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What's Cooking?
My mom received a microwave oven for Christmas that year. I remember flipping through the cook book that came with it and being delighted that I could make a grilled cheese in this wonderful new appliance. Unfortunately, all I succeeded in creating were soggy bread and cheese sandwiches that my entire family managed to graciously choke down. (Image from http://www.normschriever.com/uploads/1/2/9/2/12921749/7470442_orig.jpg) -
School Days
In the fourth grade, I was fortunate to end up in Mrs. Linda Simbartle's classroom. She had a passion for technology and was a fundraising genius. She raised enough money to purchase four classroom computers by redeeming rebates on common household products that students donated. In return, students earned points they could redeem in the class store for candy, stickers, etc.
(Image from http://www.oldcomputers.net/pics/ibm5150.jpg) -
It's a First
Christmas was good for my brother and me that year. We both received Texas Instruments desktop computers. It was hooked up to a black and white monitor, and all I did was play games on it.
(Image from http://www.oldcomputers.net/pics/ti994-monitor.jpg) -
"The Right Stuff"
Christmas again...this time it was a CD player. My first CD? New Kids on the Block!
(Image from https://www.google.com/search?q=cd+player&safe=active&biw=1280&bih=879&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-0YXetOfOAhVF7R4KHSB0AJoQ_AUIBigB#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=cd+player+1980&imgrc=va4wC-1Mb3IOmM%3A) -
Eek! A Mouse!
I used a computer with a mouse for the first time when I was a freshman in college in 1992. It was not easy to use at first, but quickly became second nature.
(Image from http://www.informationq.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/old-computer-Mouse.jpg) -
The Interwhat?
I was introduced to the internet for the first time while attending Ohio University. A professor told us about it and encouraged us to head to the computer lab and try it out. I had no idea what I was doing, didn't have a clue what to search for, and left the lab feeling less than enamored with this new internet thing.
(Image from http://www.thelogofactory.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/netscape-navigator-logo-screen.jpg) -
Bringin' It On Home...
We connected to the internet from our home for the first time. It was a dial-up connection, it took at least a half an hour for it to connect, and the connection was dropped after only a few minutes. But it was awesome!
(Image from http://www.usmessage.net/faq/faq_images/ConnectTo.png) -
Always Connected
I bought my first smartphone, an iPhone 4. From that point on, I have enjoyed having the ability to be connected to any kind of information that I seek. There simply is no longer any need to wonder about anything when one has all the answers at their fingertips. (Wait...is that a good thing?)
(Image from http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lQYAAOSw-7RVFClO/s-l1600.jpg)
