Could you live without a computer?

Old Salt said:
I am just the opposite! I have always been fascinated by computers. I bought my first PC at Sears for $ 1500.00 CA back in 1991. It was ridiculously limited and you had to type in all the commands rather than click on icons. Corresponded with others via Bulletin Boards, then, along came the usenet where we had fun mingling in news groups. (alt. groups being the most popular).

Had to get another very expensive computer because Windows came along and my present one didn't have enough memory! This hobby kept me in the poorhouse! My poor long suffering wife! In essence: I love(d) everything that beeped and flashed!

PCs in the meantime have become immensely powerful and easy to use and I still spend a lot of time on mine. It has to be Windows, though. I bought a Chromebook recently and only used it a few times since because it wasn't familiar! Old age is making me a coward. My daughter bought me an iPhone recently and I hardly ever use it because the setup isn't familiar! Can't understand for the life of me how people could possibly enjoy texting!!! How the mighty have fallen! :)
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Texting is the best things for families to share wonderful experiences as they happen.
Me and my boys text all the time, daily. What a great way to stay connected.
Why use a phone to to call someone with a fleeting thought. Money is transacted through texting, births are shared with loved ones within seconds, with pictures. I have a wi-fi picture frame and streams pictures every few seconds. Pictures that my children upload from their phones wherever they are around the world.
So glad I'm living in these times.
 

With all the fearmongering about Ai, and some of it justified, a tremendous amount of good is going to come from it — even in the arts.

The music from the past 20 or so years is really awful, but Ai generated music has the potential to change that and even create the greatest music we've ever listened to. It can already generate lyrics that, with a little tweaking, aren't too bad. And it can create melodies, albeit not very well. But that will change.

One day, we'll all be able to select a genre, a style, the vocalist, arranger, and every other aspect of the song, and music will be generated that's tailored to our personal tastes. It has the potential to be a great asset and to enhance our lives. The problem is, that the music industry won't be able to make money from it, and they won't like that, so it goes without saying that they will try to control Ai generated music. Good luck with that! :ROFLMAO:
 
I have lived the majority of my life without a computer so I could live without one now if I had to. It's mostly a diversion for me rather than a necessity.
 

Amelia B said:
I think it would be really difficult at first, but then over time I would probably find my mental health improving and my connection to the community getting stronger. That’s what I would predict would happen anyway. Many more trips to the library as well!
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It was difficult at first for me, but I found out I could do most of the essential stuff on my iphone. Checking email, games, weather. I like chatting on my laptop on this forum not on my phone.
 
Sippican said:
Texting is the best things for families to share wonderful experiences as they happen.
Me and my boys text all the time, daily. What a great way to stay connected.
Why use a phone to to call someone with a fleeting thought. Money is transacted through texting, births are shared with loved ones within seconds, with pictures. I have a wi-fi picture frame and streams pictures every few seconds. Pictures that my children upload from their phones wherever they are around the world.
So glad I'm living in these times.
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Re. texting: I have to clarify, it is not a dislike of texting itself, it is in connection with the act. My hands and fingers have become clumsy and my few attempts at texting ended up in frustration! I constantly got the wrong letter with my thumb! Thank Heavens the iPhone presented me with whole words at times to make things easier. The iPhone is a marvel but the screen is way to small for me to do anything but check for email when I am not on my computer. My daughters actually watch YouTube and other streaming services on their phones. How can they possibly enjoy that? I need a 60" flatscreen for that!
 
RadishRose said:
Texting is a pain in the neck. It's much easier to simply talk.
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Here's the weird thing! I hate talking on the phone. I am always at a loss for words. I am in constant touch with my younger daughter. Emails are flying back and forth on a daily basis. We're very close but I have yet to call her, or she me .. since she's the same way. Both of us need "talkers" at the other end of the line to feel at ease!
 
Old Salt said:
Re. texting: I have to clarify, it is not a dislike of texting itself, it is in connection with the act. My hands and fingers have become clumsy and my few attempts at texting ended up in frustration! I constantly got the wrong letter with my thumb! Thank Heavens the iPhone presented me with whole words at times to make things easier. The iPhone is a marvel but the screen is way to small for me to do anything but check for email when I am not on my computer. My daughters actually watch YouTube and other streaming services on their phones. How can they possibly enjoy that? I need a 60" flatscreen for that!
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Ahhh, iphone allows you to 'talk' text, converts it to text, then just send. Just tap the microphone in the text area.
 
Old Salt said:
Re. texting: I have to clarify, it is not a dislike of texting itself, it is in connection with the act. My hands and fingers have become clumsy and my few attempts at texting ended up in frustration! I constantly got the wrong letter with my thumb! Thank Heavens the iPhone presented me with whole words at times to make things easier. The iPhone is a marvel but the screen is way to small for me to do anything but check for email when I am not on my computer. My daughters actually watch YouTube and other streaming services on their phones. How can they possibly enjoy that? I need a 60" flatscreen for that!
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Did you know, Old Salt…..that you can speak to your phone and it will auto type your text message.
 
I've l lived like a recluse most of my life. I have a major panic attack when I have to go shopping, etc. I use the Internet and my Amazon Prime membership to do all my shopping. And my iPhone helps me keep track of things on the go. I usually only have to leave my apartment once a month to get my insulin and Ozempic.
 
Yes I could live without a computer or a smart phone. I just use the computer for purchased online art and sewing classes. I would miss having those. I have a smart phone but I only keep it as a cell phone in an emergency. None of my family or myself put photos of ourselves online. Only idiots do that. I use the landline for chats with friends or meet them in person. All banking and bills are done in person or can deal with these matters on the telephone with a live person.
 
I was just thinking back to when I became addicted to the computer. We had a computer when my 2 children were growing up in the 1980s. I never used it because I was afraid I would mess their work up. Then when I had my grandsons who are in their mid-20s now I bought my first computer. They taught me everything I know about computers when they were 6 and 8 yrs old. I can still remember the younger boy laying on the floor and saying Gram can we look at Aeropostale. So I would open it and he would pick out a shirt he wanted, then I would ask the older boy what he would like and he would always say "No thanks Gram" Then I would say ok Then I'll just pick out the one that says "I am a Grandmom's boy" Then he would pick out a shirt.
 
Just this morning, I wanted to know when a website was being updated with new products and get notified right away.
This lead me down the path of learning how to run scripts, then Python language code, to create exactly what I was looking for.
My point is, always stay curious...in anything and everything that piques your interest. You mind will stay active and develop in way you never thought of.
 

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