Do We Really Need These?
Posted: December 4, 2012
Double Clicks
My wife and I are getting ready to leave on a weekend trip and I am doing my job as “pack mule.” As I begin hauling all the bags to the car, I realize I am carrying two computer cases for two people.
In each computer case, there is a notebook and a tablet. His and hers sets.
I remind my wife that, 10 or so years ago, we would not have taken a computer along at all, let alone two.
But, they serve their purpose. The notebook is for writing things, such as lesson plans, quizzes and tests for her and a column or two for me. The tablets are there in case we want to read. (Notice that notebooks are used to contribute information; tablets are mainly for acquiring information.)
Of course she corrects me, saying we’re actually taking more than four. She mentions the two smartphones, saying, “Aren’t those computers, too?” Well yes, absolutely! So, now, we are up to six computers.
As we begin our five-hour trip, she pulls out the Garman GPS and enters our destination address. “Here is No. 7,” she says. Gee-whiz.
After we get our bearings and are on the interstate, my wife asks if I have any good audiobooks to listen to during the trip. I pull out my iPod, loaded with music and a couple books.
No. 8.
We laugh about how many computers we are using. We talk about having no idea how many computers are in the car: the radio, the auto-dimmer on the rearview mirror, the ignition, etc.
We pull up at our destination and, once in the room, I check my blood sugar with my glucometer … No. 9. Then I use No. 10, my insulin pump, a very important computer to me.
Do you have only one computer? No computer? Or are you even worse than me?
In each computer case, there is a notebook and a tablet. His and hers sets.
I remind my wife that, 10 or so years ago, we would not have taken a computer along at all, let alone two.
But, they serve their purpose. The notebook is for writing things, such as lesson plans, quizzes and tests for her and a column or two for me. The tablets are there in case we want to read. (Notice that notebooks are used to contribute information; tablets are mainly for acquiring information.)
Of course she corrects me, saying we’re actually taking more than four. She mentions the two smartphones, saying, “Aren’t those computers, too?” Well yes, absolutely! So, now, we are up to six computers.
As we begin our five-hour trip, she pulls out the Garman GPS and enters our destination address. “Here is No. 7,” she says. Gee-whiz.
After we get our bearings and are on the interstate, my wife asks if I have any good audiobooks to listen to during the trip. I pull out my iPod, loaded with music and a couple books.
No. 8.
We laugh about how many computers we are using. We talk about having no idea how many computers are in the car: the radio, the auto-dimmer on the rearview mirror, the ignition, etc.
We pull up at our destination and, once in the room, I check my blood sugar with my glucometer … No. 9. Then I use No. 10, my insulin pump, a very important computer to me.
Do you have only one computer? No computer? Or are you even worse than me?
Contact Ron Doyle at ron@doubleclicks.info