Socio-Technological History
December 2003
To what degree has technology been a part of your everyday life
and culture since your childhood? Did you grow up in a home that always had the
latest technical gizmos? Or did you do look enviously on your friends and
neighbors who had those things you didn't have? Write a multi-paragraph
response in which you describe your own socio-technological history, including
both a discussion of your own cultural context (nationality, ethnicity, gender,
time period, geography, family structure, and socio-economic class) and your
technological development (your first video game system, first computer,
experiences with computers and the Internet, school use of technology, and how
your technological experiences have developed over the years).
Posted by Anne Gray on
Growing up I would say that my family was pretty
slow when it came to the latest gadgets. My parents always seemed to wait until
just about every person we know got the piece of new technology. It usually
came at a point where we really needed that idem like a computer for instance,
we needed for school. This is because first of all my family could usually care
less about the latest treads and if we don’t need the gadget my dad would
figure, what’s the use of buying it? And, second, my dad has always been a bit
on the cheap side. Even when I know we could afford some things, he still wouldn’t
agree to buy them. One of the things that go along with being cheap I guess is
that you like to save up every penny you possibly can. My dad is also the type
of person that likes to think forever about buying something. When I say
forever, I really mean forever. Sometimes it takes him years until he decides
to buy something. He’s been thinking about buying a new car for the next 2 or 3
years or more, and I’ve yet to see him act on it. Sometimes I think that if he
won the lottery, he would still be cheap. Not that there is anything wrong with
saving your money for a rainy day, or any future plans or anything. But, saving
that much is just a little too strong for my taste. I like to save up and stuff
too, but I also have no problem spending. I don’t take so much time deciding. If
it’s something expensive I’m looking for I’ll look at a few stores and possible
on the internet depending on what I’m looking for and I’ll buy the one that’s
the best quality for the cheapest price. It doesn’t take me months to decide. I
figure if I can afford it, and I don’t need the money for something more
important, go for it. Basically my family has been slow at getting the new
gadgets because no one in my family cares about technology and because my dad
is so slow at buying things.
The first piece of technology I remember getting
before most people had it was a video game system that my parents bought for my
brothers and I for Christmas in about 1990. It was a Sega genesis. My brothers
seemed to fall in love with it while I only played it sometimes just for
something to do. But I remember my cousins and uncle coming over and they were like
trying it out and everything and they were commenting on how good the graphics
were. Video game systems are probably the only new gadgets that my family usually
gets right when they come out. These is because my brothers always go out and
buy them with their own money or my mom, knowing how much my brothers love
video games, buys them for my brothers for Christmas.
I think that guys are usually the ones who what the
new technology. Every person I know that always goes out and buys new gadgets
is a male. Although, I’m sure there are a lot of women out there who are the
same way.
I don’t think
ethnicity and gender have a lot to do with how technically savvy one is. Although
if you lived in a poorer country you may not be as accessible to the new
trends. But I don’t really see any trend between technology and ethnicity.
In the last decade or so there has been such a
blatant increase in technology. In elementary school our classroom didn’t have
computers in every room. We did have a computer lab that had like the lowest
bit computers possible. We only used these to write papers on and play learning
games. The internet didn’t come to our elementary school until about 1995 when
I was in 5th grade. As I progressed though school computers became more
abundant and used more often. Then the libraries started getting lab tops and
other new technologies. We pretty much moved into the computer age while I was
in school.
Posted by Dmitriy
Semenov on
When I was growing up we rarely had the latest technological
gizmos. It was mostly because our family never had much money. Well, it was
hard to have much money in
The school that I went in
Because my father is a computer programmer and my
mom worked for a pretty long time in that area, I had a lot of exposure to
computers. I spend a lot of time daily on the Internet, and on computer in
general. I probably chose to major in computer engineering because of that.
Posted by Carl Grifka
on
Waiting in line never took so much out of me. It was
almost
When the latest technology debuts, it is safe to
assume that I will be one of the first individuals in line to purchase it. From
the Nintendo 64 to the new DELL Dimension XPS, I have always managed keep up
with the times. While I was not always the first in line, my positive
socioeconomic condition has allowed me to be one of the first to purchase new
technology. If one also includes the time period in which I have resided, with
my age and gender, then it is easy to see why I have been a techno-fan.
Financing was never a major problem during my
technology acquisition quest. With two 0% interest financing solutions residing
in my home, it was hard to pass up acquiring “new best thing.” Ha, of course my
parents were my 0% interest solutions. My family has attained a positive
socioeconomic condition over the years. Our positive socioeconomic condition
allowed my family to take the risk of purchasing the latest technological
devices, such as a DVD-RW drive.
Residing in the 1990’s, a time period of rapid
technological innovation has definitely influenced my purchasing preferences.
With the world going online and switching to HDTV, it is hard for me to wonder
what I would be striving for had I lived in the 1960’s or the 1970’s. I have
striven to attain the latest computers, video games, and televisions in order to
“survive” in this period of rapid technological innovation. Truly, I have
attained the aforementioned computers and games. Hopefully, I will continue to
be first in line to purchase the technology which debuts next.
Not many forty or fifty year old people seemed to be
in line to purchase the DVD-RW drive. The crowd was mainly comprised of 18 to
34-year-old males. Being part of this group, I did not feel alienated at all.
The doors to Best Buy were also opened by two males, both of approximately 20
years of age. Pop culture of the late nineties has been dictated by the MTV
techno-freaks of my age group. So I was not surprised to see so many people of
my gender and age group at Best Buy. Being my age and gender, it is accepted,
even encouraged to love technology. This is most likely why I stood outside
Best Buy at such an early hour.
During the 1990’s, I have seen several technological
innovations happen before my eyes. While most have been expensive innovations,
my family’s favorable socioeconomic condition has allowed us to purchase the
latest technology. Luckily, my parents understand that people of my age and
gender enjoy acquiring the latest technology. As long as finances don’t run out
and our pop-culture does not change, I will continue to purchase the latest
technology like many other 18 to 34-year-old males.
Posted by Dana Zaglanis
on
I think that kids are being exposed to technology younger
and younger these days. I still remember the little computer we had in our
kindergarten classroom. By five I could do more with a computer than my mom could
do as an adult. It’s funny to watch her because even the smallest thing she
does on a computer is a huge accomplishment. She wasn’t exposed to it her whole
life like we are today. And the little computer we had in our kindergarten
class only escalated from there because once I got into middle and high school
there were large computer labs and even laptops. Most everything I know about
computers I learned in some computer class at school. It really is good to know
because so many jobs require the use of computers. My dad works with computers
for a living so I am exposed to it all the time.
And it’s not just computers. We are the age of CDs,
DVDs, cell phones, and so much more. Technology changes all the time so it can
be hard to keep up. My family always eventually catches up with the times but sometimes
it takes us a while. CDs really are the best compared to the cassettes we once
used. What a pain that was! And now with DVDs there is no more rewinding tapes.
Plus they have all kinds of special features. A couple weeks ago I got one of
those TV/DVD combos for my birthday and I love it. Watching a DVD on our TV downstairs
meant going through fifty steps first. This is a lot easier because it is built
in. I remember my first TV, it was so big and ghetto! I’ve really come a long
way. Cell phones are the only things that annoy me with regards to technology. My
dad bought us cell phones a few years ago that are a complete laugh compared to
what people have today. It’s like if you don’t buy a new one every month you
are behind. Is it really necessary to have internet access and a camera on your
cell phone? And it is so annoying to be sitting in class or church and have
someone’s phone go off and start playing some obnoxious song. How hard is it to
turn it off? I don’t have to worry about it because my phone is so embarrassing
that I never use it! And another thing that is hard to keep up with is video games.
By the time I got a Game Boy, they came out with Game Boy Color. Once my mom
gave in and got me a Game Boy Color, they came out with Game Boy Advance. And I
don’t even know what the newest one is called. It flips out like it’s some sort
of mini laptop or something. I gave up on that one.
I don’t think that ethnicity really has anything to
do with technology. It’s more a matter of having the money to keep up with all
the changes. To be really up to date requires a lot of money to keep buying all
the latest things. It’s really all up to you how important that is. And as far
as gender goes, I think that guys are probably more into it than girls are. Whenever
I go to stores like Best Buy there seems to be a lot of guys around playing
with all of the stuff. Although I like new gadgets so it’s not like girls hate
it, we just don’t care as much as the boys.
Posted by April Terbrack
on
Technology has always played a big part in my life. Ever
since I can remember we have always had a t.v. Then
as each differnt game system came out we owned each one
of those. Nintendo, sega, etc. which I think that technology
had a lot to do with my growing up because of where I lived. When you live in a
richer neighborhood where all the kids on the block own every game system you
will own every game system to.
The biggest technological leap for me came my
sophomore year of High School when my grandparents bought me and my brothers
our first computer. That was a big day. Before that day I always had to use a
book to research information or on rare occassions I
could go to the library and use there computer. Now we have cable modem and as
the technology gets upgraded so does or computer. So I think it is safe to say
that technology has played a big part in my life.
Posted by Fallon Bojanowski
on
I have a fortunate childhood as far as technology
goes. We always had at least two T.V.'s, and a phone.
When video games started really started to get digitally impressive, we'd get
them. We had Nintendo, Sega, and all the other different types. I can't really
remember all of the brands, because I wasn't a huge game buff. I was more
interested in the computer we had. It was one of those computers with the black
screen and the bright colors for games. I would play that game where you are the
frog, and you try to cross the road without getting hit. My memory is fading on
me... haha. With the computer, my brother, dad and I
would make banners saying, "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!" and hang it in our
kitchen for my mom.
Later down the road, my mom got a pager, and I
always wanted one, but I was only 13 years old. When I turned 16, I got my
first cell phone. It was so awesome! Not even my parents had one, and here I
have one for my Sweet Sixteenth! Now, everyone in my family has a cell phone. I've
gone through about 5 different phones within 3 years, my mom has gone through
3, and my brother 2. My dad sticks with whatever his work gives him.
When I was about 12 years old, my dad bought a new computer,
like the ones today. We also got the internet and I would talk online to my
buddies and really learned how to surf the web. This has helped me so much in
my homework and with life in general. I am very lucky to have been able to keep
up with the technology that keeps upgrading, and it has just broadened my
horizon on a whole different world.
Posted by Kristen Malmsten
on
Technology has been somewhat been a role in my young
years. Even though my mom and I were very poor we did have a t.v. In the house and even one in my own bedroom. I have to
admit though it was a gift from my father the last year I saw him. My mother
and father have been separated since I was two. This left my mother with not that
much money and only a 2-year degree in college. Around the age 7 or so my
mother was dating this rich guy by the name of Roy who had everything. He
bought me a sage. This was my first game system. I might have had it later in
years, but hey I had my own system now. My mother always had the computer when
it first came out we had the nicest because she worked for computers and we pretty
much got them for free. We had the
Internet, but at that age I did not know what it meant to be online. I was
never forced to have the biggest and badest thing on
the block. Where I came from we were all pretty poor and didn’t have a million
dollars to spend on nice luxuries. We had caller-id though; most people didn’t
have that. I never really cared about the Nintendo, or Sega, or even the playstation. I was always happy playing Barbie, Lego, or
roller blading. I never need anything-high tech to keep my
attention except for a piece of paper and I pencil. I’m way into drawing and
art that the Internet and all the toys I really don’t care about.
When moving to
Posted by Doloris
Juncaj on
My family in general has been kind of slow when it
comes to new technological items. I mean slow in two ways, purchasing them and
then learning how to use them. It is kind of funny because it seems as though
we were always the first people to get video games such as Playstation
two, X box, and Sega. But, in everything else it appeared as if we fell behind,
especially when it came to buying items like computers and cell phones. It’s
kind of strange now that I look back, you would think that people would choose
things they needed like cell phones and computers before they would ever choose
fun over necessities. I think that it is probably due to the fact that I had
two younger brothers who were really into that kind of stuff, but I, myself had
no interest in such things.
I am the oldest out of all my siblings and out of
all of us I have the least amount technological intellect. My youngest brother
who is only ten years old seems to be a genius when it comes to such things, he
definitely beats everyone in my family. He is usually the one teaching me how
to use the newest gadgets (I know how sad). This is most likely because of what
they are teaching in classrooms today at a much younger age. Schools are so much
more well equipped today than they were ever before (such as computer labs), I
mean no one in elementary school ever taught me how to use a computer or surf
the net. I don’t even remember ever using a computer until I was in middle school.
The computer and the internet have become so much part of our lives, without it
many people probably would find very difficult to function.
Most of us are aware that the
I believe that many of us are forced to purchase
things like computers even if we do not want to buy it, because now it is
necessary for all children that attend school to have computers. Twenty years
ago I bet that such technology was not required. And of course the newest
gadget is going to be way overpriced, like many things are when they first come
out. How technologically people are up to date really depends on the economy,
where they live, and if it is affordable.
Posted by Christopher Loveday
on
My first gamming system was Super Nintendo and then
it was Game Boy. My family has always had televisions, radios, and other small
gadgets. Our first computer was a Texas Instrument, a dos based system that had
the game pong. I was first addicted to computers when my father bought a
computer, 166 mhz, for Christmas one year. I would
spend hours playing games and chatting online.
Then I bought
my first Dell. I started to play with html, started on the 166 but really
worked at it on the dell. After awhile I started programming in C++. The computer
I own now I built myself, it’s a decent machine. However, I’ve been less
interested in computers laity.
I’ve been connected to the net for a few years now
and I chat on a regular basis. I also used to be part of a few web communities,
I currently visit one on a regular basis, one of my good friends designed it
and it’s a place where all our friends can meet and talk about school, work,
etc. I think I’m pretty heavily involved with technology and that it has an
influence on my life.
I think my use of the internet though out my life is
why I’m so open minded about different ethnic groups, even though I grew up in
a small white town.
Posted by Andrea Hagerman on
I consider the growing up part of my life from when
I was born until about now. During the whole time of growing up, sometimes I
can say I had the latest everything as far as technology and sometimes I can definitely
say my family and I were behind. My parents have been divorced since before I
can remember and going to visit my Dad in British Columbia, Canada always meant
getting to play with my brand new expensive toys, listening to his brand new CD
player, (when it was such a novelty and not many people had them) riding in his
new expensive car, or riding in the new speed boat up at the lake in Whistler
where our condo was. When my Dad had all of these nice technologically advanced
things, I was too young to appreciate how expensive and "cool" they
were but most of my friends back in
Going back home to
As I got older, I of course became more interested
in material things, and wanting the latest technology. I could of course never
have everything I wanted living at home with my single mom who was supporting
her two children. Come Christmas time though, my brother and I were spoiled all
over again by our grandmother (my Dad’s mom) who was always getting us the
latest video game system, bought us our first computer, Skis, Snowboards, you
name it, she bought it. (She now says she has no money because it all went to her
children and grandchildren.) But even as we grew older money seemed to be
getting tighter and tighter as my brother and I were involved in our travel
soccer, social activities and other expensive things.
It’s just kind of funny when I think about things.
Sometimes I can say that I have so much, and sometimes compared to others, like
my friends, it seems I have so little, right now I’m sitting at home in a tiny
room in my tiny house, typing on a broken down computer that is on its last leg
(At least we have one though I guess). My Mom wants to buy a new one for us,
but we just can afford it right now. But at the same time my BMW m roadster
that my dad bought is sitting in the tiny driveway, parked right behind it is
my old car, now my brothers, an old Saturn ( but again as least I can say I
have an old car where as many people my age never had cars). Most of my friends
all have at least 4 video game systems at their house and at least 3 computers.
We are down to zero video game systems; my brother sold them for extra cash, and
one lousy computer. On this computer though is access to the Internet, which I
had before many of my friends. I guess its just really hard for me to say whether
I grew up being technologically advanced or not, in so many ways yes, and in so
many ways, no. It all really always depended on money; money allowed us to have
so many great things, and also deprived us of many things that we noticed our
friends enjoying. I don’t want to sound like brat using the word deprived, I do
realize there are tons of people in this world who consider me so far from
deprived, and in many aspects I am. I am just using that word comparing my self
and the technology I have to others I grew up with. Many of my friends and
family have their 5 computers and broad band, which I don’t. It’s ok, its just
strange sometimes when I really look at it.
Posted by Lauren Saint on
Most girls don’t know about or care about the latest
in technological advances. I’m not one of those girls who is going to impress
computer nerds and video game freaks by going into detail about the newest
gadget. My dad, on the other hand, has several brand new computers and laptops
that use up-to-date technology to do I don’t even know what. The laptop that I
am typing on now is my mom’s old laptop from several years ago and is a stupid piece
of crap. If it didn’t have internet access (some of the time) and Microsoft
Word, I would take a baseball bat to it and let my dog crap on it when I was
through with it. But then again, if I had the latest, coolest laptop, I would
still only use it for the internet and Microsoft Word because I don’t do
anything that is technologically complicated. For the most part, my family
doesn’t really keep trading in our old things for newer pieces of technology.
We have a stereo we’ve had for many years in our living room. I have a
television in my room that is probably older than I am and only gets UPN and
the WB. We haven’t bought a new tv in years because
we have several throughout the house. When one breaks, we do a musical chairs
kind of thing with the tvs that still work and
replace televisions in important areas, like the living room. Also, we have a
computer that one day a few years ago completely stopped working, and it just
sits there on a desk in the basement looking like a fully functioning computer,
but is really an old piece of crap, which is a good way to describe a lot of the
technology in our house. Everywhere except in my dad’s office. He’s the one
making the money so he decides where to spend it, and usually he decides to spend
it on the latest technology for himself. When technology is new, it is usually
expensive. The price only decreases after a few years, by which time that technology
will be pretty much obsolete. People who don’t have lots of money will not be
able to easily keep up with all the latest technology, because to do so requires
frequently paying lots of money for better and better things. The way I feel
about technology is probably very odd for a typical person of my generation. People
my age have been exposed to technology like computers, realistic video games,
cell phones, and anything digital since we were very young. It seems like I
would welcome new technology and be used to it, but for some reason I have the
mentality of an old woman when it comes to technology. I don’t know what things
are usually or how to work them, and therefore, I don’t like them. I was upset
when dvds started to replace vhs.
But looking back, it’s kind of like how cds replaced cassette
tapes and now it seems absurd to buy anything other than a dvd.
I don’t put very much effort into discovering new technology, so maybe I feel
the way I do about it because I’m unfamiliar with it. I don’t need an expensive
or flashy cell phone to impress anyone, anyways. I felt uncomfortable about the
idea of having a cell phone for several reasons: 1. I always thought “who thinks
they are so important that they need to be reached at all hours of the day,
everywhere they go? Definitely not me.” 2. I lose everything. If you put an object
in my hand and tell me to hold it for five minutes, I will most likely have no
idea where it went five minutes later when I have nothing in my hands. So when
I got a car, my parents got me a cell phone in case I had an emergency. The one
I have now was the cheapest one I could get, it doesn’t do anything cool, and
it doesn’t have any neat ring tones, I know there’s a word for them, the ones
that sound like real songs, but I don’t really keep up with those things. I
always think of guys who are knowledgeable about technology as being like the
comic book guy. On the Simpsons. I just wanted to add
that.
Posted by Amy
Houston on
If I had my choice I don’t think that I would use technology
as much as I do. I really don’t like it all that much. It is nice to have the
things that we have but I defiantly could do without a lot of the ‘gizmos’ that
we all seem to have these days. I honestly think I am one of the only people
that I know that has never myself been on AOL. I have seen others on it but I
have never had the desire. I would much rather talk to a person in person or
even on the phone if I have to. On line you can’t feel emotions in the way
their voice is. Human interaction is a very important aspect of my life. I
don’t choose to use the computer unless I have to, that is just the way I am. When
I was growing up and even now I guess you could say I have a bit of both worlds.
What I mean is that my dad works for HP so we have always had computers around,
probably since I was about six or so, I am not sure. While, my mom on the other
hand still does not own a computer to this day. I remember when I lived with my
mom and if I had a paper to write and it had to be typed I would have to use
our typewriter. It had no backspace, so if you messed up you had to start all
over again, or I would go to my neighbor’s house. I still don’t know all that
much about the latest technologies and how they work, or even older technology
for that matter and this does not bother me a bit until I have to do something
using the skills that I don’t have or understand (like our web- building). My
high school was technologically advanced but I never really took advantage of
that. I never took a computer, drafting, or media class, and I was all right
with that. I remember when I was little my brother had a guess what would be a
video game with a joy- stick that he played before we got Nintendo, which was
when I was still about six or seven. I never played so I don’t really remember
all that well. I hated video games. I still do, I get frustrated and throw the controller
across the room! I really don’t have all that much more to say about this
accept that a like most technology, I think that it is fascinating as long as someone
else is taking care of it. Like most people, I really don’t like too many
things that I don’t understand.
Posted by Charissa
Spencer on Monday, November 24, 2003 7:37am
Unfortunately I haven’t been as fortunate as some
who were able to have the first of the new technological gizmos. In my family
it has always been more important to get the necessities taken care of before
anything else. I remember one time when we had digital cable with no phone and
no food in the fridge so I don’t really care about getting all of the newest
things now. We have always had a television set but always the standard, nothing
fancy like the flat screen. I never had any video games either but then again I
am a girl and most girls don’t. There was a time when I would get envious of my
friends who had computers when I didn’t have one so I couldn’t serf the net
with them. Now what I really want is a laptop because all I have in my room is
a desktop so I am always late catching up on the latest techno but I eventually
get to that point. I guess in my family most of the time they just wait for the
product to be out for a while then the prices go down. When the new DVD players
came out we didn’t have one so we still used our cassette player. So there I am
standing in the tape player section at Blockbuster and it seems that everyone
else is staring at me as if I’m that one that’s out of style. At that point I
felt bad and I just knew that I had to get me a DVD player, so I did but I was last
to get one as usual.
My cousins would get spoiled with video games and
after being around them for so long my brother wanted as many system and games
but it wasn’t a necessity at the time. But now my brother has all of the new
game systems and all the games to go with them. New technology is good to have
especially when it is like a computer because there is so much information that
can be received through via-email. When we didn’t have a computer I would have
to have papers typed for class and so I would have to use a typewriter and they
are not fun to work with. Whenever I would mess up I had to go through the long
process of erasing it. Now that I am on my own I try to provide myself with some
of the little gadgets that might come useful to me like an electronic organizer
and other things creative new things that can come in handy.
Posted by Natalie Swickle
on Monday, November 24, 2003 8:28am
Up until I was in middle school my family computer
had a green and dark green screen and anytime someone wanted to get to a
certain program he/she would have to type in codes to navigate through the
computer. It was a real hassle and didn't even have Internet or a mouse. Once the
family finally got a color screen with a mouse and the Internet it became
necessary for a schedule of who could use the computer and when. Rules were
even made so that everyone in the family could use the computer each day if
desired. Usually it was just the three girls of the house that fought over the
computer. We had missed out on Internet, chat, and all that good stuff for so long,
we just wanted to be on the computer all day.
Although I have been around computers for school and
at my house for about seven years I am still not real good at figuring out what
really goes on in a computer. I know how to turn it on, how to work the printer
and change paper or ink settings, and I can use a scanner or a CD burner if I
need to, but if I was asked to hook it all up I would have some trouble.
All through out my childhood I never really liked
video games. Maybe on a rainy day I would become hooked to playing video games
all day, but if I was ever able to go outside then I did. My brother on the
other hand was always playing video games. I remember when my friends would
come over and want to play I would have to tell them to go ask my brother to
show them how to do it. I didn't have a clue how to load the games or even
worse how to navigate through all the different selections each player could
make before even starting the game. I can not say that I am much better even at
this age in my life, but I can at least load games and decide what player I
want to be and things like that. Overall I really do not see the fascination
with video games. I agree that they can be fun, but some people play them every
day and even save games and save all the extras that he/she gained for their
player. For me, video games aren't worth all the work but I know that for
certain people it is exciting to add different features and to play the
realistic games.
In school my computer knowledge was never really challenged.
When it came time to take typing classes and computer classes that worked with
the Internet, I had already gotten a computer at home that was fun to use, so I
knew what I was doing. In my last two years of high school I was a student
assistant for a computer teacher so I was asked to kind of help the teacher
with the one on one student help whenever there were questions. That actually
helped me to become more knowledgeable with computers and all of the Excel,
Word, Power point, and other features.
Posted by Emily Swickle
on Monday, November 24, 2003 8:32am
I was introduced to a computer when I was really
young. My older brother had a computer in his room. It wasn't a computer with
internet or Microsoft anything, it was just for games like duck hunt and things
like that. I always thought my brother was a genius for knowing how to work the
computer because I never knew how. It was confusing! There were passwords and
basic rules that I just didn't know. After a while I figured it out and realized
it wasn't that hard, but that was right around the time we got a new computer;
a computer with internet. It was around Thanksgiving of the year 1997 or 1998
and it probably took me less than two days to figure out how to get on to the
internet, download new applications, access email and setup Instant Messengers.
The new computer always caused fights in my house, though. We had three girls
that were just around the same age, and we were all fighting over using one computer.
The internet became a quit hit in our house because we could finally talk and
chat with our friends who were grounded or doing homework. It was great! It did,
however, cause problems. My twin sister and I would literally get into fist
fights over the computer. We came up with a method that we figured would be
fair. What we did was say that, if there was a wait for the computer, each
person could only use it at one hour intervals. At one point we became so
dependant on being on the computer that we'd change the time on the clock in
the computer room, just to get an additional five or ten minutes. It was
pathetic! After about two years of fighting my dad decided to borrow an old
computer from his office and bring home. Right now we have three computers in
our home, all of which have internet, but all run a little slower than they
used to. One of our computers has a permanant virus,
one acts up every now and then, and the other has no applications downloaded or
uploaded because it just can't handle it. I used to get very jealous before we got our
computers. All my friends and neighbors had computers with internet access,
even the straight laced neighbors who don't have cable because it's too provacative. It was so annoying! The neighbors had a
computer with internet access that they didn't even use and I had nothing. When
we finally got our first computer I never did anything else but sit and stare
at it. It was great. When my family and I got the second and then third
computer my friends started to thing we were a little crazy. They thought it
was ridiculous to have a computer for each daughter. I could see and understand
where they were coming from, but I also knew that my dad didn't go out and buy
3 brand new computers with the latest advances. My dad brought home two '98 junkers. So yes, we have three computers here at my house,
and all three can access the internet, but one carries a virus, one is really
slow, only one can open a document that RESEMBLES word, and none of them
actually have an advanced form of microsoft. It's extremely frustrating and difficult to have
to ask for another computer to be put in the house when we already have three. It
seems that technology is coming out faster than I thought. I didn't even
realize until college that Microsoft was such an important application. It's
also very frustrating that I have three computers in my house and none of them
can even download powerpoint because they are so old!
I love the internet but other than that I agree with Lauren on the baseball
idea. I'd love to take a bat to these stupid things!
Posted by Kate Featherstone on Monday,
November 24, 2003 9:32am
I can't say that we have always had or not had the lastest and greatest in technology. We usually always upgrade
just not right when the new stuff comes out. I know that we had a computer
before other family and friends but when it came time to upgrade the computer
it was a long process. Only because of my brother we have always had the lastest game system and we have always had cell phones. We
have more TV's inour house then people. My dad is a
fanatic about the TV. He always wants a bigger TV. We end up getting something
smaller then what he wants because of my mom and then a couple years later he
convinces her to upgrade. We had the internet pretty early on butwe still have dial up. We only have one phone line, we
don't even have call waiting. Who doesnt have call
waiting these days? There are certain things that make my family seem up to date
and others that make us seem completely out of the loop. I do not believe that
my experience with technology has really anything to do with my ethnicity. Even
social class here in Americea should not really play
a factor. A less fortunate family with out a computer,cell
phones etc. could stay up to date by using library computers or even friends of
the families technology. You can not avoid it because the majority of people
have it. Its hard not to know how to use a computer or store a number in a cell
phone, play the lastest video game system, operate a
digital camera because technology is everywhere.
Posted by Tierra Gamble on Monday,
November 24, 2003 11:51am
Technology has been a big part of my everyday life.
I wake up to my alarm clock which is a form of technology and turn on my
television which is another form of technology. Technology has taken over some
of the school systems. Technology also gives me a chance to meet new people
from different cultures. The chat rooms give me an opportunity to see how
different people talk and feel about certain situations.
Technology is something that I grew up with but it
is nothing that my mother stresses to have. The latest internet and things of
that nature I was unfortunate and could not have. Even though I couldn’t have
it at home, I could always go some where else. My neighbors and friends could
afford these types of things such as internet and digital cable, I didn’t envy
them because I knew that one day I would also have the same thing or maybe
something better.
I can recall when I got my first video game. I mean
even though everyone else had it for a long time I still had that desire to
have it .It was the top line game at that time and all my mother children
wanted it. The main game that you would play with on it was sonic. Do you know what
video game this was? If not I’ll tell you. It was the SEGA. This game was given
to me and my two bothers on our first Christmas that we had spent as a mix family.
I can also think back to the time that my school
first receive internet. We receive internet for the student body around my 10th
or 11th grade year. I was so happy because I use to hear about yahoo and things
of that nature and now I was able to become a part of this club that they
called the internet. My school was always low in funds so when this happen
everyone in the school took advantage of this. The net brought me to a whole different
dimension in which I was able to say whatever I wanted regardless of what the
person facial expression might be. I first got my email address and from then
on out I been emailing people non-stop.
I do have a couple dislikes about the internet and
that is the fact that there are some people that should not be allowed on the
net. I mean the man that tries to get children to comply with their action is
very unnecessary. People use the net to have fun not to be worried about if
someone is going to try to do something harmful to them. Then again nothing is
perfect because all situations have there pro’s and con’s.
Posted by Kristina Nunley
on Friday, November 28, 2003 10:43pm
I remember the first video game box that we had, the
original Nintendo, yeah, that was it until Sega came out now we have the
“X-Box” which I think is a total waste of time but it is fun to use. My parents
bought my sisters and I all cell phones once we started to drive, I have now
have one that was purchased for ten dollars, I think I lose things as a hobby. I
lost two other phones and misplaced my sisters (which I found again) so my dad
said that was it. Seriously, the day of my high school graduation, I misplaced
my cap, you know the one with the tassel, that was a good, chaotic time. I remember
the first Polaroid camera I had, my brother had gotten them for me and my
sisters, I thought I was the coolest thing. With my dad’s job he always brings us stuff
home to use and see if we like it. Then if we do it gets bought. My mom and I
are the only ones with out laptops, with my record of keeping things I thought
it was a bad idea for me. But my dad copied off of me with the palm pilot, I
had mine first. We’ve got two DVD players and a VCR, we have this really old
radio that my mom and dad got as a wedding present, it is so big and it still
works, just not that good anymore. My first cd player
was a hand me down from my sister when she got a new one, I always get the shaft.
Honestly, I do not think I can think of a time that
we (my family) has not had updated technological gadgets. Obviously since this
is a sort of online course, we all have computers with the internet. I do not
really care for computers. They annoy me. I get really irritated with them
really quickly. My mom always tells me “patience is a virtue which you lack”. It’s
the truth. I get fed up and quit; I mean I will go back to it but whatever. Back
to the internet issue, there was a time when our internet was lack of better
terminology, crap, with a capital “c”. You would finally get connected and it would
kick you off. I think that was really the only time I was envious of my friends
and what they had and I did not have. Hold on, when I lived in Berkley, my best
friend Carly got a pair of rollerblades
before me, I was so jealous of her, how petty was that?
We have three computers, me and my sisters are only
allowed to use two of them the other is my dads “work” computer, a.k.a the solitaire computer, you walk by his office and
that’s what is on the screen. I don’t really pay attention to directions, I
like to figure things out my own way, I guess that’s where part of the problem
comes in, but it’s all good.