Losing the Technology Battle
I have been working with adaptive technology since almost before there was adaptive technology. I used to be able to stay one step ahead of things but, alas, things have changed. I am willing to admit that I can't keep up with computer technology; But who can? I am fortunate to have a great staff who helps me stay above water.
Things are different at home.
On my coffee table there sits a basket to hold all the remotes needed to survive life inside the living room. At last count, there were seven(7) of the little darlings resting in this basket. We also have a remote sitting outside the basket that controls the gas-heating stove and another little darling is mounted on the wall to control the ceiling fans and lights.
What I would not give for some old-fashioned knobs and switches.
There are two remotes in the nasty basket that I understand, at least a little. Maybe, I know a third of the buttons. One is the stereo remote and one is the TV or I guess it is actually the cable-box remote. It is hard for me to remember the buttons on the cable remote because it is always tightly gripped in my husband's hand. Adding to the fun, this cable remote is totally different from the cable remote for our other two televisions.
I think most couples have someone who "owns" the remote that controls the television. I am willing to bet that most often that person is a man. I am sure this is not always true but I'll bet it is most of the time. I wonder if it is true if the male is blind. I would love to have an answer to this question. I think TV surfing is really annoying. I will be listening to something and it is just gone. By the time I catch my breath and say I was watching that, the remote controller couldn't remember what it was I was watching. To add to the confusion, I was listening and he was watching. Sometimes these two things don't match.
Have you ever counted all the buttons on the cable remote? Could you memorize them?
Recently we got a very fancy new package from our cable provider. I have taken several steps backwards in my ability to use our television. Now we have endless menus that don't talk. There is no way I even know they are there other than my husband is having conversations with the TV. This new system even has him confused. He will stick with it until he masters it.
I just want an old fashioned knob that helps you burn calories every time you get up and change the channel. I want to see one show from start to finish including the commercials.
The other choice is to deep-six all the TVs. And listen to the radio. Maybe not, that is getting pretty confusing as well. Web radio and X radio sound scary to me.