We all have our own reasons about why we decide to blog. And in the process of creating and publishing our posts, answering comments and visiting other bloggers – relationships form. Why we use our computer is a little bit more than that, though.
My friend Alastair posted a very insightful article today from the Daily Post at WordPress prompting Your life without a computer: what does it look like?
Fundamentally speaking a computer is a mechanical tool for gathering and storage of information, with programs for creating with written words, audio, visual, all manner of educational and industrial formats and a form of communication with others: Personally, professionally, or with a view to entertainment or retail (the purchase of a service or product)!
So the question that comes to mind, what would your life be without a computer is
based on the purposes you currently use your computer for. Social connections, creative endeavors and so on.
Without a computer we step back quite a bit into a smaller universe, where we know less about other people around the world and what is happening with them.
Without a computer, many tasks done today in the professional world would be much harder or impossible.
Without a computer, we would be less connected with both family and friends.
And without a computer, our view of the global world, would become drastically restricted. We’d have to take someone’s word for what was going on in other far off places.
A computer is about growth. Our control over (and the interactive involvement) with various social platforms located online (accessible through the computer) is about growth as well.
So I think it boils down to the question of not so much what we’d do without a computer, but how can we best utilize (optimize the advantages) the additional opportunities our computers present to us. And keeping ourselves balanced between offline lifestyles and online involvement!
Just my thoughts and perspective on this fascinating question!
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Thanks for stopping by ~ take care of you,
~ Penny
The Why About This 
I definitely think there needs to be a balance on and offline…well written Penny.
Yes, getting that one figured out is an ongoing process, I think, lol… take care of you. Much love to you LuAnn!
I began to become computer literate as recently as 2006. Wish the internet existed when I was in college as my studies were limited to the use of books which are a finite source of storage with diminished accessibility. My education and degrees gave me an expanded and broad personal universe but the computer as a source or research and communication has expanded my personal universe exponentially.
I couldn’t agree with you more Carl. The exponential factor is “huge” – having the internet available to us today. Thank you. Your words are insightful. Thanks for stopping by also, very appreciated by me.
I couldn’t live without it anymore. It is not my life but it is so convenient for shopping, looking things up, reading, ….it just doesn’t make the coffee… 😦
I wouldn’t have found all this love, these friends like you on the internet , so for me it is a very precious tool!
It improved my writing , it improved my confidence, it helps me on my journey into myself, it is great and I don’t want to do without it. 🙂
We need to get to work on the “making coffee” bit! lol, Ute. Excellent reasons, my friend, I’m with you there! 🙂
Sadly all these benefits also have a cost, as Alastair touches on above.
Small specialist shops, like the book stores of yesteryear, are now few and far between, sacrificed to standardisation and convenience.
Your usual insightful piece, dear lady.
Thank you. AnElephantcan’t speaks the truth, always a downside to the upside in life isn’t there! 🙂 xx
When I was studying the first electronic calculator was developed for the market… all it could do was the four normal functions… I was employed when the first computers… big room sized things.. came into being… what have we now? Laptops, iPads and iPhones… and I still ask the question, how did I do without these in the past? Remembering I live in Africa, the computers etc may have been available in the USA long before they made it out here… so stop thinking I’m that old a man…
You are quite young, bulldog! It shows in your enthusiasm for life, love and beauty, through your rich narratives, gorgeous photography and the comments you write. And your loving companionship with your wife, and your enthusiasm with your work project (yup, definitely young)! xx
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When I got my first pc in March of 2000, a close friend asked if it made my writing any easier. I told him it made the mechanics of it easier; the actual task of writing was still difficult at times. Those who warned that computers in every home would alienate people were only partially correct. In some ways, the Internet has brought people together. In others, it has indeed alienated people. But, people used to alienate themselves behind telephones and newspapers. It’s up to the individual how they want to utilize technology. I know I’m definitely glad that – despite not being a people person – I’ve discovered all these great blogs!
I agree with you Alejandro. We all are still who we are, but in some ways, it is easier to interact with like minded people on line, especially the creative types! 🙂
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Alastair is right…. it has become essential.
Yup! Agree completely!!!!
I was an early adopter so back in the early 80’s pc’s were for work. In the 90’s they began to be for information, but from the year 2000 onwards they were for friendships and play. Those early friendships [many of which are still going strong] revolved around the MMOs I played online. Now they centre on my blog and formal social networking platforms like FB or Twitter. In the last two years though, pc’s have also been about creativity and reaching out.
I still try and balance my digital life with my physical life, but I honestly don’t know how I’d live without my computer, and I think that experience will just become more pervasive as the years roll on. We /are/ in the Digital Age and there’s not going back. At least I hope not because the only thing that could make us go back would be a catastrophe. Really don’t want that to happen.
Yes, we are! You are correct! Totally in the digital age and it/we are still transforming ourselves as technology continues to evolve. We are changing through our communications, how we view the world and ourselves, and what we’re doing about it.
I’m going to think positive about there not being a sudden catastrophe because for the most part I don’t think there’s much we could do about it anyway (solar flare, type thingy). So I’ll be hopeful and continue to enjoy experiencing new technology and new people as the global community grows closer together.
But you know what the coolest thing of all is? When you and I started reading sci-fi the future potentials were mostly fantasy. Now much of what was fiction we are living in and being a part of! Isn’t it great!!!!
Oh yes! I remember reading C.J.Cherryh’s Cyteen years and years ago and trying to get my head around this concept of cloning. Now cloning is old hat. And what about 3D printing? Or ‘communicators’ as small as those on Star Trek? Love it, love it, love it!
keeping it in balance…got it! a friend once told me she thought all the latest technology kept children addicted to the need for constant entertainment…i will have to remind her it is up to the humans to use technology properly in order to gain its fullest potential. great post. thanks!
The children in this household get over half of their education through the computer, and still have lots and lots of time to run outside and play, ride bikes, etc. So there is a place for both, I think! Oh they also can make stop-action movies with their offline toys and original hand drawings, so it is a merging of both, I think Sunshine. Thank you, hope your ready for a new week! 🙂 xx
a new week and the end of another month…wow!! have a great one 🙂
You also, the best Sunshine!! 🙂
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Thanks for the link back Penny, I appreciate it 🙂
Without computers today – especially where it comes to books – can be so much harder without. I was on a bloggers page a couple of days ago, he reviews books, and I was interested in the one he reviewed, so a quick click to amazon.co.uk and another click .. I have the book in my house in under three seconds. Like a teleporter. Other than that, it is going into town, to one of the few bookshops that remain and hope they have it, and if not, wait a couple of weeks whilst they order it in.
I am waiting for another lens for my camera – so I did my shopping through my computer. That will arrive tomorrow. My daughter needed clothes urgently, so they were ordered and came the next day. The computer now is part of our life and as such, without it we are stuck in the dark ages with so much that we cannot do which is what you have said. The computer used to be a luxury. It is now at the stage where it is an essential. Although you said it far better than I lol
Thank you Alastair. It is something we use as a convenience and time saver for sure, for all those wonderful reasons you spoke of. Just a part of our world now! Sleep well my friend! xx
Thank you Penny. You sleep well too. You send yours when I am asleep, so I am returning the favour 😉
Yes, I know I do Alastair. I do my writing, blogging, following, answering comments and emails in different segments of time throughout the day with different online friends, in between off-line activities that are frequently interruptive. Can get a little crazy here! lol 🙂 xx.
I can imagine it can 🙂 I decided to do some writing in a café today as it was easier than distractions at home. It was just distractions from my laptop, but still enough. I got a lot of (new) background done 🙂