Computers Vs. The Old Fashioned Days

For the most part I agree with what you are saying...but like all things there is another side. There are some people that, not only does the thought of them using a computer scare them, but it scares me. For those people using a computer may not help them become more productive or make their lives more simplified, rather it would probably do the opposite and make things more difficult. Some people just need to stick with a pencil and paper. The reason being, is that computers are not always the most user friendly things and not everyone has the capacity to learn how to use them properly, therefore hindering their progress rather than helping. But hey...that is just my two cents.

Even today, with all the technology at (my) disposal I still use a pen more often than not.

I still read a paper book and usually go for the pen before the PDA.

I still can't believe people actually trust these noisy failure prone electronic devices to keep important data. Filing cabinets don't crash. People in foreign contries don't break into them and steal paper, and thousands of peoples credit card information wouldn't get stolen nearly so easily. And to think I make a living taking care of these miserable contraptions.

It all sounds so good doesn't it.

I have been using computers for over 25 years since the 286 days.

Don't get me wrong I think technology is great and that is why I am in the business but...

often these thoughts cross my mind..

I have seen what wonderfull advancements have been made...for every new technological advancement I have seen companies wave goodbye to staff....staff who have been loyal for years...dumped onto the stockpile of society..too old to get another job...( now over 40 isn't that sad!!! )

I have experienced the "quickening" a society that lives in a world of rush, pressure, deadlines, timelines, cost-cutting, cut-throat, anger and depression, 24 X 7 availability, and inter-connectivity through the internet, mobile ( cell ) phones.

I have met people who have never experienced a sunrise or sunset - they work 16 hours a day 6 days a week, they have not a moment of peace to themselves,,, they are bombarded by the media ( subconciencously brainwashed without knowing it ).... and we wonder why there are so many sucicides and 1 in 4 people are depressed...

should i go on.......

:)

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As much as we progress, the tasks stay about the same. We have three cogs, people-process-systems. Need something done, do we need more people, better process, or a system.

Point is, its not that different than the day of ledger books, and fileing cabnets.

I had to learn to use a typewriter and a fax come to think of it. Was just as much training in the old days as there is now. Except of course in IT, where in the early days world class boffinry was required as opposed to a copy of VB and a bit of paper.
As for computers making our lives simpler, don't think so myself, by definition they are only capable of simple tasks. Put a lot of simple things together and you get some something complex
but anyone of us is several orders of magnitude more complex than all our computer systems.
One thing they have done is make people less valuable in general, we've become computerized and it would be nice if the biological computers that really make the world tick got a bit more notice.

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Shes a artist, and can justify her large expense on brushes by feeding my pen needs. I don't like spending soo much on myself, on a thing that is clearley a luxury.

With that said, what a joy working with a real pen. Im also a woodworker. I would compair using a good pen to the difference between using a boxcutter and a good chisel.

My wife says: "Touch my Selectric and you die." as I mentioned to her that she can have one with a screen that prints out to a printer.

I am in no way a luddite. That said, I think that computers have a way of making us thinkt hat they are saving us time, but are in all actuallity causing us to take longer to do some of the things that we used to do very simply.

I love being able to listen to my music as I check my email and surf the internet, all on one machine, but once again, whgat has happened to the written word? How many of us sit down and write a real, heart-felt letter anymore? How many people can actually spell? Or use proper punctuation and grammar? Technology has caused a severe decrease in our knowledge of the language and our critical thinking abilities.