# Phlog questions challenge: Technology Edition

I was tagged by Ben[1] to take the phlog questions challenge.


## When Did You First Get Interested In Technology?

Most people of my generation have been raised side by side with a lot
of technology, both mechanical and electronic.

My father was a mechanic and my grandfather had many interests
including electronics. I still remember the drawers full of valves
and circuit boards in his shed, which he had scavenged from various
unrepairable TV's and radios. 

My grandfather always had interesting electrical items, colour TV's,
video recorders, hifi sets etc. Quite often there were sets in pieces
that he was repairing when I visited in my younger years.
Unfortunately I was not old enough to understand it at that time, but
I think that my grandfather and his various projects were what
initially got me interested in technology.

1980's home computers only served to deepen my interest and I still
have, and occasionally use, my first computer[2]. 

This was the beginning of a path which eventually lead me to become
a programmer and technology tinkerer.


## What's Your Favourite Piece Of Technology All-Time?

Mechanical - The bicycle. 
I have enjoyed riding, modifying and fixing bicycles since I received
a Raleigh Grifter[3] from my my parents one Christmas back in the
early 1980's. 

The bicycle makes it possible for a person to travel a hundred or so
kilometres in a day with only themselves as the source of power.

Electronic - The radio transceiver. 
I still find it quite amazing that, without any kind of supporting
infrastructure, I can communicate with people in other countries
around the world.


## What's Your Favourite Piece Of Technology Right Now?

My Xiegu G90 HF radio transceiver[4]. I have been enjoying
communicating with people in other countries, learning morse code and
also going out on field days to operate portable.


## Name One New Cool Piece Of Technology We'll Have In 25 Years!

Thought input devices, keyboards will become a thing of the past.
I'm not sure if it should be considered cool or frightening that
your brain activity will be interpreted by an electronic device...

My hope is that we will have advanced e-ink type displays, which
require no backlighting. I can tolerate bad keyboards over bad
displays.


## Final Thoughts

I have learned over time not to be taken in by all the hype around
the latest devices, programming languages and technologies. Mostly
they are just repackaged versions of something that already performs
the same functional task.

I am not enthusiastic about future technology, especially as it
becomes more pervasive and intrusive into our lives. Both governments
and big tech (is there a difference?) are tightening the screws. The
only question seemingly is whether Orwell or Huxley will be proven
right. My money is on Huxley... 

Convenience is the wedge that will separate us from our liberty.

I choose technology from a time where its purpose was more benign[5],
and where batteries and components could be replaced so that its
useful life might be extended. Is there such a thing as wholesome
technology? 

The enjoyment is in the doing, the creating and the solving of the
puzzle. If technology puts us in the back seat, there will be no
enjoyment or satisfaction in it.

We are at every opportunity encouraged to be good consumers... 


## References

 [1](gopher://tilde.pink/1/%7ebencollver)
 [2](gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Computing/Sinclair-ZX-Spectrum-48k.md)
 [3](gopher://gopherpedia.com/0/Raleigh%20Grifter)
![4](gopher://gopher.icu/I/images/G90-portable.jpg)
 [5](gopher://gopher.icu/0/phlog/Computing/Simple-Computing.md)