Chapter 1: The Early Years of Tech Curiosity

As a child, I was the go-to tech support for my family long before that term was even coined.

Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash

In the 1960s, my fascination with electronics began. While my peers were engaged in typical childhood activities, I was busy unraveling the mysteries of how gadgets operated. Instead of joining the others for kickball, I found myself captivated by power lines, microwave towers, and radio antennas.

Everyone assumed I would pursue an engineering degree, but I surprised them all by starting as a geology major, a path I quickly abandoned after just one semester. Eventually, I transitioned to a degree in communications, but my passion for electronics only deepened as personal computers became commonplace. This shift marked the beginning of my role as the family help desk.

My parents seemed to have a foresight about the technological landscape and intentionally raised me to understand the evolving electronics, ensuring they had someone to rely on for tech support. While my siblings received toys and books for their birthdays, I was gifted soldering irons, programming books, and Radio Shack electronic kits.

Fast forward several decades, and technology now permeates every aspect of our lives. Devices frequently encounter issues, become outdated, or simply require a bit of user education. I still receive calls from family members seeking assistance with their computers, queries about mobile carriers, and debates on whether to stick with Microsoft or switch to Apple.

In responding to their inquiries, I often find that asking the right questions can lead to solutions. Listening patiently has proven effective in resolving many issues.

Throughout the years, I have engaged in some rather peculiar tech conversations. For instance, a friend's uncle believed that cloud storage was literally in the clouds. In reality, it consists of large and small data centers dispersed across various locations, with companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft providing these services.

Another instance involved a college roommate who thought that 5G small cell towers were linked to the Covid-19 pandemic. While I couldn't fully convince him otherwise, at least he refrained from vandalizing cell towers. Then there was a teacher who was convinced that Wi-Fi signals could cause brain cancer, leading her to resign from her position at a school that had invested heavily in Wi-Fi infrastructure for its curriculum.

To keep technology running smoothly, a few straightforward practices can be beneficial:

• It’s advisable to use anti-malware software, firewalls, and antivirus protection.
• Solid-state drives in laptops offer better speed and reliability, despite their slightly higher cost compared to traditional hard drives.
• The market for used or certified refurbished laptops often yields great bargains.
• Many neighborhoods are beginning to see fiber-optic internet options, which could be a worthwhile alternative to existing providers.

Consumer technology can sometimes be bewildering, but with a bit of patience and the occasional Google search, most challenges can be tackled effectively.

Chapter 2: Embracing the Digital Age

In this chapter, we will explore how the digital landscape continues to shape our lives and the importance of staying informed.