Me and the fam were watching an old episode of Matlock yesterday, and they showed an office scene - complete with typewriters! No computers anywhere! lol.
Just a few years after that show was created, computers were in almost every office, and on virtually every desk in America.
Made me wonder what we ever did without them.
A few questions...
1. Do you remember life before computers?
2. If so, what did you do with all of the time, previously, that you now spend on the internet?
3. Which is the greatest time thief in your life, internet or TV?
__________________ The world has lost the power to blush over its vice; the Church has lost her power to weep over it.
Yes, I remember life before computers. (j/k)
All the time now on the net was then spent in school or playing or reading or biking, because I was a kid.
Internet by far is the greater thief, because I don't own a TV.
My memories include typing and retyping school papers on typewriters because they needed to be "perfect". When mom finally got a typewriter with correction ribbon-oh, glorious day!!
The teacher of our first computer classes knew nothing about computers herself. Our first day, she advised us that we could blow up the computers with static electricity. She then told us that on our way through the door, to touch the doorknob, then the door jam, them the leg of the chair before we sat down or touched any computer, to discharge the static! We practiced this ritual faithfully. Too bad there wasn't youtube back then! LOL
When my office finally got the internet, my boss didn't know how to use it. He had me go online and "experiment" with the internet to learn how to use it for him. Loved it-I was paid to surf the net!!
Last edited by missourimary; 01-08-2010 at 08:53 AM.
Of course I remember working without computers. Time was spent typing things over and over again since you couldn't "save" anything. If you made an error, you typed the whole thing over. Or if there were copies, had to correct each copy.......
You didn't send an email to ask a question, so you spent more time on the phone trying to get answers.
You actually SPOKE to your co-workers more since you didn't communicate via the computer.
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Of course I remember working without computers. Time was spent typing things over and over again since you couldn't "save" anything. If you made an error, you typed the whole thing over. Or if there were copies, had to correct each copy.......
You didn't send an email to ask a question, so you spent more time on the phone trying to get answers.
You actually SPOKE to your co-workers more since you didn't communicate via the computer.
speaking of speaking to co-workers, we now have both Email and Q.
Q is like IM at work. and it is really cool and ulta quick to get answers!
LOVE it and it is a time saver too!
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
I remember life before computers- I did not choose a career that required typing because I could not stand typing and retyping stuff- I was not a good typist. I paid people to type my term papers. Before computers I read, crossed stitched, did crafts, and graded papers. I used the phone a lot more -
I read a LOT. I'd go through 7 - 10 books per week. Mostly fiction, so it's not like I was really improving my brain.
I waste way too much time on the internet. My internet was down the other day, so I took my laptop down to my parents to use their wireless. I checked all of my sites, did everything I needed to do, and was done in less than 20 minutes. Made me realize how much time I waste on it normally. I'm going to work on that.
I read a LOT. I'd go through 7 - 10 books per week. Mostly fiction, so it's not like I was really improving my brain.
I waste way too much time on the internet. My internet was down the other day, so I took my laptop down to my parents to use their wireless. I checked all of my sites, did everything I needed to do, and was done in less than 20 minutes. Made me realize how much time I waste on it normally. I'm going to work on that.
I read a lot more too! BTW, I am firm believer that you don't have to be reading non-fiction to be learning or stretching your brain. There is a lot that we absorb from fiction, if nothing else, it definitely improves vocabulary!
I read a lot more too! BTW, I am firm believer that you don't have to be reading non-fiction to be learning or stretching your brain. There is a lot that we absorb from fiction, if nothing else, it definitely improves vocabulary!
This is true. Plus it gives a lot of insight about human nature, and you can learn a lot about different cultures and places.
Me and the fam were watching an old episode of Matlock yesterday, and they showed an office scene - complete with typewriters! No computers anywhere! lol.
Just a few years after that show was created, computers were in almost every office, and on virtually every desk in America.
Made me wonder what we ever did without them.
A few questions...
Quote:
1. Do you remember life before computers?
Yeppers... one of the things that I remmeber most being a technology guy even then was that computers were supposed to free up our time by automating tasks and reducing our work week.
What computers have done is increased our productivity to extreme levels, which is why you see the burst in knowledge and tech over the last 10-15 years i.e. a circuit board that would take a draftsman a week to route by hand, with errors is now done in seconds by an autoi-router program.... error free.
Testing of electronic modules which took an hour or more by a skilled technician with an oscilloscope and meters is done in a few seconds by automated test fixturing operated by semiskilled people, freeing the guy with the skill and education to do better things.
And it impacts every sector of business and industry.
I wouldn't go back to the old days and the old ways for love or money.
Quote:
2. If so, what did you do with all of the time, previously, that you now spend on the internet?
Read alot. Still do, but my reading comes in the form of listinging to audiobooks on my iphone, often while on the internet. I multitask ok.
Quote:
3. Which is the greatest time thief in your life, internet or TV?
The day job and the time spent getting to and from.
Yeppers... one of the things that I remmeber most being a technology guy even then was that computers were supposed to free up our time by automating tasks and reducing our work week.
What computers have done is increased our productivity to extreme levels, which is why you see the burst in knowledge and tech over the last 10-15 years i.e. a circuit board that would take a draftsman a week to route by hand, with errors is now done in seconds by an autoi-router program.... error free.
Testing of electronic modules which took an hour or more by a skilled technician with an oscilloscope and meters is done in a few seconds by automated test fixturing operated by semiskilled people, freeing the guy with the skill and education to do better things.
And it impacts every sector of business and industry.
I wouldn't go back to the old days and the old ways for love or money.
Read alot. Still do, but my reading comes in the form of listinging to audiobooks on my iphone, often while on the internet. I multitask ok.
The day job and the time spent getting to and from.
Good stuff.
I remember in college using punched cards for writing computer programs and have seen great advances in the technology. The part where accuracy and productivity increases is great, the dehumanizing of personal interaction not so great except for not having to deal face to face with certain folks.....
I don't read books as much as I'd like, but i also listen to books and things of interest on MP3.
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"Do not believe everthing you read on the internet" - Abe Lincoln
(j/k)
Hybrid Mode
