Dog House Ramblings

I may be turning into a technophobe..

Back in the later 70's, early 80's, technology was fascinating. I was pretty much a math whiz studying electrical engineering and enjoying the evolution of computers. I had my first computer in '83. In '85, I hired on at Texas Instruments. I got to play with all the cool toys, including the early stages of what has become the World Wide Web.

In '94, I jumped to the telecom industry and played with all those cool toys. I hooked up the internet at home so that I could continue to play when I wasn't at work. I bought cool electronics like there was no tomorrow. But by '98, the love was starting to fade, though I still mostly kept up with technology.

In 2002, I punted and took a year off to windsurf. In 2003, I started working in the recreational marine industry.

And now I think I'm becoming a technophobe. I hardly follow technology at all any more.

I realize this because I'm sitting here researching Intel processors. I'm doing that because both my laptop and desktop are in dire need of replacing. And I have zero clue as to the differences between all the processors currently on the market. Dual Core, Duo Core, it's all the same.

And last night at Angelo's (our favorite Italian restaurant), I'm wondering why the parents at the next table are allowing their children to listen to Ipods. I'm wondering why someone would be texting friends when they could just call them. And I'm wondering what's so important that it would interrupt such a good meal.

Then this morning, my wife explains a term that's new to me - twittering. Apparently it's something people with Blackberries like to do. I'd never heard of it, let alone can I think of a reason I'd want to do it. In fact, my 7 year old phone (I hardly call it a cell phone anymore) is not capable of any of it. Nor do I desire to own a phone that will allow me to text or take pictures.

Electronic leashes... That's all they are.

That discussion came on heels of a conversation about flat panel TV's - yet another technology that I'm sorely undereducated about. Yet we'll soon be forced into.

Yes.... I am starting to fear technology. At least the kind related to electronics. And coming from a person who graduated BSEE with honors, that just seems like a sad statement. Whether that is a sad statement about me or the world has yet to be determined.

Of course, all these thoughts are coming to me while I write in a Blog. The need for which I'm still trying to wrap my brain around. Yet here I type. I guess I justify it by calling it an outlet for my creative thinking.

Yeah.... Right....

I probably should just go windsurfing.

Labels: slow it down, technology, technophobia, twittering

posted by The Dog @ 11:37 AM