Classrooms changed from chalkboards to use whiteboards with printing functions, nowadays, classrooms uses laptops/tablets to conduct lessons. It is engaging to say the least as it brings aesthetics to the students which I think is helpful for creativity growing up.
Technology is inevitable:
"kids are born into an era where from infancy, they see more camera lenses of smart phones than actual human faces."
The question is:
Have we ever stopped and think if "it" is necessary? By "it" I meant these technological advances. Again, I do not mean the capability of advancement, I meant the constant need to upgrade.
At times, I blame the marketing department for promoting useless things for profit (case in point: but that in essence is the hardest thing to do in marketing right?) Lets quickly look at some of the things where our judgement is clouded due to specs. I'm not going to lay out any specs as you can look it up yourself, I'm just going to write based on my own personal experiences.
Now when people buy any consumer electronics, they will look at the specs and price before looking at the actual product, as if they will be tested in some user qualification and proficiency exam next week or otherwise the product will be taken from you.
Phones
This is the most commonly argued topic every 6 months when a new phone comes out, this versus that. Apple vs Android.
I have used an Apple iPhone 5S and a Samsung S5 concurrently before. Apple is my personal phone just because I get android phones provided by office. I use them both for work and entertainment, whichever is within grasp. I have to say, the overall user experience after owning them for 1 year is quite clear, Apple being the older design (iPhone 5S Oct 2013, Samsung S5 Apr 2014), does perform more reliably and simpler to use.
The iPhone just works, it does not list out it's specs to compare with other phones, it just works. The Samsung, although initially faster, starts to lag after 8 months of usage. No point having a super computer spec-ed phone when it is so laggy after 8 months of usage right? Not to mention Apple's bloat ware do not hinder as much as Android and Samsung's (I seriously hate Samsung's and Singtel's ultra useless bloatware and you still glitched and gave away private information of other customers)
That being said, Androids are easy to use for emailing and watching videos. But for communication , Facebook, games, general app usage, charging speed, form factor, function factor, shelf life, and reliability over a long time iPhone takes the lead.
Television
When I was young, TVs were fat and phones can be used as a weapon. Now TVs are slimmer than brick phones, and have Android systems within it.
720p, 1080p and recently Ultra HD 4K (I wonder what funny names will they come up next, cosmic clarity/reality vision/real view 12K Super Duper Ultra HD abbreviated SDUHD)
When I stand in an array of TV, I really could not discern between 720p or 1080p much less UHD 4K which is it's trade name, when in fact Ultra HD 4K is technically 2160p (you know that right? Or are you a sheep that buys whatever people tell you to?)
It is the same with music players, the media format and quality is just as important as the medium, no point having UUUUUHDTV when you plug it into normal TV or watch 1080p movies. It's like loading nerf gun rounds to a Barret M82.
"Isn't it funny when your TV has more resolution than you in life?"
Computers
Nuff said, all generic windows laptop lags, just suck it up and pay for new one. And Apple is intimidating to use for windows users.
*whipsers: anyone mentioned Linux?
Laptops used to dominate IT Shows but now it is like the airline industry in an eternal arms race. Portability vs specs vs hardware vs software, it has come to the point where most 'flagship' laptops offer the same programs with plenty of bloatware by their own company.
There is also the case of focusing on packaging, cased in full aluminium alloys and has all the curves. Best is to understand your own usage when choosing laptops.
Portable Music Players
This is where sky is the limit, audiophiles gone wild, high end audio equipment starts being portable and everyone is taking it to the streets with their custom IEMs and super expensive Music players listening to songs that weren't even recorded with that much clarity in the first place.
It bugs me out to see people listen to Meh-gan Trainor's: Like I'm Gonna Lose You in loseless format when it is very autotuned by computers in the first place.
Jazz I can understand if fans want to hear Gonsalves catch his breath between breaks, but I find it to be very pointless and the fun of listening to music is lost when listeners are trying to catch such clarity but forget the music.
Fridges
Do we need 5 doors and 20 storage drawers? What is this? An 'apothecary' fridge to store the 100 varieties of drugs and substances? Not much advances have been made in energy efficiency, yet we get fridges that makes ice in 20 gradations of crush-iness. A fridge is a fridge, open, put your stuff inside, close.
+++++
Sometimes we get are mesmerised by the sales pitch that we forget we look exactly like that with better skin condition.
That all being said, there is also the factor of phasing out of products or discontinuing support for older products to consider when buying new stuff. But that is how the money world works. For example, a street lamp post : at 5 years of age, it is removed entirely with the ground cemented then again drilled to install the same design but new (probably refurbished) street lamp post with another bulb. It is pointless but money changes hands and it makes some people rich so they are ok and we as ordinary folks have no choice but to suck our own thumbs and watch. However, do not change out your iPhone every time a new one is released.
Then again, this is not applicable if you genuinely have an interest in Tech. This is only for the good ordinary folks. What do you think?
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