Last weekend as I was reading through my email and messages on LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. I ran across this article about gadgets that defined the decade http://tinyurl.com/gadgets2009
It brought back memories of my early adulthood decades ago when I was a gadget snob. My sisters were fascinated by every new tool and development that came along, but not me. I not only turned up my nose at many modern devices, but put down my sisters and everyone else who had to have these items as soon as they were available to consumers.
This was in the 60’s when modern technology meant advances like the personal answer machine. I still remember my reaction the first time I called a friend and was greeted by one of those new gadgets to his telephone.
“Hello, this is Jim. We are unable to come to the phone at the moment, but if you’ll leave your number, we’ll get back to you.”
Gasp! Judgments raced through my head “How rude, impersonal and cold! Does he really think that I’m going to talk into a machine? Forget him!”
It sounds hilarious now, but for whatever reason I was appalled that a friend would expect a friend to connect in such a way. I try to remember this when I hear people react negatively to social media.
Because I was slow to get on board advances and gadgets, I was the last one among my sisters to get an answer machine, microwave, cell phone and cable TV. I was afraid to use my first debit (then called ATM) card.
When we remodeled our kitchen in 1981 I bought the stove with the microwave at the top. My husband protested saying that we were all going to be radiated and die. A few weeks after it was installed, I caught him heating his food in it more than any of us.
But things have changed. Now I’m among the early majority, the 34% that adopts technology after the early adopters have used it and taken out some of the uncertainty.
I’ve clearly switched camps. Now I’m appalled that everyone on the planet doesn’t have a cellphone (doesn’t have to be Blackberry,) a laptop, attend Tweetups and use a GPS. While technology changes so fast that these are not at the very top of the latest advances, they are new to the late majority and the laggards.
Interestingly enough, my sisters fell behind and are in the laggards group.
It makes sense, of course, that new advances costs money. To keep up with the upgrades and newcomers to the marketplace requires a substantial investment of money and then time.
It also makes sense that people most likely to jump on board the technology advances are the ones most likely to benefit from the speed, connections and social networking. It’s no surprise, then, that business owners, entrepreneurs, students and developers of all the advances the accompanying accessories and applications would be the most active.
I can’t imagine leaving town or my house for a whole day without taking my laptop and definitely my Blackberry along. Although I don’t have every tweet sent to my phone and I do turn my phone off when I’m in a meeting, church or social gathering, I won’t leave home without it.
Does any of this sound familiar to you? What gadget or modern technology did you resist or disdain at first, but now find you can’t live without?
Come on. It’s true confessions time.
Advice on starting new habits and reaching for new goals give steps on how best to proceed. Advice on becoming a runner, for example will stress what to do before you begin, how to begin and getting proper form. Weight-loss advice always starts with urging you to consult your doctor. Failure to follow the startup advice in any new endeavor would be foolish since it could lead to not only injury, but failure and disappointment.
Experience is not the best teacher, unless it’s someone else’s. Here are some experiences had by others in 2009 and the lessons I hope you learned from them.
Things are changing so fast around us that we can no longer wait to find the beaten path or use past techniques as a guide. Whether you are looking for a job, marketing your own business, planning to return to school or longing for a life mate, chances are you can’t rely on doing things the traditional way any more.
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