Dr. Thornburg stated that the future technology will be like the present technology only with cooler tools. This so true in many different ways. As a student in the late seventies and early eighties, I never thought the day would come when I carry an eReader (Kindle), a iPad, and cellular phone in my purse everyday. Now I think twice about leaving my iPad and Kindle at home. (I can always find a phone)
The iPad that I use today has replaced the electric typewriter that my mother insisted I learn how to keyboard. The eReader replaced all of the books that I used to hide inside my textbooks in school. The difference between the two decades are that the my Kindle, iPad and cellphone are much lighter than the items that I had in those days.
For example: My electric typewriter was relatively light and portable, however, I needed whiteout for the mistakes that I would make on my paper. The paper had to physically inserted into the device. I would use reams of paper to write papers, stories or whatever, but the final outcome still looked better than my handwritten papers. Plus, thanks to my mother's insistence I was a good typist.
Next, the electric typewriter became a word processor that I could not live without. The word processor would allow me to type anything, correct mistakes, and save it in the processor. It was great! It was also bulky and heavy. I could only use it in one place at a time. It was not feasible to carry it with me, like an electric typewriter. However, myself and many other people used both items interchangeable at the time.
The laptop! Well, I couldn't wait for the laptop, oh my! I still use it, for many of the same things I use my iPad. In fact before my laptop died, I would carry both my iPad and laptop with me and use both much in the same manner as I used my electric typewriter and word processor. The iPad is easier to stick in my purse, while I do miss my laptop, I really like my iPad and I carry in my purse always. I will turn around and go back home to retrieve my iPad if I forget it at school or home. The iPad has keyboard in it's screen and an external keyboard. I use both depending on the place, situation and area. The iPad does everything that the electric typewriter, word processor and laptop (except I haven't figured out how to submit my assignments to Turnin with the iPad).
Reference:
Thronburg, D (Producer) (n.d.) Rhymes of History (Video Pdcast) Laureate Education, Inc.
Thronburg, D (Producer) (n.d.) Rhymes of History (Video Pdcast) Laureate Education, Inc.
