Confessions of a techie neophyte

I love technology. I’m not like one of those staunch purists who still writes in longhand (which in my case is largely due to the fact that I don’t think very many people would be able to read my handwriting) or on a typewriter. I love that I can churn out my work on a computer, get it spell-checked and saved for future posterity. I love that I can edit work with the click of a button and save thousands and thousands of volumes and ideas without killing a thousand trees in the process. I love to keep in touch with friends all around the world in real time through e-mail and though I still write letters by hand, I love that everyone is relatively in reach with the push of a button.

I must admit that, though I love technology, I’m not quite sure the feeling’s mutual. I used to call myself the Tech Killer because I’d always find a way to break any electronic gadget, no matter how careful I was with it. Laptops, iPods, cameras and phones have experienced my crushing power at some point or another. I just kept a respectful distance from all things technological so as not to initiate a killing spree.

I am a fan of all the new things technology has to offer; I find myself coming back time and again, wanting to learn how to turn my tech illiteracy into tech savvy. It’s been a long and painful journey. I still have trouble installing programs into my computer and I still don’t know the difference between RAM and ROM (isn’t one a sheep?) and I still find myself calling my friends to help with something or other. But I think I’m starting to get a little better. Not exactly tech savvy, but at least not a Tech Killer either.

I keep telling myself I want to learn more about my laptop and about what I can do with it. Yet the only application I know by heart is Microsoft Word, and that’s only because I need it to write my columns. I’m proficient enough with Excel because of the inventory work I used to do, but still far from being able to use it to its fullest potential. I love Photoshop but barely know how to use it. The day I figured out "clone stamp" I thought I was the Photoshop queen; that is, until I watched my other friends edit photos and fix ads like there’s no tomorrow.

And don’t even get me started on the Internet! If it’s the information superhighway, I was on a bicycle riding slowly to I Believe In a Thing Called Love by The Darkness and wondering why all the cars were passing me by at lightning speed! I had no idea how to utilize the Net at all beyond e-mail and as far as I was concerned bookmarks went inside novels and cookies were delicious little snacks with chocolate chips.

But slowly, thanks to help of my tech-savvy friends who were intent on bringing this Neanderthal up to speed, I’ve begun to learn more and more. I finally managed to download my first MP3 a few months ago. It was like light shining down from the heavens. There’s Chikka Messaging that keeps me in touch with loved ones when they travel abroad and has kept my phone bill from skyrocketing. And now, most recently, there’s Yahoo Messenger. It’s amazing!

I know I must sound like such a caveperson and that’s probably because I am, but I’m getting better. I’ve slowly traded in my bike for a Vespa and I’m moving just a little bit faster down that superhighway. I know I’m still worlds behind everyone else; that’s okay, I’m enjoying the ride! And technology and I are getting to know each other a little better every day.