February 9th 2011 There are many ways to describe my personal relationship to technology, however the best would be an older sibling I'm very close to, but can feel distant from at times. We met when I was young, and started getting to know each other step by step when I was at the ripe age of five. First the t.v, my only connection to technology at the time seemed like an older brother always watching me when I was in the room, teaching me, and drawing my attention with his blinking colors and funny sounds. He seemed to like hanging out with me those many years ago, but he changed as did I. Humans aren't the only ones that evolve, technology itself has also come a long way and the vintage big brother I knew back then had changed so much that its hard to recognize him anymore. In the article "Attached to Technology and Paying a Price" by Matt Ritchel, it mentions "As he came of age, so did a new era of data and communication". As I got older, I noticed big brother changed.His shape, color and voice adapted many times over. The dark bulk version of him was fading away,he got bigger, flatter, smaller and faster, all at the same time. Quite frankly he startled me, and I went to keep my distance. He still yearned to entertain me saying "I'm still the same only better!" but I ignored him. From then on I had really enjoyed straying from brother technology and attending summer camps, also staying outdoors more often. Although when the internet became so key to doing homework, I had to knock on his bedroom door for help. Which is probably what he'd been wanting for some time. He makes me sit down, wait for him to get ready and warm up, and presents himself like a masterpiece of art ready for me to mess with. I must agree our bond has gotten thicker and thicker over the years of Jr high school and high school. He feels like a part of me that will never go away. He follows me everywhere even when I tell him not to, always trying to be so overprotective jeez, he's on others phones, computers, screens and in stores and libraries! Everyone around me seems to love big brother as do I. I kind of miss the old brother, when he used to have to reboot and tell me wait for a few minutes until he got what I asked for, but that brother will never come back. Some months ago I got my very first laptop, and brother was so excited that I found him very useful and played with almost every day. He laughed when I used the mouse pad with my fingers and let me video chat with friends far away, he even echoes my voice in the microphone to annoy me, brothers...what can you do? Sometimes brother gets mad because I rarely ask for him to watch television but then loves me when i get online, kinda creepy no? When I start reading books for school assignments he gets upset and tends to call me to go push his buttons for hours with typing skills he taught me. Sometimes he worries me, he asked for personal information you wouldn't want a big brother to know and send me fake contest winnings, I'm afraid hes changing in a way I don't like. In the article "The Web Means the End of Forgetting" by Jefferey Rosen, he quotes "how best to live our lives....stored forever". this quote reminds us that the internet is permanent, big brother will always remember what I typed to my friends, what goofy photos go up, what
information I send out and so and fourth. He's probably recording this even as I use him for homework yet again. Big brother and me have shared good and bad times over the years. Since my generation is so quick with technology, brother doesn't really like my mother or brother, but only me when I turn switch him on and spend time with him for work, games, and chat. I've recently learned that its important to remember the web is permanent and its hard to not allow technology to take control of your life style, my relationship with technology isn't as bad as most but cutting down could do me some good. Technology is both a blessing and curse, its useful and wonderful, but at the same time permanent and will never stop improving. I still miss the old days, when brother used to have me fix his little antenna so he could see clearly and show me what he had to offer.