Reaction to new technologies

My initial reaction to new technologies was that of a person who likes the old ways. I always seemed to be the last one who tried them out, but once I did, I couldn’t do without them. I considered that all these new gadgets will take me away from other things that I loved to do, such as reading and spots. And I still feel the same, and it’s exactly what happens to me now. Computers, internet, etc take way too much of my reading and sport time. But now, I can’t do without these technologies. There’s no way out.

I think the period of greatest changes in my life was the one after the acquisition of a PC and after I had connected my computer to the internet. My life practically changed completely. Because of the internet and e-mail I’m now in Thailand, 7000 km away from home, doing an online certificate with an Australian university.

I started to use computers because it was a fashion, everybody talked about PCs and Internet. My older brother was doing a BA in computer engineering, so basically he introduced me to the latest technologies. Once proficient in the use of PCs and internet, I started using my knowledge to make some pocket money, by typing papers and articles for newspapers and students. This only improved my ICT skills and exposed me to different genres and styles of writing, which greatly helped me in my future career as a teacher and writer.

I stopped playing computer games after about 2 years of spending days and nights in front of the computer playing strategy games.

Through the use of e-mail and internet I got to know and chat with people from different parts of the world. By accepting the job offer from Thailand, I even met the person whom I was exchanging e-mails with. Without the internet, this wouldn’t have happened.

Now I think I have more internet “friends” than real life buddies. This means that my social behaviour and interaction changed and adapted to the new situation, where I spend more time interacting on the internet than chatting with someone face-to-face. But, it was through the internet that I’ve met interesting people and joind several study groups.

With every new technology I was exposed to, I had to be taught/shown basic operating skills. That’s all I needed. Later on I would discover through experience more complicated features of the respective technologies.

Although reluctant to try out the new technologies, now I’m sure that I couldn’t do without them.