...but I could become one!
A Luddite is a person who rejects modern technology. I am very keen on modern technology and admire the the way modern minds have come up with ways to ease our lives. However, it seems that the easing of life is now taking on another dimension i.e. we oldies now have to acquire personal training to access information/follow instructions that a ten year old can do in ten seconds. Ask any teenager if he needs to read the handbook for a new phone, DVD player or PS3 and he shrugs and clicks, nods, connects, modifies and plays--the book goes into the bin.
I'll get to the point soon but I am telling you this because I have been operating my "Big Nokia", a 1999 model, with great success, for many years. There is no colour, few icons, normal ringtones and a sensible phone book that I can easily access. I cannot Google on my old friend but I can communicate and even send an SMS, although that part is difficult because it seems to have a mind of its own---never mind that I always need help in sending an SMS. My Nokia has large keys for large fingers and there is no magic light show--just soft green ambient backlighting. Admittedly my old friend is a little old-fashioned and he has ring tones designed in Finland in the sixties. He is also a little bulky and when carried in my suit pocket seems to pull the jacket out of shape. That old phone fulfils all my requirements but I have been receiving hints lately that he is a little embarrassing.
Nothing too serious but the odd remark about a "museum piece" does not go unheard. "Sheesh", they say, "does that thing still work?"
Yesterday was my birthday and it seems that my wife had decided that a new look was needed. I unwrapped a small box and inside was a tiny object. It was an MP3 player, I guessed. That could be useful, I thought, as I could get my son to download my Al Martino and Tony Prima CDs (I would never be able to accomplish that!). I often listen to music on my Walkman so this might make life easier, I thought. To cut a long story short this is how the conversation went on birthday morning:
ME: An MP3 great!
WIFE: No it's a phone.
ME: A phone so small?
WIFE: And it has all the goodies.
ME: It's no bigger than a Marlboro box.
WIFE: Yes and it has a camera, an MP3, video, webbrowser, colour--everything.
ME: A web browser?
SON: Yes you can Google on it Dad.
ME: Who wants to Google on a screen the size of a 50 cent coin.
SON: The latest technology Dad.
ME: How does it work?
Son fiddles, clicks, up, down, left, right, done.
ME: Thanks guys. A great present.
Obviously my degree issued in 1969 has not prepared me for this so I am going have to get someone to translate the English in the handbook. I better pretend to use this tiny gadget or I'll be in trouble!