My dad never liked personal computers.
He was a newspaper guy originally. In the 1970s, he adopted television, and became an avid watcher of local news and 60 Minutes. But as he got older, he abandoned the tube and went back to his newspaper.
He died in 2012, never touching a PC or laptop, and never sending a text message.
I’m 49 years old now, and I see myself acting like my dad. I’m reading about Apple Pay and Google Wallet, thinking, “No way! I’ll just stick to credit cards and cash.” Perhaps I’m doomed to repeat the skepticism of my parents, only 30 years removed.
So what technology will you refuse to adopt?
Mobile Wallets – Apple Pay and Google Wallet seem like a great way to enable transactions, considering people in their 20s and 30s have already opted for surgically-implanted smartphones. I’m sure companies like Apple and Google would love to understand your purchasing habits to “better serve you”. Not me. I already get deluged with coupons at the cash register, I don’t need them popping up on my phone.
Self-Driving Cars – Again, assuming you’re in your 20s and 30s, and you can’t put down your smartphone, it makes sense to let Google do all the driving. But no thanks. When I yell at the driver, I actually want him or her to react right away, not ignore me. Somehow, I see this piece of technology as something personal injury attorneys are licking their chops over.
Smartwatches – The new Apple Watch was preempted by Samsung’s Galaxy Gear, and now the industrial world is going bananas over wearable tech and fitness bands. Look, my smartphone with its 5.2″ display, already takes up too much room in my pocket. I refuse to let tech companies invade my wrists and eyeglasses too. What’s next, a “smart ring” that pricks your finger and analyzes your blood?
Android Appliances – Why would anyone want to sync their toilet with their Android device? But apparently, there is now such a toilet, allowing you to gather statistics and adjust toilet settings from anywhere across the 4G network. There are also ovens, coffee makers, and refrigerators that sync with Android phones. I just hope the Android toilet doesn’t come with a “Share to Facebook” button.
Cloud Storage – At one time, Google Drive, Drop Box, and iCloud sounded like great ideas. I had actually used Google Drive a lot until last year. But the old school in me feels uncomfortable about storing company files and personal photos on a server policed by robots (and government agencies) looking for questionable information. Now we have 512 GB SD Cards available, with a theoretical 2 TB on the horizon. This means local storage can travel anywhere and plug into any computer.
And I like to think that I’m more open minded to new technology than my dad was. But then again, I’m sure my dad compared himself similarly to his dad.