Ubiquitous Internet

With all of the availability of the internet, I, too, find that I utilize the internet for many more functions today than even a couple of years ago - and certainly more than when I was a kid. But that's because there was no internet to speak of when I was Mary's age. Yahoo! was not a company when I started college. Netscape went public in 1995. Google in 2001. And, I still remember my introduction to online porn in my junior year of college...I was flabbergasted. I am not saying that I was an early adopter of any particular technology - but I am not a late adopter or someone that abhors the advent of new things. So, I'd say my experience was relatively mainstream.

So, when my sister who has grown up with uniquitous technology starts talking about how she has started to utilize it for everything - I sort of chuckle and remember the dark times...the times before I spent more than 6 hours of every day in front of a screen - TV, computer, mobile device, etc.

However, since I started working with technology companies, I spend a lot more time reading about the changing face of technology. And, I find that I am particularly excited for the time when there is a single device - like an iPad on steroids - that ties everything together - phone, tv, book, internet, Microsoft office suite, calendar, grocery list. More than anything, I am hoping for this because I have become the annoying guy that looks at his phone every time it buzzes. I have become the annoying guy that watches fifteen Tivo'd shows because he can. And, I have become the annoying guy that gets frustrated over the little things - because unlike my devices - real life is not generally totally under my control. So, I get mad at my kids because they do not follow a pausable schedule. And, I get frustrated at work because people don't understand why I am right and they are wrong. And most of all I find that my wife and I merely trade verbal texts of information when we see each other because we have our own screen to occupy our thoughts.

I am not calling for a ban on technology. I think it is useful and good. However, I would say that if you've only shifted your technology use to include weather rather than to include interaction...than you're probably still doing okay.