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Birth
As an 80's baby, my parents took lots of photos of me using a film camera (110, most likely). The film was then sent away to be developed in a lab and sent back. The biggest difference between today's parents and mine is that today, we can take unlimited photos of our children, see the results immediately, and delete the ones we don't want. Parents in the 80s and 90s had an entirely different experience with having to wait for photos and having a limited amount possible to take. -
TV Time
As a preschooler, my favorite part of the day is Nap, when I choose to not sleep and instead watch my favorite show, Eureka's Castle, on the TV in our classroom. We do not get Nickelodeon at home so this is a special treat and probably the first time I begin to see technology as something that is not accessible to all people at all times. (Image source: www.imdb.com) -
Computers are Cool!
In middle school we begin using computers with bright green or orange and black displays and very large, bulky monitors. We search for answers using Encarta encyclopedia and spend too much time playing Oregon Trail. (Image courtesy of Time magazine). -
The Hard Fax of Life
In high school we are met with a problem. My family cannot afford a computer and I can't get all my work done at school. We create a workaround of sorts: I handwrite my work, we fax it to my grandmother in Florida, she types it at her office and faxes it back to me, and I use the Copy feature on our fax machine to print on the correct paper. I win the school, county, and place 2nd in the state in the Anthropology division of the Social Studies Fair using this method. (Photo: Amazon.com) -
A Computer of my Very Own!
For my 16th birthday my family orders a computer for me from Gateway. I am thrilled beyond belief at my good fortune and adore the cow print mousepad. I spend too much time on IM and hate when someone calls our house and knocks me off the Internet, as well as having to "wait my turn" to get online or running out of hours on our plan from AOL. There's nothing worse than using all the time and having to wait for the next month. (Image: Wikipedia). -
Shock
It's my 17th birthday and I'm using the computer to type my Editor's Message for my HS paper when I see an alert come across that a plane has hit the World Trade Center. I am shocked and spend the day watching live video feeds of the horrors in our country with my classmates and teachers. We are astonished at the events and also at how we are seeing things in real time-- including the second plane hitting the tower. This is a day in which technology brings the news too close. Image: Wikipedia -
Who Ya Gonna Call
My first cell phone is purchased together by my boyfriend and future husband after my first year of college. We buy one, which we share, using the landline in our apartment as our other phone. I use the phone on a wintery day on campus at MU, when an older woman slips on ice in front of the Student Center and falls. I call 911 for help and am thankful it's "my day" to have the phone. (Image: eBay.com). -
Babies and Cameras, Round 2
Our first child is born and we invest in a DSLR camera, which we use to capture far more photos than anyone could ever need (seriously- we kept 10,000+ from her first year). In a few years, I will begin a photography business with a better model camera and will amass over 500 clients in 7 years. I will incorporate web design, social media use, and interactive, in-person ordering sessions using many technological items such as computers, the Internet, HDMI connectivity and e-commerce. -
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ActivBoard Arrives
I begin teaching first graders in NC and fall in love with my ActivBoard in my classroom. With a few clicks I create interactive presentations which provide the flow for my entire day of teaching. We watch animals on webcams at the National Zoo, use Google Earth to visit far away places, and I use Skype to talk to my students when I'm on maternity leave. Years later, once I've returned to Ohio, I use social media to keep in touch with my favorite students and continue to encourage them. -
Future Tech
It's present-day and we've just given our now 12 year old daughter her first phone. It seems completely surreal that she would be carrying around a device and yet it's very comforting to be able to reach her at any time. Tech advances like GPS tracking allow me to monitor her without intruding on her too much, which eases the transition. While I am wary of potential dangers, for now, this tech addition is my favorite. (Image: Apple).
