Technobiography- by. Michelle Richardson

By. Michelle Richardson

I decided to do something the other night that I have not done in years, pop in a VHS tape. I had a sudden urge to watch the Lion King, don't judge me, and I learned that there are many deep messages intertwined into the tale. As my tape began I realized a harsh reality. I would either have to fast forward through the previews, or walk away until my movie began. That is when I became aware of how spoiled I am simply by a DVD.

I have always loved technology. My father loved technology, so I had the latest toys, video games, and electronics growing up. I still remember what my favorite toy was at age four. It was my red, yellow, white, and orange tape recorder, and I recorded everything that everyone said in my house. I recorded myself, my parents, and my grandmother reading my favorite stories to me. I had every game that Sega had out, learning toys, and a very large VHS collection, but that tape recorder was my favorite form of technology in those days.

As I entered elementary school, I learned of the world of the computer. Although my father loved entertainment technology, he was never a fan of computers. It began as playing simple computer games, and eventually turned into typing. I loved typing and still do. Penmanship was never a close friend of mine. I remember begging my aunt and father to get a computer, and even my grandmother thought it would be a good idea. Finally, one fateful afternoon, life as I knew it changed forever. I walked in to see my aunt shaking hands with a sales representative from Gateway. We finally had a computer, with full dial-up Internet access, we were practically living in the future. It was a new day, sure we had to do things between web pages loading, but it was better than going to the library, or typing on the typewriter. Besides, that five pages it took between the pages loading provided for opportunities to do things like read, have a snack, or do other homework.

High school marked the era of the cell phone. It took three years but I finally talked my family into purchasing cellphones for emergencies. They were huge and hideous compared to phones now, and my family never quite understood that you didn't have to scream into the phone. As soon as I got a cell phone "two ways" became popular, and "nextel chirping." Everything was quick and fast, and our family, who was once on the technological "up and up," couldn't keep up.

Now in 2010, I never get off my computer. We have a desktop computer in our home and I have a laptop. I have an Ipod, (my favorite device) a cell that I mostly text on, a DVD player, digital cable, a camcorder, a CD burner, a digital camera, and a slew of programs on my computer.

I love technology and all of the comforts that come with it. Now I must learn to stay on the "up and up," so that I am not outsmarted by the students in my classroom. If anything, proper knowledge of technology will help you to prevent a little mutiny when you third graders throw fits about their history exams.