The electronic blitzkrieg has brought with it a deluge of gizmos that has created a culture where machines have became a way of life. They have taken over the way you, your office and your home functions and have given comfort a new definition.
Today, electronics is all about size – thinner, lighter, flatter, smaller, a gadget’s gateway to glory lies in its diminishing size. And we seem to be falling in love with this trend.
What about you? Are you the kind to whom a gadget is as indispensable to living as is oxygen? Or can you seriously manage a smile without holding something, talking into something, sitting by something or being strapped to something? In other words, can you manage a life in which some gadgets are not must-haves? If yes, then what are they? Friday asks a few people to list three must-haves and then three they can do without.
Vivek Seth
Dubai-based Vivek Seth is a senior executive in the maritime industry. Although his job keeps him extremely busy, he makes an effort to spend as much time as possible with his family. As much as he finds electronic devices useful and practical, he also finds some intrusive, especially during family downtime.
Can’t do without
A ‘basic’ mobile phone and handsfree Seth cannot do without a cell phone, but he finds several features and applications in some models unnecessary. “A mobile phone is a great invention, no doubt. But what I need is a ‘basic’ model – one which will help me make and receive calls and which can help me send and receive an SMS,’’ he says. “I don’t feel the need for a camera, voice/video recorder, browser and other add-ons that mobile phones have these days. As far as I am concerned, it’s a necessary tool for communication. Period. Handsfree is a vital accessory, especially when one is using the phone while driving.”
Laptop “It’s difficult to imagine a life without computers. A laptop is especially vital when you’re on the move and you need to stay connected with your office and the rest of the world.
“For me, there are two key words for using a laptop: mobility and information. In a world driven by knowledge, it’s not how much you know but how fast you know it. A laptop is really useful in this sense.
I use it everywhere. It is easy to carry and keeps me connected.”
Digital camera Seth, like everyone else, sees the camera as an idiot- proof way of capturing your life’s precious moments for posterity. “Just aim, shoot and save,” he says. “In this fast-paced life where our eyes are always focused on the future, we rarely have time to enjoy the present or cherish the past. A digi-cam helps me capture the present in an instant, without thinking of the costs and the hassles involved. The days when we had to buy a roll of film, load it in a camera and after shooting take the full roll to a processing lab only to realise that some frames went blank on us are faded memories.
“The frustration of having lost a priceless moment was painful, heart-breaking. This does not happen with modern technology.
Can do without
Television “I consider this appliance anti-family. In a world where spare time is precious, we spend all that we get of it in front of the idiot box or fighting over the remote control.
“I don’t watch much television and encourage my family to do the same.”
Fax machine “This was an important gadget a decade ago. In today’s technology driven world, the fax machine has become all but obsolete.”
Video games “My main objection against this invention is that it makes kids and certain adults unsocial. It is particularly unhealthy for kids of an impressionable age who end up not knowing how to interact with peers or elders. Their social skills are reduced to the absolute minimum.”
Aisha Asif
Aisha is a homemaker and works hard to ensure her household runs like a well-oiled machine, well, thanks to some appliances, of course.
Can’t do without
Washing machine “It is cost-effective, energy-efficient and most important, it gives me more time to do other jobs around the house. I totally love this appliance.”
Toaster “A machine that gives perfectly golden brown toast within minutes without supervision, especially when everybody in the house is demanding your attention in the morning. This is just an absolute blessing. My toaster has a heating rack as well so it allows me to heat up croissants, muffins, bagels etc. for those fussy eaters.”
Laptop/computer “I don’t think I can survive without my laptop. It’s one electronic gadget that I use without fail every day. It’s a device in which I store almost everything – my music collection, family photographs, even e-books.
“Since the arrival of email and the internet, I use the computer for ordering household groceries, searching for information, making travel arrangements, looking up maps and keeping in touch with my family back home. I feel like my world is but a touch of a button away.”
Can do without
Television “I used to watch a fair amount of television when I was younger, but now, when my kids have taken over the remote control, I have found that internet, newspaper and books give me all the information and entertainment that I need. I truly believe that the television is one appliance I could live without.”
Dishwasher “I had one for 10 years and then one fine day when we moved to our new house we realised that there was no space for it and I had to learn to manage without it. Initially, it was extremely difficult, but now, after eight months of living without it, I have realised that it is really not that necessary. I have learnt to be more organised in the kitchen and I wash up as I go along when cooking so it’s not such a chore after the meal. I am doing pretty well without it.”
Microwave oven “Although I use the microwave on a regular basis, I could imagine my kitchen without one. The only real advantage of this appliance is that it has reduced the amount of time taken to reheat the food.”
Daniel J Hearson
Daniel is a busy professional, a young father and a frequent traveller.
Can’t do without
Mobile phone “I have been using a mobile phone since 1991 so it almost feels like an extension of me. It is a great device to communicate with family and friends, call for help if I get stuck in the middle of nowhere and for people to find me if they need me.
“Having a camera in my mobile phone helps me SMS/MMS my four-year-old son’s photos to family back home in the UK, and allows me to capture those fleeting but precious moments without having to look for the digital camera,” he adds.
GPS “I do a lot of desert driving and you’ve just got to have a GPS for navigation around dunes and in the Empty Quarter. If you have an accident or get stuck, you can call for help and give them the exact location of where you are. “As an expat professional, I travel a lot to other countries on both personal and business trips. With a GPS, I am never lost. “It is a great thing to have if you have guests frequently. I have my son’s school, clinic, beach directions and nearest stores all programmed in the device so that when I have family and friends visiting they can use it and not get lost. They can
drop my son to the school or take him to the clinic if the need arises or go just about anywhere they want without losing their way. In fact, if you forget where your car is parked in these huge malls, you can reach it through the GPS! I have fed in the location of all my favourite restaurants and hotels in the gadget which I update regularly. You can just stick it in your pocket and you have a complete tour guide with you. You can save old destinations, camping spots and trace your steps back even six months later and then land at the exact place. When we go out
camping or to anywhere else, I can give the location to my family back in the UK and they can trace us through Google Earth in real time and know exactly where we are! I can’t imagine travelling so much without it.”
Wii/Nintendo “This gaming console and the games with it don’t shoot or blow things up. My son uses it and it is good for the development of his motor skills as well as his hand-eye co-ordination. “He learns to play golf and tennis on it. It’s ideal in the summer when it’s too hot to go outside to play these sports. Also, he can play bowling or other group sports with his friends without burning a hole in my pocket. I have also programmed the news and weather on it and I update it regularly through the internet. It’s a good thing to have.”
Can do without
Television “I don’t like the way people are glued to their sets, watching old American soaps dished out to them day after day. You go to somebody’s house and if the TV is on, people gradually gravitate towards it and suddenly nobody is interacting with anybody else.
“At home, I would rather have my son use the laptop to navigate, play interactive games and use his mind. It’s better than the TV for motor skills. If someone came to my house and stole my TV, I would not run after him to get it back. My wife and I have a whole lot of books that we need to finish reading and other more interesting things to do than watch TV.”
iPod “It was a great invention and I have the original from 2004 which doesn’t have any video and has a black and white screen. When I got it as a gift back then, I found I had to update it, download music and podcasts, sync it. Initially it was great, but then I found I had no time for all those processes.
“My iPod has been left in a drawer because of lack of usage. Plus there are only so many things you can carry with you.”
PDAs “For four years I was addicted to it. From emails and photos to SMS I used to have a perennial urge to check it as often as possible. As long as I was awake, I was working. “Out playing with my son, or having dinner with friends, I just had to check my email if the device buzzed. It was a constant partner and took over as an alternative brain that had everything in it.
“When I went on a fortnight- long holiday after 10 years of work this June, we went for a family holiday to Greece. Every night before going to bed, there I was checking it for emails and other information. That’s when I realised that I needed to kick this habit. Since then I’ve stopped using it and it hasn’t caused major problems. It’s another electronic gadget I am happy to not be using,” he says.
Wendy Gething
A busy mum of four kids, Gething finds electronics interesting as well as cumbersome – interesting, because some of them do make life easier,
and cumbersome because some are just gimmicks.
Can’t do without
Air-conditioner “In this part of the world it is essential, especially because it gets searingly hot in summer. I know [not all brands] are environmentally-friendly, but till the time the climate changes or there is an alternative available, I would not like to part with my air-conditioner.”
Video camera “With four kids (three grown up boys and a young daughter), in the house, I have so many memories to treasure. A video camera keeps my memories fresh, as with time there are so many things that you tend to forget like your kids’ pet peeves, the way they pulled faces, their high-pitched voices and other such details. Then you put your video on and voila, you are back in time.
I also can now see how badly I used to dress before as well as how people have changed. It’s great fun and it bonds you as a family whenever you watch it together.”
iPod Wendy loves music and movies and is glad she has kids around to help her with the whole process of downloading them on her iPod. She says, “I love music and movies and give my kids my wish list which they are willing to fulfill and sync to my iPod.
“It’s a great device to have because you can do so much with it – save files, music, movies and pictures. I carry it everywhere I go with me.
It is a great partner while exercising and while on long journeys. On a flight or a long drive you can just close your eyes and relax with the music. I also love watching movies on it when I’m out somewhere and getting bored.”
Can do without
Cooker and small kitchen appliances like a smoothie maker, an electric kettle and a food processor Wendy is a self-confessed average cook and says, “A lot of people would be surprised with this choice of mine in the ‘can let go’ category, but we use the barbecue a lot and don’t really need the cooker and other equipment that much. You don’t really have to cook to eat.” In jest she adds, “I burn a lot of things on the cooker as I tend to forget after putting the vessel on to cook, and also because my husband cooks for me.
“The other kitchen gadgets are more of a gimmick. We made smoothies when there was no smoothie maker,
we boiled water without the kettle and we cut, chopped, sliced, juiced fruits and veggies without the electric processor. These things do make working a little easier, but nothing would stop if they weren’t around. Add to it the hassle of cleaning and maintaining these gadgets. I wouldn’t mind letting them go.”
Electric iron With four kids and a house to take care of, Wendy finds ironing a big chore. She says, “No one likes to iron, and in this part of the world you can get your clothes ironed at the laundry at a very reasonable price. The whole process (of doing it at home) is boring and if you have lots of clothes, it gets tedious and sometimes physically uncomfortable. Once I was ironing for so long that by the end of it I had a stiff neck which stayed for a couple of days. When you have four kids, ironing never seems to end. With a mountain-load to begin with, it keeps getting bigger if you ignore it even for a day. So I can easily let go of my iron.”
