Technology Overload

I cannot dispute that advancing technology has very much improved our lives.  Fabulous advancements have been made in the area of medicine, communication, electronics and more, but there are, at times, overloads that I can very easily live without.  Example: for many years now, I’ve been able to perform the simple non-exerting task of turning a key to start my car.  All of a sudden my latest car came with a bulky electronic thing that starts my car with a button push, opens my doors, trunks and lord knows what else.  I can even open the back gate by making believe I was kicking a field goal.  At least I used to know that I turned the engine off when I removed my key.  The other day, after having breakfast at a restaurant I came out to the parking lot and found my motor running.  Oh my God, I forgot to press that magic button and the damn engines are so quiet now a days I didn’t know it was still running. 

That magic key has caused me other problems.  Heaven forbid if you carry it in your back pocket and sit the wrong way you can blow your horn and even start the engine.  It’s also been an annoying experience to go in the garage, get yourself comfortably seated, wrap yourself in your seat belt and try to start your car.  Nothing happens because the wonderful electronic gadget is sitting on the fireplace mantle and is too far away to function.  And of course the damn car is sending you nasty messages on your dashboard.  A little technology overload.

It seems that just because the capability exists does not mean that it has to be used. Buy a camera these days and you have plow through 100 pages of instructions.  I kind of liked when you put the film in and pressed a button.  Getting back to my car, I have to say that after owning it for several months I still don’t know half the things it’s capable of.  Yes, I know I’m getting old and my memory goes way back far beyond the birth of computers.  Cars used to have one lever to adjust your seat, you either went forward or backward.  Today you not only have about five different directions, but if you can even heat your back, your ass or both.  When or how do you know when you’ve got the perfect setting? You never know so you keep on fiddling. Now you even have to fiddle with that little TV screen on your dash to find out how to get where you want to go. I used to stop at the nearest gas station , say hello and get directions from the attendant. I’m surprised we don’t have more accidents from distracted driving. There are now hundreds of radio stations to distract you since you will never be satisfied until you’ve tried them all.  My first cars had five push buttons you could push blindfolded while driving.

I could go on and on with this stuff, but I’m bailing out to keep from boring you  See you later.