As many of you know, I’m a huge fan of technology. I’m always looking for a faster, easier way to do things and I embrace any opportunity to stay connected. When I hear the phrase “There’s an app for that,” I smile because it’s so true. And I get frustrated when there isn’t an app for something yet.
When I look back at the 15 years since I was my son’s age, I’m overwhelmed by how quickly things have changed. I just can’t help being amazed - we can do things today that I never dreamed were possible as a 13 year-old. And while I’m always a fan of those posts about what each year’s college freshmen don’t remember, I also think the writers of those posts focus too much on global issues or things that have been outdated for years.
I started thinking all the technological advances in the short time since I was a teenager, and the things that will continue to evolve before Jayden graduates high school in 2016. And because I’m a nerd, I made a list of 35 things he will never experience (because there’s now an app for that, in most cases). Enjoy!
35 things Jayden (and every other current 13 year-old) will never experience:
1. Using cassette tapes or CDs to listen to music.
2. Waiting for a movie to rewind.
3. Saying, “I can’t wait to get home so I can call ____ and tell him/her what I did today!”
4. Writing a grocery list by hand. (And accidentally leaving it at home.)
5. Frantically scrolling the wheel on a disposable camera to take another picture.
6. Sending letters in the mail.
7. Using a phonebook to look up someone’s number.
8. Making a phone call to order pizza.
9. Waiting for a favorite song to come on the radio.
10. Waiting for a song to end, crossing fingers that the DJ will mention the artist and title.
11. Pulling over in the emergency lane to consult an atlas or map.
12. Using an encyclopedia to look up information.
13. Going to the bank in person.
14. Buying and mailing a birthday or Christmas card.
15. Prepaying with cash at the gas station.
16. Wondering “What ever happened to ___ from high school?” and having to call someone to ask.
17. Dropping off film to be developed (and laughing at the pictures where someone blinked).
18. Displaying a giant DVD tower beside the TV.
19. Taking a camera and camcorder on vacation.
20. Waiting in line for concert tickets to go on sale.
21. Watching the weather to find out what to wear.
22. Memorizing (or dialing) phone numbers.
23. Asking friends and family if a restaurant is any good.
24. Having 5 remote controls stacked up on the coffee table.
25. Tearing the house apart to find his keys.
26. Writing a check.
27. Buying a hard copy of the local newspaper.
28. Wearing a watch.
29. Buying an alarm clock.
30. Getting paid or paying someone in cash.
31. Driving to multiple stores to comparison shop.
32. Assembling shelves to hold a massive collection of books.
33. Having a kitchen drawer full of instruction manuals for various appliances.
34. Using a payphone or the phone in a hotel room.
35. Feeling utterly shocked to learn that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father, and that older generations saw the last three movies first.
What other things do we do now that our kids will never experience? Do you see this as a great thing or a tragedy?
Pingback: Link Love - really saturday morning edition | Thirty Six Months
Pingback: Link love (Powered by interns and hunger pangs) | Musings of an Abstract Aucklander