Technology Slaves

Technology started hundreds of thousands of years ago with the earliest tools: Throwing sticks, sharpened sticks, stone tools, fire, and tanned hides. All technological human advances.

Today the term “technology” triggers images of electronics, computers, cell phones, Onstar, gps devices, video games, etc. These tools can help or hinder us. These tools make our life easier. These tools can also dumb us down.

My personal history with electronics is simple. I love gadgets but I never buy a new gadget until it is in its second generation. My first computer, a Commodore 64K in 1980. My first cell phone, a Uniden bag phone in 1989. My first pocket computer in 1998, a Hewlett-Packard. My first GPS in 1995, Garmin II.

Now I have two computers, a desktop and a laptop both on wifi. My cell phone is a 6 year old Sony. My pocket computer, a 5 year old Hewlett-Packard. My GPS, same old Garmin II.

For years I have “made fun of” people who relied exclusively on their in-car GPS and Onstar tools because they do not know how to read a map. As a fireman, I have made rescue calls to people in the woods whose GPS had failed. They called for help on their cell phones only to tell the 911 operator “I don’t know where I am.”

Recently I experienced personal electronic challenges showing up as failures of both my cell phone and pocket pc. These items contain my calendar and address book. Both died within a couple of days of each other. Now my address book and calendar are not available to me while away from my "big" computers. My new phone has no numbers in stored. My calendar is on printed-out sheets from an Outlook file. I discovered I was very nearly a slave to my technology.

Technology allows us to operate at a higher level of efficiency - until they fail. As we become dependant on our devices, we longer use our minds. Then we become slaves.

First learn how to use and read a map, then turn on the GPS.

Learn how to spell, then use spell checker.

Learn how to remember, then make notes in your electronic calendar.

Technology, use it. Depend on it NOT.

Rember to get your manual. Check it out at "Emergency Disaster Preparedness & Survival"  or "buy now"
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Copyrighted under “Gerald Pinckard” or “Foggy Bottoms Publications”