A Little "Twitter" About Technology

I am not even going to attempt to delve deeply into today's technology, but I will share a few thoughts.

Back around 1991 I got my first computer. It cost the proverbial arm and leg, and I did not have Internet access, but I loved it. It revolutionized my paper writing for college. I played cute games on it (I remember in this one, I had to get a chicken across the road--only the road was a 6-lane freeway. Very silly and cute, and I loved it). Not having Internet (which I didn't understand anyway), I bought the most up-to-date map program, which also included tons of demographic information about the U.S. I was looking for a teaching job anywhere in the country, so I used it to research the areas where I was applying. I checked things like the population, crime rate, and most importantly (!), if there was a Taco Bell within driving distance.

I got a job in October 1996 (about 20 minutes from a Taco Bell!) and moved almost 3,000 miles away from my family (that part stinks!). I left my computer there for my daughter. Pretty much the only technology I came in contact with for the next two years was the phone (land-line only), as well as my TV, VCR, and CD player. Then in 1998 all the classrooms at my school got a computer with Internet access. We were told to play with them and get to know them. Most of the teachers were too scared they were going to mess something up, so they didn't do much with them. I took full advantage and spent hours (sometimes as late as 9:00 p.m.) after school exploring the Internet. I became the one other teachers came to for computer advice, which felt good!

In case you are wondering why I titled this entry the way I did, I'm finally coming to the point I originally set out to make (It just needed a little set up!). If you had told me, back in 1998, that within a decade I would own my own computer (2 now--desktop and laptop), and that I would find a husband, a car, and a house on the computer, I would have laughed in your face! Yes, I met my husband on the Internet--never thought I would do that! The house we are buying now was listed online. We bought a 1992 Geo Storm on eBay, and we did research on Chrysler 300s, which led to our buying the car we now own.

There are so many ways I could go with this line of thinking, but my intent really isn't to go into everything I can do on the computer. After all, if you are reading this, you already know this for yourself. The last few days, however, have amazed me all over again, as far as technology. It wasn't really anything new, but part of it was new to me. I was watching Good Morning America the other day. A woman (Tory Johnson) was on, talking about helping women find jobs. She was talking about how people can use their connections on things like Facebook and Twitter to find jobs. I already belonged to Facebook, but I had never checked Twitter out. I did, and I joined. I added Tory Johnson to my list of people I was "following" (sounds like I have become a stalker!). I read some of her advice on Twitter, and I also checked her website out. I found some valuable information there. Then I asked her directly about doing research from home. She responded within 5 minutes (the wonders of Twitter!) with a couple great websites. I have since joined both of them (www.oDesk.com and www.elance.com) and have begun applying for freelance jobs that can be done from home. I don't expect to become a millionaire this way any time soon, but I just think it is interesting that you can be watching someone you don't know on TV one day, ask her for advice a couple days later, and use her advice to make changes in your life, all within just a few days. I know that's not the most amazing thing in the world (especially to any of you who weren't around for very long before the Internet), but I do find the whole thing rather interesting.

I will close with this thought. Did you know that in 1899 (I believe that is the correct year) the head of the U.S. Patent Office wanted them to shut that office down? The reason? He believed that everything that could be invented had been invented. Did he really believe that, or was he just tired of his job?! Most of the things that have been invented have been invented since he said that. Or... Hmmmmm. Maybe he had some insight that others didn't have. Maybe he wanted to preserve simpler times, when people took time to stop and smell the roses, as they say, or to read stories to their kids in the evening before bed. Nah, I doubt that's it. I really think he was just limited in his scope of thinking and thought we really could not progress technologically any further.

Well, I'm off to Twitter!