True story from a Novell NetWire SysOp: Caller: "Hello, is this Tech Support?"
Tech: "Yes, it is. How may I help you?" Caller: "The cup holder on my PC is broken and I am within my warranty period. How do I go about getting that fixed?" Tech: "I'm sorry, but did you say a "cup holder"?" Caller: "Yes, it's attached to the front of my computer." Tech: "Please excuse me if I seem a bit stumped; it's because I am. Did you receive this as part of a promotion, like at a trade show? How did you get this cup holder? Does it have any trademark on it?" Caller: "It came with my computer, I don't know anything about a promotional. It just has '4X' on it."
At this point the Tech Rep had to mute the caller, because he couldn't stand it. The caller had been using the load drawer of the CD-ROM drive as a cup holder, and snapped it off the drive!
Monday, September 24, 2007
#7 technology
Well, erm, yes, we have come a long way with technology. I am constantly reminded of this by my nieces and nephews. We pulled out a box of old toys for them, and there were two things that puzzled them - a typewriter, and a toy dial phone (the kind that has the actual dial that you run your finger around). They had no clue what either of these things were!
I remember when my mum's Commodore 64 was cutting edge, and oh what fun my brother and I had playing games from cassettes and cartridges! I don't think the games these days compare. Fancy graphics and surround sound don't compensate for sheer addictive gameplay. My husband would disagree - he loves high tech games, and we just bought a new computer to keep up with the new games being released, no other reason. It's the gamers that push computer technology further and further along now. Computers have been able to cope with the needs of your average business for a long time. It's the gamers that want them always faster, brighter, higher res, etc.
I guess I have a love/hate relationship with technology. I love surfing the net, getting any questions I have answered immediately. I love ebay. I love email, since I have a lot of loved ones interstate and overseas. I guess what I don't like is that sometimes computers overcomplicate things. They can do lots of fancy stuff that I personally have no use for, but can never seem to perform simple word processing tasks the way I want them to, for example.
Should I be whingeing about computers during this exercise? Probably not. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy them, I use them every day, but I don't think my life would fall apart without them. Well, in the library it probably would, (love those offline days!). That's the downside of relying on computers - when they break down, so do a lot of people. I used to be an AV technician for corporate events. Some days that involved editing a LOT of powerpoint presentations. It never failed to amaze me that if someone's powerpoint was not working (for whatever reason) - they could not present. They were so reliant on their computer slides, that without them they could not speak, even if they were an expert on the subject. That is just plain wrong, to my way of thinking. Most of these people would also talk to the screen, rather than the audience.
I could also totally live without my mobile phone. I only got one at my husband's behest, And it's mainly a way for people to keep tabs on me. I can (and do) live without a fancy home theatre system - I would be happy with an old Rank Arena, as long as I could still watch House.
I remember when my mum's Commodore 64 was cutting edge, and oh what fun my brother and I had playing games from cassettes and cartridges! I don't think the games these days compare. Fancy graphics and surround sound don't compensate for sheer addictive gameplay. My husband would disagree - he loves high tech games, and we just bought a new computer to keep up with the new games being released, no other reason. It's the gamers that push computer technology further and further along now. Computers have been able to cope with the needs of your average business for a long time. It's the gamers that want them always faster, brighter, higher res, etc.
I guess I have a love/hate relationship with technology. I love surfing the net, getting any questions I have answered immediately. I love ebay. I love email, since I have a lot of loved ones interstate and overseas. I guess what I don't like is that sometimes computers overcomplicate things. They can do lots of fancy stuff that I personally have no use for, but can never seem to perform simple word processing tasks the way I want them to, for example.
Should I be whingeing about computers during this exercise? Probably not. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy them, I use them every day, but I don't think my life would fall apart without them. Well, in the library it probably would, (love those offline days!). That's the downside of relying on computers - when they break down, so do a lot of people. I used to be an AV technician for corporate events. Some days that involved editing a LOT of powerpoint presentations. It never failed to amaze me that if someone's powerpoint was not working (for whatever reason) - they could not present. They were so reliant on their computer slides, that without them they could not speak, even if they were an expert on the subject. That is just plain wrong, to my way of thinking. Most of these people would also talk to the screen, rather than the audience.
I could also totally live without my mobile phone. I only got one at my husband's behest, And it's mainly a way for people to keep tabs on me. I can (and do) live without a fancy home theatre system - I would be happy with an old Rank Arena, as long as I could still watch House.
#5 flickr, #6 mashups
Had a play with flickr yesterday - see http://www.flickr.com/photos/14027247@N06/
I put some photos from my British trip last year up that I thought people might find interesting. Innerpeffray library is Scotland's oldest free lending library. It has a ledger of borrowers names and occupations dating from 1700? I think, and thus is of continuing interest to social anthropologists. Plus lots of gorgeous antique books!
Also had a play with mashups - again, see my flickr site. My fave is the Warholiser - turning photos into art. That is, art that I would actually consider displaying in my home. Putting your own wedding photo up in the house seems a bit embarrassing, but the Warholiser makes me unrecognisable - yay!
Speaking of which, is anyone else but me slightly uncomfortable with the idea of posting their personal details on the web? I know it's the done thing by many folks these days, and I don't mind my library colleagues knowing it's me talking, but it gives me pause.
I put some photos from my British trip last year up that I thought people might find interesting. Innerpeffray library is Scotland's oldest free lending library. It has a ledger of borrowers names and occupations dating from 1700? I think, and thus is of continuing interest to social anthropologists. Plus lots of gorgeous antique books!
Also had a play with mashups - again, see my flickr site. My fave is the Warholiser - turning photos into art. That is, art that I would actually consider displaying in my home. Putting your own wedding photo up in the house seems a bit embarrassing, but the Warholiser makes me unrecognisable - yay!
Speaking of which, is anyone else but me slightly uncomfortable with the idea of posting their personal details on the web? I know it's the done thing by many folks these days, and I don't mind my library colleagues knowing it's me talking, but it gives me pause.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
computer time
I have chosen to work on my blog at home, mainly because I would find it hard to concentrate while in full view of the general public. So here I am on my one day off this week, still focused on work, hehe.
I have extra motivation to sit still and blog because I have mysteriously hurt my achilles tendon IN MY SLEEP. Normally the upside of an injury is an interesting accompanying tale, but no, I am limping due to an extraordinary sleeping incident (sigh).
I have extra motivation to sit still and blog because I have mysteriously hurt my achilles tendon IN MY SLEEP. Normally the upside of an injury is an interesting accompanying tale, but no, I am limping due to an extraordinary sleeping incident (sigh).
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Good Habits
Fortunately (I guess), it was harder to narrow down which habit came the easiest. I have chosen Habit #2, Accept responsibility for your own learning. If I find a gap in my knowledge that I'm keen to fill, I won't hesitate to fill it.
Bad Habits
The habit I will find the hardest to develop is definitely number 3, View problems as challenges. While not causing me to completely abandon my enterprises, I do have a tendency to let problems become bigger setbacks than they need to be.
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