Computers Time Savers or Time Wasters Modern Technology

Love it or hate it...technology is here to stay. Back in 1986 - out of work and searching the want ads on a daily basis - I was at a standstill. With the introduction of Apple Macs and Personal Computers my devoted attention to the love of the written word and writing up a cash book had suddenly become obsolete. Every job I applied for required some skills or at least some interest in the latest technology.

Whether it be an understanding of the latest word processor or the ability to build a database in DOS, technology was an essential part of any job criteria. I had no idea what a DOS was, but I was impressed with the idea of a word processor. Having been a 'gung-ho' typist since leaving school at the age of 15 but not without the occasional error, the thought of never having to correct a mistake again using an eraser or - last resort - having to insert a clean sheet of paper and retyping the whole thing was something I needed to look into further.

For a long time still, I resisted computers for as long as I could. It all sounded too new and progressive. I was comfortable producing work in the old way from the old school. Eventually I realised I was going to get left behind unless I became 'technologically savvy'. I was looking for work in an era where computers no longer meant half a building dedicated to the contraptions. But I didn't even know how to find the start button to turn on a computer, how was I ever to understand programming languages and software packages?

How could I have known a new era was about to erupt in our faces? How could any of us know twenty years ago we would be able to tap in to any where in the world in an instant? Get information about any subject in any language within seconds?

I'm not sure if I spend more or less time now with a keyboard. I've been using them for a long time and I still remember pages and pages of manually typed script. All going well I could type 100 words per minute but what about those times when I did have to start the whole page over?

The beauty about technology, computers and everything in between - iPods, iPhones, flash drives, networks, routers - is that the more frustrated you are from not finding an answer the more chances you have of finding an answer. I can spend countless hours, sometimes days on end searching, surfing and looking for help.

Rest assured there is a geek, nerd, technologically 'savvy' fellow out there somewhere halfway across the world that has already stumbled across your problem. He has solved it and is only too happy to share the solution with you.

Lots of luck finding him!

Copyright © Karen Wilton 2010