John Martinelli's blog
We learned to talk...
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"For millions of years mankind lived just like the animals
Then something happened which unleashed the power of our imagination
We learned to talk"
Pink Floyd, "Keep Talking", Pulse - 1995
...and we learned to communicate.
Being the gadget guru and technophile I am, of course I could not wait to get my hands on the new Apple iPad - truly revolutionary. After it's delivery this weekend (yes I held out for the 3G version), and as I prepare this blog post laying down words with it's touch sensitive keyboard, I cannot help but think about how far our world has come.
I remember finishing optometry school in 1988 and being thrilled to experience "computing" for the first time. 8086, 8088, 286, 386, and then 486 processors paired with 10MB hard drives were a big deal! Remember DOS based 24K dial-up BBS systems? It was probably around that time or perhaps the introduction of Windows 3.1 with the early internet (Compuserve!) that I realized the true future power of the computer. This advancing technology will go on to change the world as primarily a communication and collaboration device - far beyond and further reaching than any mere software application. It is as obvious to me now as it has ever been. Our world is "shrinking" because of advancements in how we communicate - and the ability for us to educate one another. Think about how we primarily use our computers, cell phones, PDA's, and smart phones. We communicate.
As I continue to prepare for my "extended sabbatical" on Grenada, toting along my iPad, I realize this opportunity was made possible because of my usage of the Internet with respect to electronic research, communication, and collaboration. Without this level of effectivity, what many believed was just a "pipe dream" has now become my reality. I believe at this stage in my life and career, without these modern day tools, I would not have first found and then created this window of opportunity.
This time around, I'm so excited to experience the educational process from a technologic vantage point. Compared to my undergraduate and graduate time with a typewriter, card catalogs, and hours of library research, this should be a breeze! Right? I hope so! I plan to keep all of you posted...
To Your Circle!
- John
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Location: Charleroi, PA
Posts: 1
Although I love the freedom and power the iPad and internet provides, another hobby of mine is amateur (ham) radio. I've been a "ham" operator since I was 13 years old. I believe nothing will ever beat simple radio communication. When all is said and done, it is always "ham radio" and "wireless" to the rescue. Unfortunately, this has been quite evident with the recent Haiti disaster as wells as Katrina. And way before the Internet, I've spent many hours at my ham station contacting people from every corner of the earth imaginable. I am still active with it and find it even more exciting and mysterious compared to the Internet. However, as my post reflects, I believe nothing has affected society as a whole more than the Internet - even television. So I'm actually more excited to do some ham operating from Grenada!
I think my favorite iPad app is Blackboard which allows me to now access my MBA coursework and classes - everything literally at my fingertips! The web browser is phenomenal and the ability to download electronic books and texts is huge. There are some awesome medical applications - just a matter of time before EMR really takes off!
What are your favorite apps so far? I was just reading an article about apps for stargazing (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/technology/personaltech/29smart.html?s...) —you hold the iPad up so its back is to the sky (even if you're inside), and it shows you what part of the sky you're looking at, the names of the stars and constellations, etc. The perfect app for a clear night on the beach in Grenada! ;)
No, seriously, though, the tech advances and what they've allowed us to do in the last 20 years are just wild. When AOL (Remember that?) first took off, I remember sitting with my dad and going into some generic family chat room, and he was so excited that we were talking to people on the other side of the country! Immediately! Through our computer! Today, that's nothing.