Thursday, March 12, 2009

Grandmothers Changing To The TimesMelanie Erickson 3/12/2009 DTC 375 Jason Farman Wd 1147

Melanie Erickson
3/12/2009
DTC 375
Jason Farman
Wd 1147


Grandmothers Changing To The Times

I interviewed a great woman named Helen. I have known her for many years and she acts as my segregate Grandmother. She has lived an amazing life in her day with her husband Mike. She owned an antique shop and a bread and breakfast in California. She used a typewriter and forms to keep records and filed everything in a filing cabinet. It took a lot of time to do paperwork and keep things well organized. When he passed away she got her first computer from her granddaughter. In the three years that she had her computer she has adjusted well with it. She uses it for pleasure, social entertainment, hobbies and personal finances. She was surprised with the amount of usage that she gets with her computer now that she is used to it. She said that she saves a lot more time getting the tedious wok done so she can spend more time enjoying the things that matter most in her life. In the beginning when trying to learn the computer it was hard and she spent hours on it using trial and error; however she kept with it and it paid off in the end.

Melanie: When was it that you decided to learn the computer?
Helen: Just about three years ago I learned the computer. After my husband died, my granddaughter bought me my first computer for my birthday. She said that it would give me something to do with my free time and keep me from going insane. I let it sit for a long time. She came over one day and hooked it up for me and got me set up on-line. She showed me the basics and picked up a few books; you know the ones that are titled windows for dummies and internet for dummies. The title kind of took me off guard and made me up set that a book would call me a dummy. I got past all of that when I decided to move on from my loss and start living and getting things done that I put off.
Melanie: Did it work? Are you not insane?
Helen: Melanie you are delight. I think that it saved me; I get everything done in half the time now. I am insane in the sense that I am getting older and I can never seem to remember where my head is. Now if we could hook up my memory to the computer then I will do just fine. I can sit and do more cross word puzzles and read the books that I want to. I get more knitting done in my day then I was able to before. I stay in touch with my family; they have helped me more then they will ever know through the rough times and made most of my days good and filled my days with love and laughter.
Melanie: What form of writing did you do before the computer?
Helen: I wrote hand written letters to my friends. You know I have beautiful hand writing. I buy blank cards and stationary paper. I write about 15 different people that I like to stay in touch with. They live in California. I met a few of my friends in high school, and others were friends I meet in my journey of life. When your grandfather and I owned the bed and breakfast, and the antique shop in California in the 60’s and 70’s we used filing cabinets and receipt books to keep records. I used to do everything by hand and still do write my friends with my fancy stationary. I handwritten checks every month on the 1st of every month and spend about two days paying bills for both companies. I would have to write what it was for and do the entire inventory by hand as well. It was a lot of work keeping up with all the paper work involved in keeping up with a business.
Melanie: How has using the computer changed your life or the way you view things?
Helen: I have always resisted change in my life. When it works why change it. The computer was a challenge for me in the beginning, getting used to the windows and programs, deciding what to use my computer for. I think I went bold pulling out my hair during this time; it was not from old age. I put a lot of my important documents on the computer and have lost a bit of it from not saving the information right. This has caused me a lot of frustration and I wanted to revert back to my old ways, of keeping a filing cabinet and using log books. Once I figured out the tricks of the simple things such as saving, backing up files, and knowing which programs to use for the best results of my project, I have enjoyed my computer. I found that after the initial information was put in my computer it saved time with; looking up information, using the internet for shopping and meeting new friends has help me with my social life and keeping in touch with my family. I used the web cam to talk with all of my 18 great-grandchildren, and 10 grand children. I get to see their awards when they put it to the camera. I see their faces, and see how much they grow every day. A few of them IM me and send me e-mails. I feel closer to my family now than I ever have before. Now that I do not get the chance to travel; I feel like I am not missing out. I feel like I live right next door to them.
Melanie: What kinds of projects do you do on your computer now that you have familiarized yourself with it?
Helen: I pay my bills; I manage my personal finances, and all of my banking on the computer. I scanned all of my pictures in the computer, so I can get all of my scrap booking done. I make yearly personalized calendars for myself and family that are close to me with my scrap booking I do. I e-mail friends and family. I look up information and keep up with current events on-line and read the notional news.
Melanie: Would you ever think about going back to the historic ways of your life and get rid of your computer?
Helen: Not in your life. This present has made my life meaningful and keeps me sharp and young. This would be like giving up my freedom and my social outlet. This computer has been glued to my fingers for a long time. Without the computer I cannot keep up with the friends and family that I love and wish I could move next door to. This was the best present that I have ever received.

Evolutions in Technology

Jay Makki
DTC 375 @ 4:15 T-Th
Dr. Farman
Word Count: 1,094

My grandmother, Theda Maki, formerly Theda Johnson, was born a few years after her parents arrived in the United States after venturing from the northern Sweden Finland borders. Her parents came to the United States in the 1910’s and in that timeframe she would come to live in Wisconsin, and then eventually move to Washington State when her father got work on the Grand Coulee Dam. In that timeframe she has gone from not even possessing a radio in her home to being surrounded by technology on a near constant basis. In my interview I asked about many subjects but selected the most interesting portion of our conversation; the transition of music and radio.

When you were a little girl, can you give me brief description of what life was like?

Sure. Oh, you know, it was pretty normal I suppose. My sisters and brothers would walk to school in the mornings every day. When we got home we would play outside and then my sisters and me would come inside and help my mother make dinner and then we would get to head.

Can you tell me about any technology you were using at that time?

We did have a radio. I don’t remember when we got it but I really liked the radio. We would sometimes sit around and listen to music but my dad and Axel [her grandfather, who lived with them] liked to listen to the news and things like that, you know. We had a phone, too, but us kids didn’t use it much. We didn’t really didn’t need to.

What was it like when you would use the phone or radio?

The phone was sometimes more trouble then it was worth. Every time the phone rang you had to make sure it was for you. Everyone on our street was on the line so anytime the phone rang you had to see if it was a ring for you.

Could you elaborate?

We were on a party line. So whenever you picked up the phone, everyone in the area could just pick the phone up and listen to what you were saying. When the phone rang it would ring one way for our neighbors, one way for us and then one way for everyone else, you know. But anytime the phone rang most people would just answer it anyway even if it wasn’t for them. You would ask into the phone if anyone else was on there and you would never get an answer, but you knew [someone was listening]. So every time you wanted to talk to someone on the phone and didn’t want people listening you would have to say, “This is an emergency!”

I imagine there were lots of emergencies.

[Laughing] Yes, I think after a while most people stopped believing it. But you wouldn’t overuse it and most time your neighbors would give you privacy when you wanted it. When people didn’t have to use party lines anymore it was so much nicer. You could say what you want without having to worry about people listening to you. It still took us a while before we could say what we wanted without feeling like someone could hear us.

Can you tell me about your radio usage?

Well, when I wanted to listen to something I had to ask someone to work the radio for me or my sisters or brothers. But I thought it was neat. I loved to sing when I was a girl, you know. I loved to sing at church and hearing the people sing on the radio always made me happy. That’s probably why I got into radio.

Can you tell me about that?

Yeah, when my dad moved us out [to Washington State] to work on the [Grand Coulee] Dam, I spent a lot of time listening to the radio. Since there were lots of families in the area who were all working on the dam there was a need for teachers and radio employees. So when I was 16 I applied for a job to sing on the radio. Of course I got the job and every day after school I would head to the radio station and sing [on the radio] for the [dam workers].

Back then you had to do your shows live, right?

Yes, there wasn’t the recording like there is now. They had those music boxes but not recordings of singers. So every day when I would go to work I would always have to try my best. Some days when I would come home people would tell me, “Well, Theda, today was good” or “Theda, maybe you needed a drink of water.” [Laughing]

It’s interesting that each day people would hear a new performance.

Yeah, but in those days people didn’t remember exactly what music sounded like. Sure you could remember but it wasn’t as easy. All you could remember was if you liked [the singers] or not and if you wanted to hear them again the next time they came on.

Did things change when albums started coming out?

Sure it did. When I was a little girl you had to remember every little bit about a song each time you heard it. And the big difference was that when I was young being a musician was a day to day job, just like a nurse or a banker. Musicians were people who made music every day. Today musicians only have to work once on a music album and then sell those. It’s very different now.

Conclusion

The reason I chose to use this section of my interview was I never considered how big the advent of newer technologies affected people pre and post World War II. After speaking with my grandmother I got the distinct impression that the 2 biggest impacts of technological advance happened in this timeframe for some people. While my grandmother does occasionally use computers and internet, her impressions about them don’t mimic the same impact as these two leaps in technology.

Before having this conversation I never considered that in today’s society we have several ways to communicate. In her time, there were three: mail, radio and telephones. It gave me insight as to both how spoiled and privileged I am to live in information age. Today it seems like our several modes of communications are vital and we would cease to function without them. Even further, it makes me curious if my grandchildren will be able to say the same about me when they are adults.

Technology: Today and Now

Alex Lasota
DTC 355
Essay 3 Wdcnt. 1,314
March 12, 2009

                                                      Technology: Today an Now

For this essay, I chose to interview my mother Mary Lasota.  Mary is mother of two, whom presently utilizes her time as a homemaker.  Throughout her life Mary has spent the majority of her hours interacting with various mediated forms.  Graduating from Villanova University with a major in Mechanical Engineering, Mary made frequent use of the analogue technologies such as the typewriter.  Mary states that the typewriter was a difficult medium to utilize, for it wasn’t nearly as efficient as the computer.  When writing her thesis back in 1979, Mary states “if you made a mistake on the typewriter, you had to redo the whole page.” Obviously analog technologies posed as a time constraint, for many individuals, causing them to take twice as long in there thought process as they do today.  

 With the advent of computers, Mary has experienced an easy transition. Mary states that the computer has “brought the world into our home.”  It allows her to manage the household efficiently, as well as research documents at a much faster rate. Not only is the computer a more efficient form of communication, but also is more economically sufficient.  She is able to research products, such as automobiles, rather than traveling from dealership to dealership. Yet even with this improved form of communication, Mary states that she feels her writing has remained the same.  While it may be a more efficient way of writing, individuals are still able to improve their dialect with the aid of a thesaurus. 

Throughout the entirety of the interview, it became quite apparent that individuals, whom utilized analog technologies, feel that the computer is a very beneficial medium in our culture today.
  It allows it’s users to budget their time more efficiently, and to some degree can even be more economically sufficient.

Alex: What writing method did you utilize in College, before the advent of computers?

Mary: Hand-written notes, primarily. There were typewriters. But you didn’t take a typewriter to class to type. I had taken a typing class…so I knew how to type.

 Alex: When you were at Villanova, what were the various difficulties you came across when using the typewriter?

Mary: The only difficulty was, I had to do a thesis, and if you made a mistake, you had to redo the whole page. So the secretaries had these programmable ones. So if you got to know the secretaries, you could use theirs. And it was a little more modern. It was almost like the computer, they had these cartridges or something, so you were able to correct your mistakes. backspace…ect. It was somewhat like the precursor of the lab-top.  That was the only time during college that it was great to know the secretary, because the thesis was pretty long. And needless to say, I got to know the secrattieres for this reason. I believe they were IBM computers/typewriters…you were only allowed to them after-hours as well, and not many people knew about them.

Alex: How do you feel a typewriter helped to improve your education? 


Mary: No effect. It didn’t have any effect on my education. The only time I needed a typewriter was for thesis or to type up papers for the required English courses, because a professional document need to be submit.  It did aid in submitting professional papers. But it only aided in 5 percent of my classes, overall I didn’t need one in my major…


Alex: When were you first really introduced to a computer and began to understand how it works? How did you feel about this? 


Mary
: Desktop? We had computers in college but they filled the whole room.  We had desktop computers at work.  We had these things at work that you could use computers, they weren’t the desktops that we use today.  The first time I was introduced to a desktop was in the early 80’s when my brother in law left us a computer, and let the family play around with it. They weren’t connected to Internet, but were used for word processing.  In that we had at work and at home. It was like a glorified typewriter, to me. The Internet came to us in the early 90’s.  Computers, I wasn’t afraid of...because I had been introduced to earlier computers…the Internet I was. I thought by accessing the Internet I could somehow mess the computer up. I didn’t understand it. I was never fearful of the computer, technology doesn’t scare me.

Alex: When did you transition from being afraid of the Internet, to feeling that it is safer, or do you even feel that it is safe?

Mary
: I think when we were first exposed, we had these trial periods with the internet…because it was dialup and my cash was full, you didn’t really get to experience the internet, because it was eating up your time going from one site to another, and that was frustrating. My husband understood things from work, but I had nothing and was learning the Internet on my own. It made the computer slower, and I didn’t understand how to empty the cash, which really impacted your speed. When we signed up for an Internet provider and didn’t have the time limit.

 Alex: What did you think about the Internet when you got a better understanding of it?

Mary: I really liked it a lot. It’s very efficient, really eliminates having to go to the library to do research. Now you can do research from the comfort of your own home.  I would have to spend my time in the library looking for jobs, research…ect…and now I can stay at home and utilize this piece of technology. It brings the world into your home; to some degree…I can even shop at home.

Alex: Do you feel that the computer has helped you express yourself in a more efficient manner?

Mary: No. I don’t think it’s impacted me from that perspective. For the most part, I don’t think it has made an impact on my writing style.  I mean if you need a thesaurus you can go online, which I also do when I write.  It does change the ease of writing…so I believe it only aids in the efficiency of writing, not how you’re writing.

Alex: What do you feel you use the computer most for? 


Mary
: Organizing the household, finances. It illuminates paper and file cabinets. You can fill everything on a little disk, as opposed to storing numerous files at home. I also use it for shopping needs…I now shop from home. The Internet, I believe, saves me quite a bit of time and money. And it also aids in doing your research, and also makes you more informed.  Like for example, buying a car. We are able to research the cars…and then able to make an inform decision…rather than running from car dealer to car dealer, because we know exactly where to go. 


Alex:  If you were able to have the Internet back when you attended college, do you believe this would have benefited from this in your education?

Mary:
Yes I do. In my field, my field was a technical field…so research would have been a lot easier. Computer wise, they don’t do the problems on paper anymore.  They do it all on computers. Engineering wise, they don’t run numbers anymore; it’s all done on software.

Alex: Any predictions on future technologies? Do you think the computer will be the same in 10 years that it is today? 


Mary
: I don’t know how much farther they can go to improve it. As much as I like it, and makes life easier. But I am glad I was exposed to life without the Internet.  I just don’t see what more they can own up.  I just hope they will eventually improve the malicious attacks, like viruses and stuff.

A New Edition to the Family

Eric Higginbotham
DTC 375
Dr. J. Farman
12 March 2009
Word Count: 1,014

My fiancée’s mom is a 46 year old, very down-to-earth individual that often puts others first. It’s a characteristic that often falls short to the majority of people I know. It’s rather unfortunate that she’s gone through some very tough times throughout her life. She’s a very strong individual that doesn’t ask for a hand unless it’s absolutely necessary. She hasn’t had a significant other since her divorce about 25 years ago. Fortunately, she’s always had her family and friends by her side to get through tough times of heartbreak and finance. Luckily, most of her family lives in town. In fact, her sister and parents live across the street. She’s been in the floral business for the last 25 years and absolutely loves the creative freedom that her job offers. She’s gained a certain level of respect around the town for her talent.

As a result of being very independent, she has picked up a strong sense of stubbornness. She still can’t grasp the idea of the ability to pause, fast forward, rewind and record TV with a DVR system. At times it can be a struggle for her to expand her horizons. She recently was introduced to a personal computer from her friends because they believed that she needed it to adapt to the advancing new technologies in communication. She’s been very happy with her new computer and finds it hard to break free from its grasp. She is still very careful and nervous about pushing the wrong buttons, but at this point of having it for only 2 months she can’t see herself not owning one.

Eric: What type of new technology have you recently experienced?

Shari: I recently just received a new computer from a friend and former co-worker. My friend bought the computer for me because he thought that it would help me keep in contact with friends and family.

Eric: Were you open to getting this or did you think it would cause more problems?

Shari: I was always skeptical of getting a computer because I thought that I was too behind to understand the new technology. I thought that it would be too hard to learn how to work the damn thing. I thought that I was going to have to learn it on my own and that scared me, but I had help from my sister.

Eric: Was it difficult to adjust to the new technology?

Shari: It was easier than I thought because I thought that if I pushed the wrong button on the computer that I was going to break the thing. Since the computer was a present, I didn’t want someone to lose money over the purchase. I’ve always been hesitant in operating something that I’ve never used because I feel like I’m going to break it. I don’t know why I have that phobia. Maybe I broke something at a young age and it’s always been in the back of my mind…hahaha.

Eric: What do you use it for?

Shari: Honestly, I’ve been on the computer playing games. My friend downloaded some games on there and I’ve been hooked ever since. I think I’m addicted to Solitaire! I use it for other reasons though too. I like to window shop on the internet. I don’t have much money but at least I can get an idea of what I want to get once I get the money. I’m going to be in an upcoming wedding so I’ve been looking at dresses, which the Internet has been great for. I also use it to email my friends and family who are not in town and I’ve recently been introduced to Facebook. I’m becoming addicted to Facebook too! All I need to do is get the hang of navigating on it and I'm set...or ruined. LOL!

Eric: So how do you primarily communicate with others? Email, IM, or Facebook?

Shari: I’ve been primarily using e-mail to talk to others. It’s such an easy process. I can’t believe that I was intimidated by the word e-mail when I didn’t’ have a computer. I absolutely love it! I’m getting into Facebook too.

Eric: What do you think of Facebook?

Shari: I think it’s great! Especially like it when I can find people who I went to high school with. I lived in a very small community so we were all pretty good friends. It’s pretty cool to see what they’re doing nowadays. I had no idea that there was an application like this.

Eric: What method of writing/communication did you use before computers?

Shari: I only used my telephone and I would write a letter every once in awhile, but I had my phone attached to my hip. Now that I have the computer I only keep it on the table instead of my hip…lol! But I still use the phone a lot.

Eric: What are some of the things that you don’t like when using a computer?

Shari: I feel like I need to constantly check my email. I don’t want to wait too long just in case the message is important. I find myself always going in that room to monitor what’s coming in. I also feel like I’m spending a lot of time on the computer. Time goes by so quickly when I’m on that thing! I get engrossed in what my computer has to offer. I wouldn’t say it’s a waste of time, but it makes me lose track of time easily. Also at work we use computers to take online orders and use email to talk to our customers about orders. I liked it much better when we used to talk to customers face to face. I think the personal touch is underrated. I feel bad for the smaller companies that are not connected to these new technologies. I feel that they are getting most of their business taken away from the bigger more technologically savvy companies. Smaller companies are being pushed out of the industry, which I feel sorry for my former co-workers that work for that small company.

Engineering a efficient work place: the tranistion to a digital technology.

Jared Thomas
DTC_375
Dr. Jason Farman
March 12, 2009
Word Count:1413

Engineering a efficient work place: the tranistion to a digital technology.

Name: Mari R. Wilson
Age: 55 and counting

I interviewed a coworker named Mari who is 55 and started her career as a drafter in 1973. She wasfirst hired by Catalytic, Inc. in Charlotte, NC as a drafting trainee. She had been a Fine Arts major in college, did not finish, and was looking for work in the classified ads of the local newspaper when she ran across an advertisement for a drafting trainee and said to herself: “I can do that!”. That was November of 1973 and she have never looked back. Mari was assigned to the Electrical Engineering group, given a design supervisor to mentor me into the system and began learning all about parallel bars (not the kind that gymnasts use!), lettering triangles, mylar, templates for drawing symbols, SkumEx bags, electric erasers and E1 Lead. She felt as though she was stealing every time she got a paycheck, because she was being paid more money than ever to draw all day long. Mari also broke the gender barrier, at least in that office, as the only female doing technical work. None of the other women in the office worked in the design floor, so she was Avant Garde!
Mari loved everything about it. Her mentor began teaching her about electrical engineering concepts right away and she was given assignments to draw building layouts, Motor Control Centers, Wiring Diagrams and Panel Schedules. Eventually she learned to do lighting calculations, size transformers and balance load panels with simple calculations.
Initially every calculation was done using slide rules and within the first five years the Hewlett Packard programmable hand held calculator came about. Then the Texas Instruments products hit the market and prices began to drop. Technology was racing back then and Mari along with everyone was truly excited about it.

Jared - What was you primary mode of communication and how did you use it in the work place?


Mari - Back in 1973 we had to keep accurate and complete documentation for discussions and decisions, so we relied on Inter Office Memorandums that were either hand-written or typed with an old IBM Selectronic typewriter and then copies were made using a duplicating copier that created a template that would be placed onto a duplicator drum. This system was time consuming and messy, because the templates would sometimes leak. The color of the ink was a lovely indigo blue, though, and had a smell that reminded you of rubbing alcohol. Not too much later the Xerox copier came about and we could run copies immediately. It really improved the transfer of information and the techniques used for playing pranks on co-workers.

Jared - What year did you transition into computer based communication?

Mari - 1986 - DuPont Corporation used a crude form of email at that time. We also were beginning to use CAD programs to generate the engineering documents. It was an entirely new world.

Jared - Was it difficult to adjust to the new technology?

Mari - No. Engineering recognizes that we thrive on innovation and new technologies offered all of us a way to celebrate the advances of our profession. There are always engineers in the workplace who want to have the latest and demonstrate skill with new technology, it is a form of displaying geek superiority!

Jared - How long did it take for the change?

Mari - When clients decided it was needed, the contracts enabled the business expense of upgrading to new systems. Drawing boards and desks were replaced pretty quickly with computers and drafting systems. I would say within a one year period the changes took place. CAD entered the workplace slowly - the cost was extraordinary and special facilities were needed to provide adequate cooling, power and proper lighting. Oddly enough, the first people who were asked to learn CAD were the ones who were not very good as draftsmen; their drawing quality was awful, and for those who took lots of pride the aesthetic of their drawings it felt like a back- handed slap that the lower quality producers were given the first shot at learning the new technology! That was back in 1980, right when I was starting my career as a mom, and I took a sabbatical from the office for a while. My company kept me busy at home, where I ran a home-based design service for six years. I returned to work full-time in 1986 and by then the CAD systems had overtaken things.

Jared - When you were introduced to the computer were you excited or intimidated at first?

Mari - I admit I had a certain amount of disdain for CAD, since I was one of the recognized ‘artists’ in the design room for my drawings. I took a lot of pride in being able to do hand lettering that looked like it was done by a template; I had a great mentor back in 1973 who showed me how to do beautiful lettering, and I thought that the CAD system would take away all vestiges of creativity and drawing excellence and make everything look ‘vanilla’. I was wrong, I soon learned!

Jared - How do you feel writing has changed between the transition from analog to a computer?

Mari - I think we are regressing. When you look at the level of vocabulary that people use today, the way SMS has taken the place of real conversation and the expected speed of responses it shows that we have lost some of the warmth in the workplace and society in general. We used to laugh about Big Brother back in the 70’s and now he is in charge. The future came to meet us while it had us mesmerized. The need to be able to communicate effectively has always been primary in advancing someone’s career. That goes all the way back to Plato, Socrates and Aristotle. We have tools at our disposal to make great improvements, and some people take advantage and use the tools for improvement. But overall, I would say we are suffering. Email allows us to hide at our desks. Before this method of communication we had to get face to face or at least make phone calls to connect into someone’s personal space. When we would estimate jobs back in the 70’s we figured it would take 100 Man Hours to complete a P&ID. today we have computers that allow us to make repetitive changes so it can speed things up and we are taking 500 hours to do the same thing. This ability to make quick changes means we can also be indecisive.

Jared - Has the change in technology affected your overall career choice?

Mari - The technology changes have modified my workplace dramatically from being tactile and conversant to provoking repetitive motion injury and perpetual email. The workplace has gone from being professional and fun to professional and cautious about every word you speak. But, I love my career. Engineering and the technology that it brings have been better to me than I ever dreamed. When I began in this industry I expected that if I made half of my current income I would be successful beyond my wildest dreams. I have met people from more than 20 different nations, worked on important projects that have impacted lives in a positive way and made enduring friendships along the way.

Jared - Which do you prefer? Old or New.

Mari - I would be lying to say that I don’t miss the old, and dishonest to say that I don’t enjoy the new. But it is hard for me to fathom how much the current ‘young generation’ has missed by not experiencing the frustration of having to start all over again on a project that may have taken 80 hours to complete and realizing that it impacts your decision making skills and forces you to look ahead at potential problems before the great memories of the days when we smoked at our desks, made silly pranks with mylar, burned E1 lead and wore pocket protectors. And actually drank hard liquor on Christmas Eve morning before we were sent out at noon to finish our Christmas shopping. But I’m willing to bet that if you were to come see me in 20 years when I am retired and begin sharing the milestones of your own career, you will have similar memories to share. And we can laugh about it as we wag our heads for the generation coming along next.

Interview with a User of Preceding Writing Media

I interviewed Alan Bates, previous executive secretary and current chief of media at Areva Inc. Richland, on the topic of his participation in the use of different writing media in the workplace. His work history is a very long one of document production and creation as a profession, not always on a computer of course. He has over thirty years of experience under his belt and has seen companies transition between mediums, often with much difficulty. As an exectutive worker in his departments, he has had to learn new media well in advance of company use, and therefore, has a large role in the training of coworkers in the use. On an average day he will have at least 25 people come into his office, needing something or his assistance.


Having an interview with Alan gives me the impression past media were good in their use, but it’s necessary to eventually use promising inventions. Being in the secretary and media departments for an extended time, he has seen his coworkers complain and attempt to slow technological evolution in the workplace (most likely for the protection of their old jobs). This is no surprise, because we see this time and time again more evidently in the evolution of writing media. He also describes computer use as, “indispensable part of daily life,” implying great benefit to those willing to learn. These changes don’t just occur though, it takes effort and help. Alan says that naturally, new technologies and media move towards efficiency and it’s easy to see how, given some of his responses below.

Daniel: What devices did you use before computers to write?

Alan: Pen, pencil, and a typewriter. The typewriter was an IBM Selectric - at first there was no correction capability, but eventually there was a correction tape version which made possible fixing typing errors.

Daniel: Helpful. How long did that take in comparison to computer typing though?

Alan: Pen and pencil was slow and painful - in that my hand would ache after writing for awhile. Many times I would be writing on a multipart form (NCR or carbon), that would take a fair amount of pen pressure to be able to read the writing on the last part of the form.

Daniel: Sounds much more difficult… So what complications were involved in this medium?

Alan: When typing on an IBM Selectric, before correction versions, I used white-out (correction fluid). If the document were a "legal document", it would have to be retyped from the beginning, as white-out was not allowed. If I took the page out of the typewriter and then noticed an error, there was the difficult process of trying to realign the text in the typewriter carriage - to attempt to use the correction capability of the typewriter. As time went by we started getting "memory" typewriters. These typewriters could store a limited number of keystrokes in the internal memory, thus retyping the page from memory and allowing corrections. Eventually, we got "Wang" typewriters or "Mag" typewriters that could store a number of pages of text and type them automatically (usually a document).

Daniel: What were the benefits of using those?

Alan: The IBM typewriter used a ribbon to produce a crisp impression (providing the ribbon was not worn out). Because the typewriter was an "impact" printer, it could type on multipart forms (usually NCR) - which is not possible even today with a laser printer. Dot matrix printers eventually replaced the typewriter, which are still in use today, partly because of their speed and partly because they are an impact printer for multipart forms.

Daniel: What situations are those typewriters still useful for, if any?

Alan: The typewriter has been replaced by the impact printer (usually dot matrix, though sometimes thermal) connected to a computer for printing. There are situations where the typewriter is still the only way to type on a multipart form.

Daniel: When and why did you switch to computers?

Alan: In 1981 I got my first personal computer at work. I started using a main frame computer in the mid 1970's with a "terminal" (no screen - thermal printer, keyboard, and telephone modem). I would call the main frame (large room-filling computer) on the telephone, and when I heard the tone - I would place the telephone handset in a cradle and the terminal would start responding. Everything was command language - no windows or GUI (graphical user interface). I took FORTRAN Programming, BASIC Programming, and other command level programming courses to help with process of developing computer applications.

Daniel: What else did computers replace in the workplace?

Alan: Some organizations specialized in things that are now performed primarily by computers, such as spell checking and grammar was performed by a technical writing/editing organization.

Daniel: In what ways are computers better, in general?

Alan: Computers provide most of what we consider to be modern conveniences and automated processes. Without computers and programs, we would be still in a very much manual mode for communication and data transmission. Computers provide real-time information in a cross-platform format, allowing groups of individuals to access information at the same time. On the flip side - computers have made us more dependent on computer chips with less ability to perform things manually. Additionally, some skills (i.e., drafting, calligraphy, etc.) are essentially a lost art because of the computer programs.

Daniel: Were computers just an upgrade in media or a revolutionary change?

Alan: In some ways, computers are merely tools to perform tasks - with the mind of the user still providing the creative direction. Programmers for today's software have done much of the thinking for the common end user. This can sometime give the impression that the end user is using creativity, when it was really conceived in the mind of the programmer.

Daniel: Overall are you happy with computers in the workplace?

Alan: Yes - computers are an indispensable part of daily life - from the chip that controls the car's parameters so the engine will start, to the chip that monitors the air handling unit of our HVAC system.

Typing: a Tactile Burden

Che is a retired factory employee and former union steward. She is a very proud great-grandmother, of Prosser, Washington. Originally from Western Washington, she and her husband (then, a small contract business owner) raised their family of four children, and have lived in Eastern Washington for the past 32 years. Married at 17, she worked for many years as a waitress in a very upscale restaurant (located inside the local Mall), to help support their family. She remembers the days of poodle-skirts, manual cash-registers, non-electric typewriters, and black and white television, when T.V. was considered high-tech. Back then, changing a channel actually meant getting up, walking all the way across the room and manually turning a knob on a big box! Whew!

Just last month, she and her husband celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a 42 inch flat-screen Sony, from their children. Looking back, it easy to see how much technology has changed. She has the voice activation set on her cell phone, speaks to her grand-children through her computer, and wonders how soon she’ll be able to buy a voice activated device for her new flat screen T.V. Over the decades, Che has seen technological advances improve the lives of many people, especially for women.

Che says, “It created the need for a whole different set of job skills”, referring to the development of the computer-age, of the 20th century. “Today’s careers have different requirements utilizing various computer-skills, and knowledge of textual programs like Excel and Word. This has provided new employment opportunities in such areas as information technology, and data processing. It has also allowed many mothers to raise a family and still be able to work from home”, she asserts proudly.

Although she is computer savvy, hand-writing or using the telephone remain the front-runners, as her personal forms of communication because, it is just that–personal. “They have computer programs that allow you to do all the same things as a high-end phone”, Che says. “That is okay but, I don’t like all of the advertising or text messaging when using a computer. It is too distracting and you forget how to spell–LOL”, she laughs.

“The computer would be the way to send letters. I do enjoy getting form letters from old high-school friends because, I hear from people who may otherwise not write. They write one letter for the year and email it to everyone. “That’s probably what I will do in the future”.

Since retiring, Che doesn’t write as much. “It is more relaxing somehow, less distracting, more personal and economical to use a pen and paper for correspondence,” but she acknowledges from experience, a computer is more efficient. For now, at least, Che waits with excitement, anticipating the day voice command replaces textual communication–typing, freeing mankind from his tactile burden!


Lee: What methods of writing did you use before buying a computer?

Che: In 1957 I took typing and shorthand. At that time, a secretary was about the only career choice for women.

Lee: How long did the process take compared to computers?

Che: It was a much longer process. First you take down the shorthand, and then transcribe it on the typewriter. All corrections had to be done by hand, and editing took longer before word-processing came along. On the computer, you type it out and press send or print, and it is finished.

Lee: What was your initial reaction, when first confronted with a computer instead of a typewriter, for textual communication?

Che: I took a computer class in college and was afraid to do anything on my own. I was very excited to learn computers but, nervous about touching anything. I didn’t want to get things messed up. I was worried about breaking it [the computer]. I was definitely intimidated about crashing it. When an unexpected problem came up on the screen, I didn’t know how to fix it. Issues weren’t explained until the problem happened.

Lee: Were there any obvious differences you noticed, from your computer class, between analog to digital technology?

Che: You can’t draw with a typewriter. It is also a resource for gathering information. With a typewriter, you have to go to the library or find another source. A computer also has programs you can use. A typewriter doesn’t.

Lee: How do you use computer programs in your daily life?

Che: Now that I am retired, I do a lot of quilting on a computerized sewing machine. I can use the computer as an inspirational resource for quilting ideas and patterns. I also use it to research other information, for correspondence (writing or speaking) with friends and family, playing games with my grandchildren, sending and receiving photos, and paying bills online.

Lee: What ways did you use the computer at work before retiring?

Che: I worked in a warehouse, and all the machines used digital technology. Everything was programmed by computers. Temperature gages, weight scales and office equipment were all computerized. Even the truckers used laptops instead of writing their information is a log-book.

Lee: Was it a difficult adjustment to digital technology at work?

Che: It kind of was at first because, when I took the computer class, I didn’t have anything to practice on at home. It was also difficult because technology was always changing.

Lee: Did you notice other adjustments during your transition to computers, outside of work?

Che: I saw in my own family, that some spent too much time on the computer. They have become more content to visit online than in person. When my grand-daughters visit, I spend a lot of time with them, playing computer games. It was also interesting and exciting getting used to a new type of socializing. You meet more people from all over the world. It’s a much faster form of communication, unless the computer crashes or the internet is down.

Lee: Were there any adjustments to maintenance issues between typewriters and computers?

Che: Typewriters just need ribbon, ink and paper. The repairs are cheaper and it doesn’t take a technician to repair it. With computers, sometimes you can call your internet provider and they can help you solve a lot of your problems. If they can’t, then you need an expensive technician to repair it.

Lee: How did typewriters make the transition to computers easier or more difficult?

Che: Typewriters were more practical because they didn’t crash! They were also less expensive to buy, required less training and needed less maintenance than a computer.

Using typewriters for correspondence is less practical because, it takes longer to write a letter and is much more difficult to correct errors. If you want to send it [letter] to someone, then you have to get an envelope and a stamp, go to the mailbox and wait for it to be delivered.

Lee: How did computers make the transition from typewriters easier or more difficult?

Che: The computer was easy to use. It made typing and editing much faster and less of a burden, but required more training than a typewriter. Although we had a good instructor, I still needed more time on it. Record keeping is also easier and more efficient, and requires less storage space. I can save vast amounts of information on a compact disk. It is lighter and takes up less space than boxes of paper.

Lee: Other than the capability to write faster and easier, have computers influenced the way you write in other ways?

Che: Yes, definitely! I write less when using the computer. Looking at a computer screen is tiring on your eyes. Your wrists get tired and sore holding them in position, while typing on the keyboard. You get pop-up ads and viruses all the time. It can be very distracting and physically stressful. Hand-writing is more ergonomic for me. There is less stress on your back, neck, eyes, hands & wrists. With a computer you get to the point of your conversation sooner.

Lee: How do you see that changing in the future?

Che: Computers will probably all run by voice commands. They will be much smaller and easier to use. They will have a more secure way to protect our personal information.


I agree with Che’s views of computers in the near future. How will computers remediate textual communication, reshaping man’s social interaction? Is textual communication becoming obsolete?

Sounds of the past

Rochelle Juette
March 10, 2009
DTC 375
Essay 3
Word Count: 1,377

Click, Click, Ping, the Sounds of the Past

For this essay I decided to interview my mom, Linda Mitchell. My mom graduated from Richland High School and then went on to Eastern Washington University to get her bachelor’s degree in business administration. Once she graduated, she chose a career path that will forever link her to technology, an internal auditor. She started using typewriters in high school. She said, “At my high school I used an electric typewriter. The electric typewriters would move by themselves to where you didn’t have to change the paper or move the paper. The noise was my favorite part. Click, click, ping, click, click, ping. Later I begged my mother to buy an electric typewriter like all my friends and the school had, she finally ended up buying one in 1974.” Once she graduated college she moved on from the electric typewriter and began using what they called a dummy computer. Soon the technology once again advanced and she owned her very own computer at home and had one at work.

To her, the hardest part was learning all the new programs that were created for the computer. She said it was also hard because one company would have you using a certain type of software that you would have to learn, and then you would go to a different company and they were using a completely different program that you would have to also learn which sometimes got confusing for her. However, she said compared to the technology that we have today she feels that no one would ever want to go back to typewriters, not even the electric typewriter that she had to beg for. She said that they were too slow and messy and it was just very inconvenient to have to load them yourself, especially if you had to make several copies.

Rochelle: What was the first form of textual communication in analogue form?
Linda: I first used a manual typewriter when I was in high school, during 1972, where you actually had to use the carbon paper. However, at my high school I used an electric typewriter. The electric typewriters would move by themselves to where you didn’t have to change the paper or move the paper. Later I begged my mother to buy an electric typewriter like all my friends and the school had, she finally ended up buying one in 1974.

Rochelle: Did you ever take computer classes in school?
Linda: Yes, in college I took a beginning computer class where we learned about computer language like cobol and fortran. We also learned how to write a computer program, this was during 1975. And this was still on electric typewriters. I learned how to type up to 90 words a minute. I also took a class on short hand. In this class I learned to write at 110 words a minute.

Rochelle: When did you actually start using computers?
Linda: I didn’t start using computers until 1984. They were called dummy computers and we really couldn’t do anything with them. We just entered information into these formatted programs. Behind the scenes someone else would run the programs. They also called them dummy terminals. There was no way to wreck anything on them; all we had to do was enter the data. This was what I did in the payroll department at my first job at Bechtel.

Rochelle: Was it hard to go from typewriter to computer? What was different about it?
Linda: No, nothing was really different. The key board is exactly the same on both. The hardest thing was learning the different programs like excel and word. Before excel it was lotus and the difficult part was at one job you would learn one program then you go to a different job and you learn something different. It was hard to transition from all the different programs.

Rochelle: What other ways do you use computers? How do you use your computer at work?
Linda: I use computers for communication, data storage (information), entertainment, information gathering, current events, pictures, etc. For work, it is basically the same as how I use it at home: communication, data storage, information, research, audit programs. The audit program stores the information on the computer instead of keeping hard copies. We scan the information into the audit program and it can be shared to other people and to people who work for our company in a different state.

Rochelle: Before how would you do your audit reports?
Linda: We would keep all of the hard copies and store them in files. We would send things in mail so it took longer. However, we always send our reports through the mail because you sometimes can’t trust the internet. It is our policy to send it through the mail.

Rochelle: That’s an excellent point. So then what do you think are the negative things about computers?
Linda: I believe that computers can become an addiction. Computers have taken us away from personal connection with other people. No longer do we just go to the library to research, we now look it up online in our own homes. We have lost a lot of that personal touch. There is so much stuff out there now, it’s inappropriate stuff, and it can be easily accessed by anyone. When you send e-mails you have to really be careful with how you say things because the tone of the e-mail could be misinterpreted. E-mails could be sent to the wrong person and confidential information could end up in the wrong hands. Computers can be easily hacked

Rochelle: What were the negative things about typewriters?
Linda: They were so messy and time consuming. If you wanted three copies you had to have the original, then carbon copy, then original, then carbon copy, then original, and one more carbon copy and then you had to type really hard in order for the type to actually show up on the paper. It was slower than what we have today. If you lost a copy you would have to completely redo it unlike with computers you can save things. I don’t think anyone would go back to typewriters now because of how time consuming they were, you would have to use white out over the typo if you didn’t have the corecto tape or the type of typewriter where you could go back and actually take off the print. But on a carbon copy you couldn’t go back to it at all, on the original you could correct it but not on the carbon.

Rochelle: Well what are some positive aspects about computers?
Linda: They are more efficient, quicker, there are also so many different types of programs you can put on the computers, document programs, and different type of painting programs you can use for entertainment. There is so much technology on computers now you can do it at your desk at home, you no longer have to go out and get things done for you, and you can now do it yourself.

Rochelle: What were some positive aspects about typewriters?
Linda: I think the only positive thing about typewriters was that they couldn’t be hacked. Unless it was a carbon copy and people could get a copy from the carbon. Other than that your information was pretty much safe on the typewriter where as today anyone can hack into your files and steal all your work.

Overall my mom believes that the computer was a great invention. She said, “I don’t think anyone would go back to typewriters now because of how time consuming they were, you would have to use white out over the typo if you didn’t have the corecto tape or the type of typewriter where you could go back and actually take off the print.” With a typewriter you had to really check for errors, it took a lot of time to type up your work and make copies, the ink got everywhere and all over your hands, and you could only do one thing at a time. She enjoys computers at work because they store a lot of information electronically and they no longer have to worry about losing their hard copies.

Sounds of the past

Today's Technology

Adam Roll
DTC:375
Dr. Jason Farman
3/12/2009
Word Count: 1066

Today’s Technology

For this assignment, I interviewed Tamara Tilley, my girlfriends’ mother. She is a 50 year old mother of three who has worked her entire life since age 16. Her jobs have ranged from working in a shirt factory to running an office for a cleaning company. Upon entering her supervising job in the cleaning office, she had a lot to learn about computers, at one point stating, “I had never even turned a computer on.” Growing up, Tamara had never been exposed to computers before this specific job, well, other than through her children at home. Right away in the interview, Tamara made it very clear that computers were extremely foreign to her, and in fact, still are to a degree. I was very impressed with the distance Tamara has came in her journey to learn computers. “I’m not dumb, I’m just very undereducated.” This statement hit me as sad in a way. Computers to me are natural and extremely essential. To Tamara, they are still frustrating and something of a luxury. She would love to take classes to learn more but does not have finances at this time to do so. She seems to be a very determined person. In Tamara’s career now, she runs the front office of an optometrist. She relies on the computer for scheduling, billing, and any other day to day tasks of a working office. Although a pen and paper feels much more natural to her, she has no choice but to bite the bullet and use the computer. She states that if it weren’t for her boss in the past pushing her into the position she had as an office supervisor, she still would probably have never turned on a computer. The technology of a computer seems very scary to Tamara. Afraid of breaking one and not knowing at all how to fix it, prevents her from really exploring it to its fullest potential. She strikes me as someone who knows what she wants in life, but just needs a little pushing to get there, such as she has had with computers.

Adam: What was your primary mode of writing technology?

Tamara: Pencil and paper was all I knew until my kids came home from school talking about computers and the internet and started printing off things they had typed. Of course they tried to get me to use a computer but I never really had any reason or want to use one. Then when I started working as the office supervisor for the cleaning company, I had no choice. My boss at the time, whose job I was taking over because she was leaving, just happened to be a good friend of mine and she knew how little I knew about computers. I had never even turned one on before. She made me a cheat book and sat for hours with me teaching me. So if it weren’t for her, I probably would still never have turned one on.

Adam: How was your transition from hand writing to computers?

Tamara: Well since I haven’t completely done it its hard to answer. I’m still so slow at typing that I don’t usually use a computer other than at work when I have to. It’s been rough and scary. Computers are not easy for everyone.

Adam: Were u looking forward to using a computer?

Tamara: No, not at all. Computers have always scared me. I hear people talking about viruses and computers crash-ing and I have no idea how to fix one if anything like that happens. I don’t want to click on something wrong and have that happen.


At work now, I will write on paper what the people say then transfer it into the computer. When someone's talking, I can’t write fast enough on the computer. They talk so fast and I am so slow at typing, I do shorthand on paper then transfer it to the computer.

Adam: How long ago was this when you first started using the computer?

Tamara: Well, it was 8 or 9 years ago when I first started, then later it was back to paper for a while when the com-puter broke. My boss didn’t get me another computer for almost 2 years after that. It was back to paper for the time being. Which was really weird. Then a couple years ago I switched jobs to one where I didn’t have to touch a com-puter. I hated that job though, it was very physically hard and tiring. I also worked every weekend. Then just a few months ago I started the job I have now in the optometrists office, where I do have to use a computer.

Adam: Have u ever used a typewriter?

Tamara: When I was in the 9th grade I took typing classes with a typewriter. I don’t remember much of it these days, but you know how they say, if you don’t use it you lose it.

Adam: What were some things to help u learn to use it?

Tamara: People such as my friends, co-workers and my kids helping me.

Adam: Prior to the computer, was there any other form of technology you used to write with?

Tamara: Other than the typewriter, In high school, not really. Just writing everything out with a pen or pencil.

Adam: So how often do you use a computer now?

Tamara: Everyday except on Saturday and Sunday, well I have email at home but I don’t write people. I just check my email. Like I said earlier, Im so slow at typing, it takes me so long to write people. I also go online to check my checking account, manage my Netflix account, and check my sons grades.

Adam: How has your life changed now that you use a computer?

Tamara: In my personal life, not that much. I am able to go on line and check my checking account, so that’s pretty cool. As for work, it has changed a lot. It is faster and more organized, it even saves time when storing and locating files.

Adam: So how far would u say you’ve come in your knowledge of computers?

Tamara: Oh a lot! I went from not even knowing how to turn one on to using email now. I would love to learn more about them when I can afford it. Maybe someday down the road.

Computers in Agriculture?

Matt Larson
Essay 3
DTC 375 Farman
3-12-09
WC 966

Computers in Agriculture?

I interviewed Rodney Larson, a 65-year-old man who should be retired right now. Rodney has been in the agriculture industry for more than 37 years. He has grown many different kinds of crops including Alfalfa, beans, wheat, sweet corn, sunflowers, potatoes, grain corn, blue grass seed, timothy hay, sugar beets, and soybeans. He has held many positions as well moving up from just a lowly sugar beet field man to an area director, and now he is the General Farm Manager in Cambridge, England. AgriNorthwest asked him to move to England to manage the entire England farm for 3 years. With much deliberation with his family and his wife he decided to go.

With being in Agriculture for so many years, Rodney has seen technology change in his industry right before his eyes. Technology has revolutionized the way agriculture is done today. Rodney has been at the AgriNorthwest Prior Project for 37 years, which he has seen it grow to where they now farm over 80,000 acres. The new technology has brought new farm equipment such as harvesters and planters. Talking about computers, Rodney said, “Computers streamlined and opened doors to collect and analyze data and to easily see means of improvement.”


Matt: What sort of writing method did you use before you started using computers?

Rodney: I used a typewriter for all the formal writing and documents, that is an electric typewriter, I’m not that old. For normal documents, however, I just used pen and paper.

Matt: What was the process like and how long did it take you to finish the entire process?

Rodney: The process seemed to take an eternity to what I use now. With typewriting you would have to double check or triple check all of your spelling and grammar quite often. If you made a mistake you would either have to erase it or use white out, which you would apply with a little brush much like fingernail polish, then would have to retype it all over again. The whole process was very time consuming, probably 3 to 4 times as long as now. I hated the darn process. I would always write my paper with pen and paper and then find a girl to type it for me.

Matt: How do you take notes at meetings and at other functions now?

Rodney: When I’m at meeting I use my computer to take notes now. It is just so much easier. It’s easier to store, keep track of.

Matt: What other uses do you use computers for in your normal workday?

Rodney: Oh lets see, I use it for so much now, I use it for research information, track data, analyze that data and information to make adjustments in growing crops to get better yields. I also use them to communicate with my workers, its nice because it’s less phone or radio time, which allows them to work more with out me having to bug them.

Matt: What was the transition like when you first started to use computers?

Rodney: Well as long they work it was a very easy transition. The problem comes when the computers don’t work, I don’t how to fix them at all so it takes men to come in to fix them and it becomes a huge pain and makes it very hard to work. The computers I use now are so much easier than the first one I used. Now they have spell check and many other functions that make the ease of use much simpler.

Matt: What are the downfalls if any are there to your use of computers?

Rodney: Well really the only downfall to computers is I’m stuck in the office more. I don’t get the face-to-face contact with my managers and workers. It also takes me out of the field so I don’t get the hands on experience to see how the crops are coming along.

Matt: What were some of the downfalls of using a typewriter?

Rodney: As for typewriters, where do I start, as I said earlier the spelling and grammar has to be correct or you have to erase or whiteout whatever the mistake was. Also, lets say you wrote out a paragraph and didn’t like what it said; you would have to completely start over with an entire new sheet of paper. Also if you ended up running out of ribbon you had to stop typing to replace it. Which stops your writing process and your ideas stop flowing through your head. With a computer you can finish whatever you need to write, then when you’re done you just have find a printer. It is so much easier. One other thing with typewriters is to enter any number data you had to use a calculator and a typewriter, that process was very painful as well as extremely time consuming.

Matt: Which of the two technologies to you prefer?

Rodney: Oh computers without a doubt. In 1975, I created the first budget on a computer that had ever been used in the company. Computers streamlined and opened doors to collect and analyze data and to easily see means of improvement. Writing also became much easier and that allows ideas to flow easier. You can pull data from the Internet and things that can add to papers such as pictures and graphs. I really like computers for business and home uses. When it comes to spelling I’m the worlds worst speller, computers keep me out of trouble. I can keep track of spreadsheets over years, where I can analyze them in minutes instead of hours. Computers also enable me to create crop production scenarios that greatly enhance production and fine tune progress with little effort.

The oldies are grooving with the newbies

Zach woffinden
Dr. Farman
DTC 375
12 March 2009
758
Out with the old in with the new

Opening my email reveals yet another message from Verla Walters. The highly decorated background and pulsating font color and size overshadow the fact that Verla is the ripe age of 58. Coming from a secretarial background, Verla is no stranger to the world of typing. Using a typewriter for most of her job career Verla fully accepted the “new fangled” invention of the computer. What was surprising is this chatter bug in a private interview could not stop talking about how she uses the internet, email and cell phones, but once I moved our interview to the internet (via email) her answers became one liners.

The intimacy Verla finds in the Internet reverts back to her love for her family, with kids with families and living away from home, she finds comfort in being able to “talk” to them with just the click of a button, and have a response back just as quick. Now retired and working from her home, via the internet, Verla enjoys the comfort the computer has brought to her life and the life of her family and although she rolls her eyes at the idea on new technologies replacing new technologies and how to keep up, but her husband simply tells her, they will just have to learn.

ZACH: Before the computer what was your main avenue of communication?

VERLA: I used the telephone. It has been such a blessing. I have seen the evolution of the phone. You were first hooked to the phone, then it became cordless, and then the invention of the cell phone. This really helped me do the laundry (she laughs). When I was pregnant I was able to have constant communication with Nick (her husband). Through the years we have seen those cell phones become part of our world. We love the cell phones, and now Nick even does his business with the cell phone.

ZACH: What was your main profession?

VERLA: I worked a secretary; we mainly used a typewriter to do most of our work.

ZACH: How did the computer influence your secretarial work?

VERLA: The computer is great benefit to secretarial work…once you get past the learning curve. It is faster and the benefits are much greater than that of just an old IMB Selectrix.

ZACH: Was the transition to a computer difficult for you?

VERLA: No with my experience as a secretary I was able to pick it up easy enough.

ZACH: What were the downfalls between using a computer versus a typewriter?

VERLA: I cannot think of any drawbacks of using a computer versus and typewriter.

ZACH: What your experience with the “evolution” of the computer?

VERLA: When Nick and I were newly married, I used to run an ad in the Tri City Herald for those who needed a typist. I wanted to contribute financially, but once the personal computer was introduced no one needed to hire someone who knew how to type. I now work for a company called “Live Ops”. I work from home with my phone and PC. Everything is online and I love the dress code!

ZACH: How has the computer influenced how you communicate?

VERLA: I started typing in high school and took some courses in college; I was “key board friendly”. I can type faster than I can write, email for me is just so much faster. They taught you short hand in 60s and 70s, but now its not needed. But most of all email allowed me to keep in contact with my kids, and it continues to be my favorite. My son Aaron, served a mission for my church and at the time the only way to communicate was through letters, but when my daughter Amber left for Africa I was able to email her and find out weekly what she was doing. Email is instant here, and now.

ZACH: What are your feelings about new technologies?

VERLA: At times I think, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. There is a learning curve for your generation, who has been raised with the evolution of so many programs. I have a Kodak picture-editing program I like to use but its now becoming outdated. Nick says we will just have to find a new program. So either I am going to learn something new or nothing at all.

ZACH: If I have any other questions for you, what is the best way to contact you?

VERLA: You can call or email me.

This Verla Walters has definitely entered the world of the computer.

A Vietnam Vet's Trasition to the Digital Age



Josh Colby


DTC 375


Instructor Jason Farman


3.12.09


Word Count: 1,935



A Vietnam Vet’s Transition to the Digital Age



I interviewed my father, David Colby, who is a pretty simple and practical man whose wisdom I personally value. Through his life of 50 years so far he has seen a lot and has been through a lot and yet still has an optimistic zest to life and has used his experiences to teach me a lot. From his time in the Army during Vietnam to the beginning of his career as a meter relay technician all the way until present where he continues his successful career of 25 plus years at the Benton P.U.D. here in the Tri-Cities, he is truly one who has witnesses the exponential growth of technology in recent decades along with the advent of computer technologies. He was trained while in the service to type official documents on mechanical typewriters and was also the guy sorting through endless trays of punch card data wrought from an old IBM 360 which, by the way, could probably fill our downstairs living room. He also is an avid photographer by hobby who transitioned from old film cameras and developing techniques to enjoying the convenience of digital photography even though he has won local numerous photography contests with both methods.


After Dave’s service in Vietnam, he spent some time as an electrician at the Martin-Marietta aluminum plant in Goldendale before moving to the Tri-Cities to work for the P.U.D. In these professions, he has seen some great technological advances with some of the mechanisms that he has had to work with. The utility meter would be a great example of this where once it was completely motorized and would last for 30 years to now where everything is completely digital and interfaced through computers but nothing lasts as long but is at the same time cheaper. Even though Dave’s transition to technology was relatively simple, he made compelling points for and against digital age technologies giving good examples like this and saying multiple times how “there’s good and bad,” or “there’s advantages and disadvantages,” and this was the strongest theme of the interview.


He personally has enjoyed newer technologies in the home and on the job yet has seen many fruits of these technologies in younger generations that he finds distasteful. “Their penmanship stinks,” Dave said about younger generations today and jokingly added “it looks like they’re (referring to college grads) in the third grade as far as their penmanship because they don’t teach it anymore [like they used to].” Yet, when asked about what he doesn’t miss about the old way of doing things, he didn’t like how “they were slower,” and “you weren’t as productive.” Yet even though he had plenty to say about the old and new way of doing things, his transition seemed pretty seamless compared to some. “It wasn’t so much a transition at is simply was buying a computer” for him.


Josh - What method of writing did you use before computers to communicate?


Dave - We wrote long-hand; just writing on a piece of paper. Also, while in the army I learned how to type; not with an electric one but with a mechanical type writer. That is how you did official documents was with a mechanical typewriter. At a max I could get about thirty words per minute, but if you screwed up it was very tedious to fix it. A lot of the time you would have to throw it away and start all over again; there was no editing. You could white out a few letters but basically if you made a mistake you would have to start all over again. It was lousy (laughter)..


Josh - How long did it take to do that usually? Like, compared to now, how long did it take to write a document or a paper?


Dave - Well…the actual coming up with the document didn’t take much longer. A lot of the times I would write a lot of the thoughts down on paper, and then I would take and type it, compared to putting into a word processor now like Microsoft Office. But then, you would just basically get it the way you wanted on paper and then you’d put it – manually – type it. So, the editing and changing afterwards, like if you changed your mind, you’d basically just have to redo the whole stinkin’ paper. Now, you can move stuff around, change things, spell check…stuff like that. [Back then] you had to manually spell check with a dictionary. So the spell check, grammar, and things like that took a LOT longer cause you had to manually look it up in a book, and now you have a computer that does all the spell checking for you.


Josh - Name a task at your work and describe how it was done before and how it is done now with computers.


Dave - Word processing is probably the big thing that you do now that you couldn’t do before where everything was manual. Another one would be databases. I remember when I first was introduced to computers back in the 70’s, there was an IBM 360 which filled up this whole room and they were teaching me how to use this thing and all of the data was on punch cards. You had trays and trays of punch cards that they would sort. Now, you can do the same thing on Microsoft Excel where you can sort by the columns whereas with that you had to pick the cards all the way through and it might take hours to do. You just had to go through sort by another one and sort by another one with all these cards with little punches, little holes in the cards, and it would take hours. Now you can do the same thing in a matter of thirty seconds. It would take hours and hours to do before. That was with an IBM 360 back in the 70’s and that was the first computer that I ever saw.


Josh - Describe your own personal transition to computers, not only at work but in your personal life at home, with emphasis on difficulty.


Dave - It wasn’t so much a transition as it was simply buying a computer. I bought a 486 SX25 with 4 mg of RAM for $1400. It was $50 per one mg of RAM. It was MS-DOS, [as] there were a lot of DOS programs, and Microsoft Windows 3.1 was the operating system which was basically running on DOS. And so, there was a lot of command lines. If you wanted to do anything, you would have to drop down and do a lot of typing and memorize a lot of commands whereas a lot of stuff now is more automated. It was a lot more manual – getting a printer to work and dial-up modems versus Ethernet over the internet. You had to dial up and you had to configure the modems and sometimes that was a tedious thing trying to get them to work. It made the geeks worth more money cause it was harder to do stuff.


Josh - What do you think are the downfalls of computers compared to how it used to be?


Dave - One of the downfalls is with kids today. Their penmanship stinks. They don’t ever learn how to write [properly]. Most people that graduate now can hardly write legibly in long-hand whereas whenever I graduated from school penmanship was important and when you wrote you could read the writing, whereas now you can’t. Everything now is mostly computerized and text, so actual writing is not as stressed. So when some of the people do write, you look at the penmanship and its just awful. So when you try to read a letter today and you look at the penmanship, if its someone who is a college graduate, it [sometimes] looks like they’re in the third grade as far as their penmanship because they don’t teach it anymore [like they used to]. I noticed that big-time. Also, people might not learn how to spell as much because they rely on things like spell check instead of learning the actual spelling, and if spell check doesn’t catch it a word might get by and the people without the knowledge will read it and since the spell check missed it they won’t know better. It might be spelled correctly but it might be wrong for the context. That’s a trap for those people.


Josh - What were some of the downfalls to the old way of doing things before computers?


Dave - They were slower. You weren’t as productive.


Josh - Which technology do you prefer now?


Dave - As far as computers? …


Josh - More specifically do you prefer computers over the old way of doing things or not?



Dave - There’s good and bad. Most of the stuff that I work with, like for instance what used to be an electromechanical meter which was a revenue meter that would run for 30 years on a motor, now is digitized and you interface with it with computers. Well, they’re more susceptible to glitches, they don’t last as long because their electronic components degrade quicker over time than some electromechanical device. So, they do a lot more and they’re more accurate, but they’re possibility for more error. Usually the electrical stuff doesn’t last as long as the old stuff which has longer life, but one of the things about [computers] is they’re a lot cheaper so you can afford to replace them every three to five years. Some of the electronic meters that twenty years ago cost $50 twenty years later cost $25 so when they used to spend a lot of money on the old meters fixing them, now they just put a new one in. So there’s good and bad. They don’t last as long but they’re cheaper and more accurate. This is more an electrical utility meter.


Josh - What about more like in your home life/personal life though? Do you like having computers?


Dave - Oh yeah. Well you can do so much more with computers like in the media. Take digital media for instance. Like with pictures, you would have to take 35mm film and then send the whole roll in to get it printed and you would have to pay for every picture (even the lousy pictures). So, you’d have a bunch of pictures and let’s say you’d have twenty pictures in a row and maybe five pictures that were really good. With digital you can just delete the bad ones and save the good ones. You’d have to remember to print [the pictures] or you can’t really do anything and you can’t even look at them. The disadvantage of not having them on film is that if you lose your hard drive then you lose all of your digital files. So, there are advantages and disadvantages. With the old way with film they would last longer than a digital file. Sometimes you can have a lot of work and have it gone by accidentally deleting a file or getting a virus the will wreck your computer. A lot of your work could be gone, whereas something that is a hard copy paper type thing you might not lose it as easily as something like a file where you can lose it or have a virus crash your computer and you lose all your work if you don’t back it up or do proper maintenance of your stuff.