I often wonder what many of the innovators of communication technology were thinking as they laid the groundwork for the World Wide Web or tackled the complexities of wireless communication. Today it seems that entire existences are built around the Internet. The way we communicate with each other has seemingly resorted to how we communicate at each other
I remember hearing of the World Wide Web back in the early 1990's. It seems as if it has been around for ever, but no. In 1999 I moved into an apartment on Dixwell Avenue in New Haven. I had been living with a friend of mine for several months and was overjoyed to have my own place again. At the top of my wish list was an exercise bike and a computer. I never owned owned a a computer, but I had taken a class in high school. I used computers in school and at the library, so I was familiar with the importance of computing. I was also painfully aware of the debate raging between the "haves" and the " have nots" that most poor people could not afford the Internet and/or a home computer. By not having the find of access to the information and opportunities that the World Wide Web presented only broadened the economic divide.
People like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs worked diligently to change this. At the time, the cost of a personal computer was about $1,000 and Internet access was a dial up modem which was about $50 a month. This was out of reach for me and most everyone else I knew, so as soon as I could, I rented one, Ah, the golden age of Colortyme! The ability to buy what ever your heart desired from appliances to furniture to electronics for a "low monthly payment." I knew it was paying almost double, but to me me it was worth it to me to have access to the world. My first computer was a Compaq Presario with all the bells and whistles; Microsoft platform, AOL web and email. I loved it! I remember the day the Colortyme man came to and set up my computer like it was yesterday. I used it mainly for exploring the Internet and word processing. It would be a couple of years before I set up an email account. My dive into the seas of online communication was done one foot at a time.
I remember when cellphones first came out. They were big and bulky and were carried in a case. No one I knew had one because they were so expensive. Cellphones, like personal computers and cocaine were only afforded by the rather well to do. Pagers came shortly thereafter. I had only seen those on television in doctor shows. I remember getting my first pager. I still have it. I never know when I might need it. It seems like so long ago. I would pay my bill at my favorite pawn shop and I felt like I was really connected! It would be at least a couple of years before I go my first cellphone. By now they were portable, no case, no wires and they fit in the pocketbook. the deposit was outrageous. Most companies wanted $100 to $300 up front and a mandatory 2 year contract. I thought this was ridiculous and opted to stay with my pager. I was approached constantly by well meaning sales people. I was not that interested. Until one day I was entering Sam's Club and a man approached me and assured me that he
could get me a cell phone for a $50 deposit. I was skeptical. I told him "If you can do it, I'll sign up." I left him with my license to run my credit and I went shopping. By the time I was done, the salesman had secured me a cell phone. It has been several years since that fateful day and I am now considered a valued customer of T-Mobile with unlimited minutes.
Now, everyone has a cellphone. I got my 11 year old son his first cellphone when he was 8. Needless to say, that was a bad idea because he wasn't responsible enough to take care of it. While he is able to manage a Smart phone like a pro, he still leaves his phone in his pants. Today I consider myself a veteran of the "computer age" and I maneuver the Internet with ease. I multimanage several on line email, website and social networking accounts; Reverb Nation, Facebook, Yahoo, my website; www.d-o-music.com, my blog; www.thedigitaloverdose.blogspot.com, my video station DivaShadow on Youtube and a host of sites that I visit regularly. I also search for and research the latest and greatest tricks and tools to promote Indie music, videos and artists.
In spite of all this outreach, I don't feel more connected to other people. While the Internet is vast and never tires of activity, it lacks the immediate, personal touch of another human being. Even with the addition of Skype and Cisco. I do not wait with baited breath for emails, texts or tweets. Nor have I set up a Twitter account. I actually struggle to keep up with all the Spam and often unrelated conversations that take place on Facebook continuously. I check my email for specific things. I post to Facebook for specific reasons; to promote a show, sell something or to find someone. I don't play with Farm Animals or answer questions about other friends. Occasionally I send hugs, but I generally don't engage in discussions on line. I prefer to talk to people in person or on the phone, I prefer the intimacy of a human voice, the look on someone's face or the sound of their laughter. I think that communication technology is extremely beneficial in how we function, communicate, do business and learn. It can enrich us or deplete us; free us or enslave us. Communication technology is meant to enhance our ability to communicate, not to replace the ways we communicate. It is a choice, not a requirement of communication. When we lose sight of what communication technology is, we can easily lose touch with what we are.
I remember hearing of the World Wide Web back in the early 1990's. It seems as if it has been around for ever, but no. In 1999 I moved into an apartment on Dixwell Avenue in New Haven. I had been living with a friend of mine for several months and was overjoyed to have my own place again. At the top of my wish list was an exercise bike and a computer. I never owned owned a a computer, but I had taken a class in high school. I used computers in school and at the library, so I was familiar with the importance of computing. I was also painfully aware of the debate raging between the "haves" and the " have nots" that most poor people could not afford the Internet and/or a home computer. By not having the find of access to the information and opportunities that the World Wide Web presented only broadened the economic divide.
People like Bill Gates and Steve Jobs worked diligently to change this. At the time, the cost of a personal computer was about $1,000 and Internet access was a dial up modem which was about $50 a month. This was out of reach for me and most everyone else I knew, so as soon as I could, I rented one, Ah, the golden age of Colortyme! The ability to buy what ever your heart desired from appliances to furniture to electronics for a "low monthly payment." I knew it was paying almost double, but to me me it was worth it to me to have access to the world. My first computer was a Compaq Presario with all the bells and whistles; Microsoft platform, AOL web and email. I loved it! I remember the day the Colortyme man came to and set up my computer like it was yesterday. I used it mainly for exploring the Internet and word processing. It would be a couple of years before I set up an email account. My dive into the seas of online communication was done one foot at a time.
I remember when cellphones first came out. They were big and bulky and were carried in a case. No one I knew had one because they were so expensive. Cellphones, like personal computers and cocaine were only afforded by the rather well to do. Pagers came shortly thereafter. I had only seen those on television in doctor shows. I remember getting my first pager. I still have it. I never know when I might need it. It seems like so long ago. I would pay my bill at my favorite pawn shop and I felt like I was really connected! It would be at least a couple of years before I go my first cellphone. By now they were portable, no case, no wires and they fit in the pocketbook. the deposit was outrageous. Most companies wanted $100 to $300 up front and a mandatory 2 year contract. I thought this was ridiculous and opted to stay with my pager. I was approached constantly by well meaning sales people. I was not that interested. Until one day I was entering Sam's Club and a man approached me and assured me that he
could get me a cell phone for a $50 deposit. I was skeptical. I told him "If you can do it, I'll sign up." I left him with my license to run my credit and I went shopping. By the time I was done, the salesman had secured me a cell phone. It has been several years since that fateful day and I am now considered a valued customer of T-Mobile with unlimited minutes.
Now, everyone has a cellphone. I got my 11 year old son his first cellphone when he was 8. Needless to say, that was a bad idea because he wasn't responsible enough to take care of it. While he is able to manage a Smart phone like a pro, he still leaves his phone in his pants. Today I consider myself a veteran of the "computer age" and I maneuver the Internet with ease. I multimanage several on line email, website and social networking accounts; Reverb Nation, Facebook, Yahoo, my website; www.d-o-music.com, my blog; www.thedigitaloverdose.blogspot.com, my video station DivaShadow on Youtube and a host of sites that I visit regularly. I also search for and research the latest and greatest tricks and tools to promote Indie music, videos and artists.
In spite of all this outreach, I don't feel more connected to other people. While the Internet is vast and never tires of activity, it lacks the immediate, personal touch of another human being. Even with the addition of Skype and Cisco. I do not wait with baited breath for emails, texts or tweets. Nor have I set up a Twitter account. I actually struggle to keep up with all the Spam and often unrelated conversations that take place on Facebook continuously. I check my email for specific things. I post to Facebook for specific reasons; to promote a show, sell something or to find someone. I don't play with Farm Animals or answer questions about other friends. Occasionally I send hugs, but I generally don't engage in discussions on line. I prefer to talk to people in person or on the phone, I prefer the intimacy of a human voice, the look on someone's face or the sound of their laughter. I think that communication technology is extremely beneficial in how we function, communicate, do business and learn. It can enrich us or deplete us; free us or enslave us. Communication technology is meant to enhance our ability to communicate, not to replace the ways we communicate. It is a choice, not a requirement of communication. When we lose sight of what communication technology is, we can easily lose touch with what we are.
