Admit it. You’re not afraid of heights (you’ve ziplined with the best); spiders (brown recluses are your friends); in confined enclosures, such as an elevator, it has been known to turn into a soft, smooth shoe). But… let someone walk up to a cybernetic foot of your private space, brandishing a smartphone, a Kindle (on fire or not!) in a sweat, you begin to hyperventilate and are overwhelmed by a sudden nostalgic urge to caress his Corona typewriter.
Face it! You are, among smug and smug tech circles, relegated to the pejorative category of ‘late adopter’, euphemism for ‘luddite’. Or ‘technophobe’. But don’t be discouraged. Although you may never earn the coveted title of ‘geek’ or ‘nerd’, there are several really valid, authentic and almost liberating reasons why you might want to start considering the possibility that, perhaps, an attempt on your part embracing today’s and emerging technologies can be a good thing for many reasons.
Think of how you have come to take for granted some traditional technologies that, just a generation ago, might have been considered ‘cutting edge’. Flat panel televisions, LCD screens, music CDs, DVDs, to name a few, were once the ultimate “high-tech digital media.” Now even you intuitively rely on these somewhat passive devices for your enjoyment, recreation, and cultural enrichment. Surprisingly, not only did he adapt to these technologies, but now he cannot imagine his leisure life without them.
If you’re willing to step out of your cocoon of comfort, you’ll find that today’s technology, because it’s so much more interactive and engaging, opens up previously impossible ways to communicate, create, and collaborate.
Let’s talk about communicating: instantly (right now), universally (everywhere with everyone), anytime (day or night) “Who wants?” you say. Stop and think, maybe you want or need to, about your grandchild, your son or daughter in college or in the military, your old flame from high school, that local politician whose politics frustrate you. Just think: your best friend who lives far away geographically, is as close as a click away, via email, cell phones, Skype, text messages – all of these modes allow technology to be ubiquitous, bringing those who they are important to us. faster.
What about collaborating with others? Through a technology called virtual reality, the worlds of science, medicine, business, and academia are discovering innovative ways to work together to solve problems, save lives, and share recipes. And we only have to surf the web for a moment to see how others are creating new working lives for themselves, doing what they love and loving what they do, while earning a respectable living, improving their style of life and create opportunities for others. thrive financially, physically, and personally.
True, conventional wisdom, as well as research, indicates that every 18 months there is a major change in technology, and when it does, its power doubles and its price cuts in half. Don’t be discouraged! No one expects you to strive to become the next CEO of Amazon, Google, or Facebook. Start small. Just say ‘yes’ to one small step. In an upcoming article, look for tech toys and techniques that will happily, easily and smoothly launch you into the 21st century tech phenomenon. But most importantly, we will talk about all the human and material resources available that you can access to learn how to use these new tools to enrich your life. Take heart! You too can become a “techie”!
