of little consequence

[jawnbc]

If it weren’t for personal computers:

-my employment prospects would have remained marginal
-my education would not have progressed past the undergraduate level
-I would not be able to express myself as well in English
-I would not have achieved any level of fluency in French
-I would not have travelled as much as I have

If I were to enter grade 1 today, I would have been diagnosed as having “poor fine motor skills”. I never developed passable handwriting--even in block letters. I didn’t learn how to properly use a knife and fork until I was nearly 8 (*clang*). I used--and in some respects still--to do many “one-handed” tasks with two hands. Even keyboarding remains solidly imperfect: leave out the O and P and I can go about 65 words per minute. But it’s nOt POssible.

When I was in grad skool, some of my peers would whinge comment on how hard it was to keep up with the work. I, of course, remember when papers had to be manually typed out, or neatly hand written. Revising written work was much more labourious and time consuming. To me, being able to write, print, edit, rewrite, reprint, lather rinse repeat was a joy! The mechanics of production less inhibited my ability to do the work.

Similarly, the whole online world has integrated writing down my thoughts to a much greater degree than previous, because of the handwriting thing. And seeing my writing has made me cognizant of how well it represents what I mean to say. So what I say does, more often than not, represent what I mean to say. This is a very good thing, since I already get in legitmate trouble for my (real) thoughts--no need to buy drama for anything I didn’t mean...

And then there’s the travel bargains, and exposure to French culture. And...and....

I love it.

Comments

[alec9.livejournal.com]

agree, even as bad a typist as I am, it comes that much closer to the speed I think, and since typos are easily amended, I am free to explore writing without the mechanics getting in the way.

Never revised when I had to hand-write or type nicely.

[zurcherart.livejournal.com]

me too

[bikerbearmark.livejournal.com]

Even better yet, the online world has made talking to people I've never met before a daily occurrence. And with you, John, that is truly a pleasure.

[jawnbc]

You're too kind, mister! Thanks.

[quirkstreet.livejournal.com]

I work with computers all day all the time, and I catch a lot of the downsides as a result.

Thanks for reminding me why I stay in the business of helping people via technology. I wouldn't have met YOU if not for computers. :)

[devcubber.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that post! My son was born blind due to Trochlear Palsy, and after several neurosurgeries, has decent sight in both eyes. He too has "poor fine motor control" and his handwriting is illegible, but he can spell!! It's nice to know that he will grow up just fine, and like you, can do anything he possible wants to do.

[jawnbc]

That's wonderful to hear! Oh I'm so pleased!