I used to be a software engineer by profession, but I have to confess even then I had this love/hate relationship with technology. Even though I learn pretty quickly, I resent the time it takes to figure out how new stuff works. I’d rather be writing! You would not have believed how much I was cussing when I helped my daughters set up their new laptop, which uses Windows 8. What brilliant soul invented a FOUR STEP process just to power off?
I’m also cheap and I don’t care if other people have shinier gadgets, as long as my own gadgets meet my needs.
But I’ve made some progress recently. After over a year of successfully self-publishing e-books, I now actually own a Nook reader myself. I really do like it, especially the ease it brings to taking LOTS AND LOTS of books with me on a plane.
However, my recent trip to Florida showed me another thing I need to upgrade. My father-in-law passed away last year and my mother-in-law not only discontinued their internet service but also threw away all their maps. Since our poor old cell phones aren’t good for anything but phone calls, there was no good high or low tech way of figuring out how to get places we wanted to go on the spur of the moment. OK, maybe we do need to upgrade from what my daughters tell me are “loser phones.”
If I lived in Georgian times, would I be so averse to new technology? Perhaps my cook would resist using one of the new closed stoves, but I can’t imagine that I would resist advances in personal hygiene, like the invention of the shower. Even though it did recirculate the same water… Here’s a cool article from Jane Austen’s World on Regency showers.
Are you a technophobe or do you embrace new technology? What do you rely on now that you never dreamed of needing a decade ago? What would you miss most going back in time?
Also, in the spirit of upgrading, I have a shiny new mailing list. If you don’t always have time to get here to the Riskies but would like to know the big stuff—new releases and special deals—please sign up here.
I would not classify as a technophobe any longer, though I was slow to embrace technology – the convenience and speed of my smartphone has bowled me over where once I was a scoffer. (Why would I ever need a smart phone?! Who cares! But alas, a free Harlequin ebook sampler App really sold me!) I also scoffed and almost weeped at the idea of digital books (no more libraries? used book stores? what an awful world to live in!) but have realized the e-book only enhances my reading enjoyment and does not take away from the musty-wonderful experience of a bookstore or library. I still buy “real” books but an ebook collection can be easier to take care of — and hide from a book-nazi husband HA!
I think I would most miss modern plumbing if I went back in time. I think the reasons are obvious – hygiene, smell, human refuse littering the street and backyard. I think I would wait in a line over night to get my hands on that regency shower – save the servants from lugging up so many hot buckets of water for my daily ablutions… (they would hate me – i love a long bath).
My niece and nephew are constantly harassing me about my “loser” phone as well. At this point it does what I want – gives me the ability to call someone if my car breaks down – so I probably won’t upgrade for a while. I have a brand new laptop that I have set up and used maybe once because it has Windows 8 on it and I despise it. I cannot figure out how to operate it and I am aggravated that I am forced to do so. When my old one finally gives up the ghost I will have to, I guess.
I am definitely grateful for the invention of the shower and indoor plumbing! However, I often think we rely entirely too much on technology and it somehow dulls the imagination at a certain point. Crawling back into my cave now.
Lesley and Louisa, glad I’m not the only one!
Re the “loser phones”, my daughters actually don’t give me too hard a time about it. They have some really good friends, and they don’t just walk around together texting other people, as I often see. They do stuff together, whether it’s games or talking about books or watching Dr. Who. I am glad of that. There’s something very powerful about being genuinely present with other people.