How Technology Changed Me Through the Past Decade

At the beginning of this decade, the year 2000, I had one grandchild. Since then I now have seven. They have all arrived along with the fast moving technology.

Over the past two years they've all gotten the Wii systems which is pretty amazing to me. The 3-d figures can play just about any sport. In each system I have my own avatar which these children worked hard to make look like Grandma. Yes, they do everything which the controls. I could not even turn one on if I had to.

What's really rough is I can never beat these little six, eight and eleven year olds. They are a great family time project although they all have their limited times to play. They are good exercise. I know when I play I am stiff for a day or two and this 53 year old grandma still hunts, hikes and fishes. Guess I use those muscles i don't normally use.

Over the New Year's eve I managed to get four of the grandchildren here. They all had Nintendo DS games; a hand held video game. They were all lined up on the couch with these wireless games linked up to each other playing and arguing about spitting each other out and losing.

My son and daughter in-law had no idea that these systems could link to each other when they purchased them. On Christmas day as the kids played they kept yelling back and forth about beating each other. They were as surprised as I was.

Cameras are another type of technology that has grown quickly but what can I say. Anything electronic is antique after a week anymore. I sell cameras and really have to keep up with the changes and upgrades. Ashton Kutcher sells a lot of cameras for Nikon. You would not believe how many people come in to ask about the camera he used in the commercial. I personally research many of the cameras so I know what I am talking about when customers come with their many questions. There are many people still new to digital so they want to understand what they are getting into. For many it is scary to let go of that film camera but in a couple years there will be no film to purchase. It's hard to find a film camera now. We no longer sell them. Many people come in looking for the Polaroid 600 film which is no longer made. The Polaroid instant cameras were discontinued about two years ago.

A negative fact about this fast growing technology is as products upgrade and improve the older ones are discontinued. One example is a camera purchased five years ago may take up to a 1 gigabyte SD (secure digital) card. The one GB cards are being discontinued and the lowest you can buy is a 2 GB. Then starting at 4 GB these cards become SDHC (secure digital high capacity) which a lot of older cameras can not take. These cards are reusable but many customers find this frustrating.

A positive fact with this fast growing technology is that the better it gets the cheaper it becomes. Five years ago you may have bought a 5 megapixel camera for $300. Today you can buy a decent 12 MG camera for about $200. Five years ago a 512 MG SD card may have cost you $30. Today you can pruchase a brand name 2 GB SD card for as low as $12, This is the same with computers, televisions, games, etc.

The Internet is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I love to research. Especially with my grandchildren after hiking and taking pictures of bugs, birds, etc. We all learn so much. I sell photos on different websites for which I have made a few extra bucks. I also write for Associated Content where I am working hard to make a good balance. I believe I have gotten more out of AC though. I have made many new friends, I read much more than I used to and I am learning.

I had started out with My Space but when Facebook came out I was able to connect with many friends and family I had not seen or talked to for years. I am even talking more to friends I have grown up with that live near but lost touch. We're in touch and even get together.

GPS is one of my favorite. I love to travel and over the past year I have traveled quite a bit alone. Never visiting a city before and driving straight to your destination is great. Road maps were always hard to read and then you would have to stop and check all the time. I would try to have it planned out and written down but the convenience of the GPS is wonderful.

What really gets me is today's wireless phones. You can now go onto the Internet and even watch television programs. All I want is a phone that makes a call. I am too wrapped up in the Internet already. I don't need taking it with me.

It's amazing though. I remember in the sixties my father and I talking about computers. He'd say to me that one day a computer would run on a tiny chip that would fit in the palm of your hand. Back then he'd play with reel to reel and movie cameras but that was the most technology he had gotten into.

He lived with me for a few months about two years ago and learned many of the things a computer could do. He'd have me checking everything out. I had fun showing him what technology had become.

Technology is growing amazingly fast and it has affected my life many ways in the last decade. I don't think we can even imagine what the next decade will bring. I'm sure my grandchildren will teach me whatever it is.