Sunday 5 February 2006

The Digital Era: our Life With Technology

The Digital Era is here to stay and we are in the midst of the staggering developments that it produces. Results for any inquiry a person desires reveals itself in a single mouse click or the use of a cell phone. It is no wonder nearly everybody seems to be in a hurry, in an attempt to keep up with lightening speed technology.

Let us not forget the past decades, when the evening news was the main broadcast of current events. There was also the news of the hour on your favorite radio station, or, I should say about every half hour. Oh wait, that is still popular, if you are listening to the radio instead of your iPod.

It used to be beneficial to always carry loose change in your pocket. Not only could you provide your fellow man with change for a dollar, but you also had coins to use in a payphone in case of emergency, or at least, make an urgent call. Hey, forget those days. Use your digital cell phone. Much quicker. So is a text message.

Yes, I know. People still carry pocket change for other reasons, while they also carry checkbooks. Some of these people have also discovered the digital convenience of debit cards. I cannot imagine many of them wanting to write checks anymore.

The Information Superhighway, in the opinion of this author, is probably the best invention in modern times since peanut butter and jelly. Yes, the Internet has not only changed your life or mine, but has affected life as we know it on the whole planet earth.

Access to information is instantly obtainable. Communication to anywhere in the world is accessible right there on your keypad. And a great big thank you to the Digital Era, you can also shop anywhere you desire from your computer.

The Digital Era has also come to terms with photography. Not many of us need film for our cameras any more. A memory card will do just fine, thank you. It is smaller, holds more photos and they can be downloaded on your computer. Really. Yes, you get your photographs much quicker this way.

Please, do not assume this article was written in any disdain for the Digital Era we live in. If you need to, please classify this writing as a rant at a possible reason why everybody feels the need to rush through every activity of their day.

Time travels fast enough without us helping it along. So slow down and consider our digital inventions as tools to enable convenience in our lives, or perhaps as rewards to our intelligence as we progress into our technological future.

As your life may seem to go too fast, remember, you can capture the quick precious moments on your memory card, with your digital camera, upload them on your computer and email them to your friends and family. Make use of our Digital Era because it is quicker this way.

Author: Tom Watson

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