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Friday
March 2010
12
Community Blogs
A Tosa resident for more than 15 years, Karen is a stay-at-home mom with two children who enjoys writing and playing tennis. She spends the fall and winter in the stands at Green Bay Packer and Marquette basketball games.
Karen is the former community columnist for the Wauwatosa NOW newspaper.
Simply Stupid
I have, at best, a tumultuous relationship with technology. That could be attributed to the fact that I remember the days B.I. (before the internet.) In the eyes of many, that makes me old. I, however, prefer to think that I have a balanced perspective. I have the ability to look at the old and the new and decide what’s better.
It seems to me that the purpose of technology should be to make things simpler. My generation can attest to the fact that this is most definitely not true and I have evidence to prove it.
Like many Tosans, we have a garage with electric door openers. Since there are two separate doors, there are two separate openers. Recently, one of the openers malfunctioned and needed to be replaced. What you see in the picture below is the old opener wall switch (on the left) and the new one (on the right):
For the decade that we have lived in our house, we’ve gone in and out of our garage and hit the garage door opener without much thought. It was ONE button. Now, as you can see, one of the doors has no less than FOUR buttons. Every time I walk into the garage and go to hit the new switch, I have to stare at this for a couple of minutes. Sure, it makes sense when you look at it, but so did the single button. How is this better? I’m certainly grateful that no children or small animals will be endangered by the new opener, and it is nice and quiet, but it’s definitely no simpler than the old single button.
Another great example of advanced technology that makes things more complicated is cell phones. Did you ever get a new cell phone and then try to make that first phone call? It’s kind of maddening isn’t it? And, actually, the same goes for new home phones as well. As much as our kids laugh at the idea of a rotary phone with a big old handset, it was very clear how to dial and talk. Not so much anymore.
Of course, I’m sounding more and more like a dinosaur as I whine about new advances. I’m barely keeping up with the Gateses and the Jobses of the world. I’m on Facebook and Twitter and iTunes but I’m not entirely sure that the next big thing won’t be one click too many. All of this makes me wonder: Why evolve if not to make life simpler?
I dunno Karen.
Have you pressed the button with the sun on it?
Looks like you might be able to control sunrise and sunset.
Tom, sounds like a plan! Wish it were true!
Is that an old sears opener? If it is I hope you didn't throw it away. I might be able to use the circuit board in the old one to get mine going.
Sorry rottieguy, the garage door guy took it away.
That's nothing. My garage door opener has NINE buttons. It's a "liftmaster". It has an LED display that shows the time/date and the "door status" apparently so you don't have to trouble your neck with looking towards the door. Several of the buttons deal with "programming" and setting the time!?!
It still does one single thing (of value)....
Sometimes, techology bites me in the rear. Years ago, I installed a garage door opener on my detached garage. I, responsibly, also installed one of those key systems that would unlatch the chain drive so that I could open it in the event of a power outage.
Well, a few weeks ago, we had a power outage for a few hours, and knowing that I had prepared for this, I walked out to the garage, grabbed my keyring and found that I neglected to put that particular key on my key ring (my original key ring was stolen a year or so ago). I was 'locked out' of my own garage until the power came back.
So, take it from me. Make sure you can still use the 'arm-strong' method of opening your garage door if you lose power. I made a few keys and put them on various key rings around here. I won't make that mistake again. Well, maybe I might. ;)
No automobile no bother with garage or opener.
Tarzan lead simple life.
A few years ago our garage door would only go up halfway. It would come down ALL the way but only go up halfway. We actually wound up TAKING APART the door panel by panel to get our cars out, parked in front of the opening and then REassembled the door so that we could secure the stuff in the garage. I believe it was raining at the time as well. And it was at night.
A few years ago our garage door would only go up halfway. It would come down ALL the way but only go up halfway. We actually wound up TAKING APART the door panel by panel to get our cars out, parked in front of the opening and then REassembled the door so that we could secure the stuff in the garage. I believe it was raining at the time as well. And it was at night.
Sorry, I didn't think it took the first time.
- The Holiday Outdoor Decorating Police
- Acceptance - The College Application Game
- Uniform Trick-or-Treat a Sweet Waste of Time
- Checkout Charity, Parking Protection and the Write Stuff
- The Secret of Christmas
- Facebook and Faux Friendships
- Feeling chilly? Why not get All Shook Up?!
- Simply Stupid
- Growing Old with Brett Favre
- Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word
Tags: Reminiscing : Technology : Things that bug me
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