Adaptation to new technology.

[nikster]

Got into a discussion yesterday with a friend of over 40 years.

Now it started with a so called 'stupid phone,' which is all he has got. Refuses to go any further than that. he won't even submit to electronic banking, gets his retirement by snail mail & does all his banking, paying bills, by driving to the bank, uses nothing but envelopes, licks stamps, etc. Etc.. Oh, he does have credit cards & ATM card, but that's it!

Whereas I'm far from being a cyber guru, & still learning EVERYDAY. It's ease & convenience, saving gas, money, cost of mail, just great. We pay ALL bills electronically, & probably had to use the post office 3x so far this year. Fax's, are now obsolete due to e-mails & all done by scanning with the computer. We get an occasional check & we take a picture with the I-pad, phone & BOOM it gets deposited.

With the so called smart phone I'm learning something new everyday, keeps my mind challenged & building up those brain cells

WHAT SAY- YOU?

Nik,

[MWShaw]

The new wireless router (Netgear R6300) I just ordered will be configured by my iPhone. I do everything with it (iPhone), from tracking my diet and exercise to checking the weather, to making sure I am at every meeting or appointment.

My Google calendar sends me (iPhone) an email every morning @ 5:15am with that days events on it, I have two of them (calendars) (1) for work stuff and (1) for personal stuff.

I was at an auction last week looking at a truck topper, seller did not know what it came off of. I grabbed the make and model from the tag, goggled it with my phone, and knew in (2) minutes what truck it was made for.

My favorite web story comes from my retired parents, they were snowbirds for 26yrs (summer / Michigan, winter / Florida).
(6) years ago in the fall, Dad calls me, tells me about this pigeon that has been hanging around the house, it seems tame and likes to follow him around the yard.
At first I think he's just making idle conversation, after a couple of phone calls, I can tell his is concerned about this bird. I ask him why he is so worried about it. He say's he's worried it will get cold and die after he and mom leave for Fla. I tell him it's a wild animal and can fend for itself.
He say's it's not wild, it has a tag on it's ankle. He say's someone lost it, and if it was bred in captivity it can't care for itself.

Mind you now, at the time this took place, I'm in my mid 40's and he his early 70's. This is not our normal "Fall" of the year "getting ready to leave for FLA." conversation.

I tell him to get the numders off of the ankle tag, and give them to me. It takes a couple of days, but finally he and Mom get it cornered and can read the tag. I google "homing pigeons" or racing "pigeons".

I come up with a couple of clubs, find some listings as to what the ankle tag numbers mean. Then get one of the club officers on the phone. I tell him the situation, he decoded the ankle tag, I.D.ed the owner. Then found another club member that lived 60 miles from Dad.

The next day, that club member drove over and picked it up, within 24 hrs the pigeon was on it's way home. More importantly, Mom and Dad could head south with a clear concious (sp?).

Dad thought I was some sort of "cyber magician", he has told that story more times than I can count.

Tools are tools, wether a smart phone, PC, laptop, hammer or Cub Cadet! Use them to their fullest extent.

[nikster]

GREAT story,

Ink,