hated party lines though…I guess kids today wouldn’t have a clue what they are.
I couldn’t live without the internet…