Are You Afraid Of Technology? Me Too...

There comes a point in every persons life when they must decide the all important question of our time...will I get on the new technology train or will I be left at the station? The early arguments against technology were always best on its inherent lack of performance. Computers were gigantic an although they had calculating power the average nine year old could easily out perform your room size processor. Moore's law changed all of that.

In 1965 Gordon Moore published a paper in which he noticed an incredible trend in computing power; it was doubling every two years. Did others notice before Moore? Possibly but the law is named after him because he published first...tough luck to others. The trend started in 1958 when the integrated circuit board was first created and has held steady to this very day. I've debated with a few who still believe Moore was a whack job...but let's face it history is really on his side and so is the data. Don't believe me? Check out THIS graph proving the point up to 2008.

What does all of this mean for technology? It means roughly every two years or so not only are our computers and technological devices faster but they are also cheaper. Two decades ago people weren't buying gigantic and over-priced iPod models to carry around in their backpacks. There just wasn't the size or price comparability available to make something like an iPod plausible for the open market. So as Moore's law marches on so too does our new technology. At every turn new phones, mp3 players, media devices, and computers are getting smaller, faster, and more complex. Why are all of these things getting so hard to use?

The simple answer is that as computer chips get faster and smaller more powerful software applications are able to run on these new technological systems. In other words there are more and more applications possible now then every before because of the computing power available to modern computers. Truthfully our processor speed has always remained miles ahead of software capability. There has yet to be a piece of software that has used the full potential of its processor.

One final thing adds to this picture of chaos; culture. Technology has overrun our culture as a whole. There is NO part of our culture that is unaffected by new technology, computers, or Moore's law. Everything you use has circuits and transistors. The world wide web has made culture develop even faster as humanity has instant access to each other through "the great computer." I can immediately see what my brother in New York has just started doing and copy him starting a chain reaction that could affect millions when it is done.

Culture is extremely hard to follow because it changes so rapidly and many fads pass in a day and are forgotten tomorrow. Case in point remember the Numa Numa video? Probably not, it was an random internet phenomena that faded into the fortnight never to be heard of again...but at the time this video received close to 30 million views! 30 million!

So in the midst of the minefield that is new technology with its ever changing software that must be constantly relearned and reapplied, its constant change in devices due to size and speed, and it's finicky swirling faddish culture how could anyone not loose their head? As much as I luv (text talk...ok I know that was a low blow) technology most days I wake up hoping things will stay the same while other days I spend so much time trying to keep up that I feel like I'm on the whirly wheel of death and it will never stop!

So to finish I'd like to answer two questions. First, is it worth it? Is it really worth to keep changing with technology and keep upgrading with the times? Secondly, how is it possible to stay new technology savvy and still keep your head (or your lunch)?

I'd like to start by saying a resounding YES! It is worth it! When you learn to use established technology properly it will not only change your life but it will make it better and more exciting in ways you never thought possible. Case in point; my grandmother recently discovered Facebook. She loves her grand-kids but we are busy people (and hate the phone...at least my brother and I do) so how can she stay in touch and keep up with us? Facebook!

She has instant access to pretty much everything that is going on in our lives and instant communication lines that are non-threatening and easy to return meaning more communication from her loved ones, everyone is a winner. Certainly it took some time for her to learn but she is heavily reaping the benefits of being an internet savvy grandma. When you take the time to learn how to use well established new technology it will pay you back with multiplying rewards. The time it takes to learn you will easily gain back with the proper use of its functions.

So the long awaited answer to my second question. Before I answer it is imperative that you commit to part one. If you aren't committed to the benefit of technology there is no point in reading this part. So how do we stay afloat in the rising tide of new technology? It's simple...stay behind it. That's right I said stay behind it. Don't be on the cutting edge and don't be on the utter extinction. Right in the middle is a nice safe place full of well weathered working and supported technology that will make your life better but not give you a headache.

For example let me share a personal mistake of mine. When the trend for flat screen monitors started I went out and bought a brand new one (big mistake) I was ahead of the curve for about a year. Do you know what happened next? Wide-screen became the new standard and by standard box screen was outdated forever! If only I had waited another year I would have reaped two rewards. One, I would have gotten the true standard for monitors making my new technology last much longer and two I could have benefited from a dramatic price drop!

I hope you get the point I'm making. Keep up with the latest tech trends (you can easily do this here at StreamingGeek.com) but don't "pull the trigger" until the trend becomes established and prices drop. This will give you a lower price and also helpful advice from people who have been using that technology for a couple years ahead of you. They pay the price in time and money so that you don't have to! Hope this helps tame the new technology beast for you.