Over my lifetime I have been exposed to different technologies that have either expanded my state of being or have made my life a little easier.  I have come up with five technologies that really stand out.

1. Modems
Prior to the days of the internet if you had a computer you would use it to play some games or type a book report.  It wasn’t until I bought my first US Robotics 9600baud modem that I fully appreciated a connected word.  XModem, YModem, and ZModem; ProComm Plus and Telex.  I would spend hours connecting to BBS’ around the area; King’s Castle, Ye Olde Cookie Shoppe; FirePlug; and who could forget Dirty Dortio.  This was done all in cover of night as I would have to use the family phone line.  Of course the game of choice was TradeWars 2002.

2. The Internet
For me and everyone else, as soon as America Online and ICI came to town, we all abandoned BBS’ for a much larger world.  I was witness to the formation of the WWW and Netscape.  It is amazing how far the internet has come in 15 short years and by many accounts is only in its infancy.

3. Digital Cameras
I was always an avid photographer when I was younger.  Taking pictures here and there with a family camera.  The only problem came when it was time to develop the film.  Money was tight and it would take sometimes 6 months to get the pictures developed.  Then one day I was introduced to the Sony Mavica, I was in heaven.  Instant results that I could email around haphazardly.  Shortly thereafter I purchased a Nikon 990 with all the bells and whistles.  From there it was the Fuji S2 and a number of camera clubs.  I was hooked.

4.  GPS
I can’t tell you how many atlases I had in the back of my car.  I had one for every state just in case I need to get around somewhere.  This was even with the advent of MapQuest (which I still don’t trust).  But this all changed with a $100 invested into a device called a TomTom.  For the first time I didn’t have to plan routes, consult my atlases, or any other gyrations I would have to go through to get somewhere.  All I had to do was punch in and address and I was off.  Perfect directions everytime, except in Boston.

5.  Internet Enable Cell Phones
For the longest time I avoided this technology.  A phone was used to make phone called not play music, surf the web, or play games.  About a year ago I bought an iPod Touch and was addicted.  Facebook, Twitter, Email, Texting, and the Web all on the same device.  It was wonderful, as long as you had a WiFi connection.  If you didn’t have a WiFi connection, you just had a glorified MP3 player.  I longed for the iPhone but I could never abandon my Verizon account.  So the next best thing was the Droid.  While it has its short comings, a whole new world has opened up for me.  I can go online where ever I want, whenever I want.