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 Replies: 30 / Views: 3,187 |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
716 Posts |
After reading some of the instructions for posting photos and links, I fear that technology has left me behind (at least compared to most of you on this forum). Now I am not totally ignorant. I do have a digital camera, and a computer which I do know how to turn on or I would not be here. And, probably, if I spent enough time I could figure out how to post photos and links. The other day a much younger friend said I should take an Ipad or whatever with me to coins shows. I said 'what'?
My generation did not have computers in school and we were just starting to use them in college (not personal computers). So I feel like I am always playing catchup knowing that I really don't have a chance.
This is not a cry for help. Actually, I am fairly content in my technological ignorance because if I tried to keep up with all the new gadgets I would probably not have time for anything else and I would still fail.
I just wonder if there any other 'old guys' on this forum who are like me or I am alone wandering around in computerland and not having much of a clue as to what is going on.
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Pillar of the Community
Canada
610 Posts |
 Exactly!When I went to college,many moons ago,the computer was so big it was in the basement of the building  I also am not all that literate with the new technology,so with me it is "trial and error"results.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
716 Posts |
Collectall, Yes I remember that. You had to punch out your program on cards in a keypunch and then stand in line with a dozen other students to put them in the card reader.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
860 Posts |
My first experience with computers in college was before the punch cards, we had to program with patch cords just to do simple sorting, but it triggered my fascination with them and related technology ever since. When I started at my college, years later, they had an IBM 1130, that used punch cards. So the answer is that there are others of that generation still perking along. Keep the brain cells going and ask a teenager if needed. And today, the expert can well be female ( like a grandaughter or grandniece as well.
Jim
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Valued Member
United States
313 Posts |
I just keep pressing buttons! |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
526 Posts |
I can remember the 1130, then the college upgraded to the IBM system 34....  What a happy day that was, computer compiled COBOL programs that took seconds instead of hours to tell you that you messed up....  I am still current with 99% of the technology that concerns databases and programming. I can't stand all of the crap that has come out. Phones now-a-days can actually be a date for you on date night if you have the proper app loaded, IPads, Itouch, Iphones, Jesus the first two sound like personal items and why can't a phone just be a phone......... Like I said, SQL Server, T-SQL, VB Basic, VBA, ComVault and so on are technology to me, the others are just plain an annoyance. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1064 Posts |
I don't think any of us need to feel deficient if we don't have a handle on all these tech wonders; they really have come on so fast, it's dizzying. I entered the IT business world in the very late 70's, and they also loaded their production programs with cards, and Assembler was the language of choice; some major systems are still using Assembler, but maintenance costs are high, so most large business systems run COBOL (no it's not dead), or PL/1 (also still alive).
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Valued Member
United States
296 Posts |
I don't really feel left behind. But a fair amount of it I choose not to use. I love technology, and utilize it where ever it makes my life easier and/or better. I will not use it for the sake of using it, like so many do. Even when it is actually counter productive.
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Pillar of the Community
3352 Posts |
Sadly, 25 years later, whatever limited computer skills I acquired back in university are now long-gone ... but luckily I'm now in charge of the office, so I merely have to know which kid knows enough to hook-up my printer!! ... but you're 100% correct, beaglebailey
=> I'd really love to learn how to post some sweet coin photos!
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Pillar of the Community
United States
716 Posts |
Bowfin, you brought up a topic which concerns me-how this technology can be counterproductive. I agree that all this technology has enriched our lives, but I also see a downside- especially with the younger generations. I live in a very rural environment, and I love the outdoors-- hiking, fishing, hunting, gardening, etc. I would much rather be doing any of these activities then be working on my computer.
Many kids are so wrapped up in this changing technology that it consumes their lives. They are participating in these outdoor activities in ever decreasing numbers. Instead they are indoors playing computer games, or on their computers on Facebook, Twitter, etc ( I only know about these places because of my children) Obesity rates are soaring especially among the younger generations. I know technology cannot be blamed for all this, but I do believe it does play a big part.
Wow, I guess I started ranting and got off topic from my original post, but I am really concerned about where we as a society are heading as technology plays an ever increasing role in our lives.
Sorry, if this is appropriate for this forum because I know it has nothing to do with coin collecting.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
609 Posts |
@beaglebaily
I think you make a valid point. I'm in high school and there are many obese kids. I live in a rural area as well and enjoy being outside running around. Kids shouldnt be on the computer all day, but if you balance out playing outside during the day and using a computer or playing videogames for a bit before going to bed, there would be a lot less obese kids in this world.
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Valued Member
United States
223 Posts |
When I was in college for computer science we were using IBM AT's and running dos 4.0 I believe. The instructor said,"This Microsoft company is going places, you should invest in some of their stock". Needless to say I didn't.  |
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Rest in Peace
United States
9104 Posts |
Quote:
When I went to college,many moons ago,the computer was so big it was in the basement of the building "The" computer was 50 miles down the road. When I was a senior, our 2000 student branch got one terminal, print only, no monitor. 4 function pocket calculators cost $1500. The other day, I bought a TI programmable/graphing clone for five bucks, new. |
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Pillar of the Community
Thailand
1509 Posts |
Very much like beaglebailey. No computer at school. Electronic calculators were just about available (pricewise) as I was finishing.
However I was fascinated with computers and my first was a Tandy Radio Shack TRS-80. No numeric keypad and cassette tape storage. I beleive the memory had all of 4k!
I did teach myself programming in BASIC but this was a hobby. There were certainly no companies around in my area that used them so no foothold in computing careerwise. By the time there were they wanted qualifications and/or previous experience.
In subsequent years I did acquire a knowledge of COBOL, C, C++ and even ADA. Talk about being multilingual and yet I couldn't learn French to save my life. Ah well, c'est la vie.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
20753 Posts |
No computers or computer games when I was a kid. Actually no TV either. When we did get a TV, it was really small, black and white only and half the neighborhood came to see it. We actually had classes on the slide rule in college back then. Not sure if anyone knows what that was now. Prsently have several degrees in Engineering and Chemistry. More than likely much like an kid in grade school by todays standards.
At work a long time ago someone was showing off this thing called a computer. Made by some company called Texas Instruments. It could acutally add, subtract, multiply and divide and it was only less than a foot long and really light in weight. Only cost him $199.00 too.
I've got photo shop and about 5 other photo programs on this computer thing now and really hate trying to figure it all out. Due to health problems my Son got me a cell phone and pays for it so in case of emergencies I could call for help. It has a built in camera that I have no idea how to use it nor what to do with the photos if I did.
So if you think your the only one lost in all this, not true at all.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
716 Posts |
Just carl, I do remember the slide rule. In fact, I had to use it for one of my college classes. As I recall they were fairly expensive esp. for a college kid. At the time it was a pretty ingenious piece of equipment, actually a mechanical computer. Without a set of instructions I wouldn't remember how to use one.
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Replies: 30 / Views: 3,187 |
Posted 07/24/2011 2:37 pm
