I love gadgets. I like shiny new toys that are supposed to make my life easier. I am particularly attracted to new cleaning products and gizmos of that variety. It seems the gadget of the moment are cell phones. (At least that is how I perceive it.) I did not have a cell phone for the longest time (relative term) and I knew deep in my soul that at that time, I did not need one. But I wanted one. Everyone seemed to have one and I began to think that my lack of one was a sign that I had become resistant to them. Was I taking a stance against cell phones? Was I joining the camp of Technology-Is-Bad? Was I a Luddite?
I eventually got a cell phone and it was the most basic of phones and I got it for the most basic of reasons: safety and practicality. It could not take pictures; I did not text anyone. I am not very good at texting. I actually stink at it. I cannot stop myself from trying to compose complete sentences, with proper spelling and grammar, and I cringe at letters that take the place of real words. I cannot figure out how to find or use punctuation. The few times that I have actually done it, it took a long time. Not at all efficient. I find myself increasingly annoyed at how text shorthand creeps into every day use especially in my students' papers. As my ire mounts, I start to wonder again, am I a Luddite? (I think every historian has the potential of being one. Come on, we love the past. We go to historical sites on vacation; we secretly love reenactments and wish we could participate.) Despite what it could not do, I was happy to have one. I found myself wanting to call people with it, even when I had nothing to say or no reason to call. It was all very thrilling. Recently, I needed to get a new phone and now I can take pictures. I could also check the weather and get directions on my phone, but I have not tried that yet. It has other capabilities but it is no Iphone or anything of that nature. This is fine. I do not need that. But do I want that?
There is a part of me that does. I watch the commercials for those types of phones. With a touch of an icon, I can do all sorts of things. That is very impressive. I am particularly drawn to the Palm Pre because it will do all those fun things and keep me organized. What more could a person want? Fun that is organized! The problem is that all that fun and organization is not free. It costs to download and get all that information and I do not need those things. The commercials however describe a lifestyle that goes along with these phones. There are numerous "apps" that will make my life better and fun. Games, music, email, television, the Internet, and the list goes on. The number of things one can do with phones now would take up all of the day. Do I need this? Obviously the answer for me is no. Do I want this?
If I say no, does that make me someone who shuns progress? Does it make me appear arrogant, as if I am above such materialistic distractions? I think rather that I am befuddled by the technology and what I would do with it. I am also fearful, yes fearful, of how much a phone of this nature would distract me and take me away from all the things I am supposed to be doing as a responsible adult with a job and a husband and a family. (Do not get me started on the guilt I have for contributing to a blog and how that can be distracting.) Technology and progress are wonderful things, and I use much of it to keep me close to that family who everywhere but here. There is, however, a limit to what I need and want. Considering how much I like to check the status of the weather and radar, things may get murky and I may have to reevaluate my position.
I eventually got a cell phone and it was the most basic of phones and I got it for the most basic of reasons: safety and practicality. It could not take pictures; I did not text anyone. I am not very good at texting. I actually stink at it. I cannot stop myself from trying to compose complete sentences, with proper spelling and grammar, and I cringe at letters that take the place of real words. I cannot figure out how to find or use punctuation. The few times that I have actually done it, it took a long time. Not at all efficient. I find myself increasingly annoyed at how text shorthand creeps into every day use especially in my students' papers. As my ire mounts, I start to wonder again, am I a Luddite? (I think every historian has the potential of being one. Come on, we love the past. We go to historical sites on vacation; we secretly love reenactments and wish we could participate.) Despite what it could not do, I was happy to have one. I found myself wanting to call people with it, even when I had nothing to say or no reason to call. It was all very thrilling. Recently, I needed to get a new phone and now I can take pictures. I could also check the weather and get directions on my phone, but I have not tried that yet. It has other capabilities but it is no Iphone or anything of that nature. This is fine. I do not need that. But do I want that?
There is a part of me that does. I watch the commercials for those types of phones. With a touch of an icon, I can do all sorts of things. That is very impressive. I am particularly drawn to the Palm Pre because it will do all those fun things and keep me organized. What more could a person want? Fun that is organized! The problem is that all that fun and organization is not free. It costs to download and get all that information and I do not need those things. The commercials however describe a lifestyle that goes along with these phones. There are numerous "apps" that will make my life better and fun. Games, music, email, television, the Internet, and the list goes on. The number of things one can do with phones now would take up all of the day. Do I need this? Obviously the answer for me is no. Do I want this?
If I say no, does that make me someone who shuns progress? Does it make me appear arrogant, as if I am above such materialistic distractions? I think rather that I am befuddled by the technology and what I would do with it. I am also fearful, yes fearful, of how much a phone of this nature would distract me and take me away from all the things I am supposed to be doing as a responsible adult with a job and a husband and a family. (Do not get me started on the guilt I have for contributing to a blog and how that can be distracting.) Technology and progress are wonderful things, and I use much of it to keep me close to that family who everywhere but here. There is, however, a limit to what I need and want. Considering how much I like to check the status of the weather and radar, things may get murky and I may have to reevaluate my position.
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