Computer brain...
It’s official – I am a genuine product of the computer age. From my earliest experiences with a computer in primary school through to today, I have seen the internet develop from a mild point of interest to the Source Of All Information. I remember having to think hard to remember a website that I could visit (ANY website at all!); sometimes resorting to those advertised by mattress salesmen just so I could go somewhere. Now I have my regular haunts, and it’s a rare that I will miss a day… Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo…
The list goes on and the questions get asked: “How did people find the answers to these questions before Google?” I know most of my early high school research came from World Book Encyclopedias due to the unreliability of internet materials, but during university I was introduced to the wide world of online academic databases. No Google required…
Recently, some work colleagues began remembering the days before they used computers. My instant reaction – “What did you do all day?? How did you do anything??!” While they were laughing at me and introducing me to the novelty of a pencil and paper, I was remembering my first days in the office last year (before my computer had access to the networks and email) where I was sitting at my desk going looking through my drawers for the fifth time, because I needed computer access to do my job.
But I know I’ve hit rock bottom when, after making a mistake drawing, or messing something up at home, the first thing that comes into my head is “Ctrl Z! CTRL Z!!” (Ctrl + Z being the keyboard shortcut for “undo”).
So. The door has shut, the gangplank has been withdrawn, and I think I’m developing an RSI. But on the plus side, my typing speed has improved a whole lot, and sometimes I don’t even look at the keyboard. I still prefer to read and work from hard copies; mostly because staring at a screen all day gives me a headache, even with the brightness toned down. Smileys and chat abbreviations are a part of my normal vocabulary (which makes text messaging faster), And besides, emails don’t use paper. Save the rainforest! Lol :)
The list goes on and the questions get asked: “How did people find the answers to these questions before Google?” I know most of my early high school research came from World Book Encyclopedias due to the unreliability of internet materials, but during university I was introduced to the wide world of online academic databases. No Google required…
Recently, some work colleagues began remembering the days before they used computers. My instant reaction – “What did you do all day?? How did you do anything??!” While they were laughing at me and introducing me to the novelty of a pencil and paper, I was remembering my first days in the office last year (before my computer had access to the networks and email) where I was sitting at my desk going looking through my drawers for the fifth time, because I needed computer access to do my job.
But I know I’ve hit rock bottom when, after making a mistake drawing, or messing something up at home, the first thing that comes into my head is “Ctrl Z! CTRL Z!!” (Ctrl + Z being the keyboard shortcut for “undo”).
So. The door has shut, the gangplank has been withdrawn, and I think I’m developing an RSI. But on the plus side, my typing speed has improved a whole lot, and sometimes I don’t even look at the keyboard. I still prefer to read and work from hard copies; mostly because staring at a screen all day gives me a headache, even with the brightness toned down. Smileys and chat abbreviations are a part of my normal vocabulary (which makes text messaging faster), And besides, emails don’t use paper. Save the rainforest! Lol :)
posted by Stephanie @ 2:31 pm
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