Jacqueline Gresell

English 345

Technology Autobiography
On my desk at home is a fairly new and expensive lab top, two i-pod shuffles, a

digital picture frame and an advanced graphing calculator. This may sound as though I

am very technologically literate; however I am the complete opposite. I am quite old

fashion, for example both of my i-pods in which I received my first one about two years

ago have no music stored on them and my one year old digital picture frame has been

turned on approximately three different times. My graphing calculator is designed to

perform such advanced functions that most math classes here at the University prohibit

the use of. I could use this machine to help me in many of my classes for instance

chemistry; however I have never taken the time to dissect its functions. My computer on

the other hand I use more often but not by much. I use it to store pictures and to

accomplish school work such as writing papers, checking my email and going on the

University website. I also very rarely will use my computer to surf the web. In fact I have

a Facebook account, but I have not been on it for about three months. Among my friends

I am considered a late adopter and as one can see my life with new technology and my

technical autobiography is indeed boring.

In my life time is an essence. I do not set time out of my busy schedule to teach

myself how to efficiently use my technological devices. I always seem to find different

ways of using my time. I just cannot get myself up to actually spending the time to sit

down and teach myself to learn about and operate my technology devices. I do not make

it a priority to stay advanced in technology and when I do it takes much more time then

planned. This is when I discontinue the learning and the device, like my i-pods sit in my

desk untouched. I know though that if I had the patients I would truly enjoy each item.
 Jacqueline Gresell

English 345

Technology Autobiography
Therefore I do not own or now of any technologies that would be beneficial to my

classmates.

When I do at times go through the process of learning new technologies, in which

I find quite boring I usually fiddle around with the device. If I cannot figure it out then I

ask my younger brother, Patrick, who in which is the most “technologically literate”

person in my life. He enjoys learning new advances and tricks with technology. He

recently started to dissemble broken X-Box 306’s and fixing them. I have learned a lot

about my computer from him such as how to keep my computer updated and how to fix

the internet problems that occur on it. I believe Patrick is so literate because technology is

a major interest in his life. He is very intelligent and has been working with computers

and technology advanced electronics since he has been very little. He is the youngest out

of four and as a child he was constantly keeping up to the oldest three especially the

oldest brother. My oldest brother and Patrick would spend much time play video games

together and even if Patrick was not playing he was indeed watching. The age gap

between the two is about ten years so Patrick’s mind was subject to technology at a very

young age.

While I was growing up our household did in fact stay in touch with the new

technology advances. The earliest piece of technology that we had and played with was

the Atari. I remember playing with it and watching my older brother play for he was

much better than my sister and I. It had a few malfunctions and stopped working as we

grew older. We or I should say my oldest brother always had one of the new video game
 Jacqueline Gresell

English 345

Technology Autobiography
systems that in turn we played with including Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64 and then X-

box 360. As a Christmas present when I was in elementary school we received a Gateway

computer and all of us children were very excited. We had games that we would play on

it and always loved to use the paint shop. When I was in the second grade my oldest

brother, sister and I all received Game Boys for getting good grades. This was a major

deal to all of us. We all had games and would share each one. As we grew older so did

technology around us and in our house.

I am not technology literate; however I am not technology inapt. I know the basic

and this in my life is perfect, for there are no potential negative impacts on my lifestyle. I

believe yes that it may affect me socially but this is no concern to me. I could become

more socially active through the use of Facebook, Myspace, or Twitter but I use other

technology such as cell phones to keep in contact with all of my dearest friends and

family. I am not incapable of using and learning about new technologies. I truly just have

no desire. I know though that as time passes I will subject to learn many new

technologies for they could have a major impact on my life. In the future I believe that to

be technology literate one must be able to use and understand new technology advances. I

am eager to see and watch what new technology will make its way into our society’s

lifestyle.
 Jacqueline Gresell

English 345

Technology Autobiography