Oops, I did it again: The Allure of Tech

[keirsey]

Ok, I am that typical nerd Rational.

I love Tech. I have been watching the advance of electronics and computers for more than fifty years and I love it. But I rarely take the leap and actually spend money on the "latest" and "greatest" in Technology. I saw the parade: IBM 360's, PDP-10s, the PDP-11, ArpaNet, Lisp Machines, The Mac, Hypercard, The Newton, The Internet, GPS phones: often the bleeding edge of technology. I was just wondering when they would get to these things, although I didn't predict the Internet in its global reach.

The lastest tech I have been waiting for: e-books... I couldn't help it, it might be the time, I ordered a Kindle 2.

I have been waiting for such technology for awhile: I remember listening to Alan Kay's musings about the Dynabook in the early 70's.

[mkb32]

Admit it, Dave.
You just wanted continuous access to Wikipedia.

... easier to read, even in bright sunlight, huh? hmmm ...

WAIT, what would I do with all that extra space in my world?
Does that mean I have get ... furniture!?!

[Goodrum]

This is fantastic!

Serious, seriously fun, I never knew such a thing existed, it would mean all the books, all literature at one's fingertips, the hard to gets, the, oh we better order this in...no more..all these tricky books from here my libraries, yes plural, library people, look at me quizzically; "huh?"

Only one problem I think, we are Next G, not 3 G.

I want a Kindle 2. I will get a Kindle, if not here in Next G land, then when I shift to 3 G land.

Nothing wrong with nerds at all, very cool people and know always, always where the brain fun is. Meaning extra special knowledge of brain fun stuff, as well as ordinarily everyday fun too..

LOVE IT!!!!!
Thankyou.

[jwetmore]

Rationals are supposed to love technology, but I am rarely on the cutting edge, much like Dave.

In my youth, I could quote technical specifications for stereo equipment, cars and other technolgy, but typically contented myself the value portion of the curve instead of the bleeding edge. I love the idea of progress, I was the first in my social group to buy a VCR, but find little need for the newest cell phones, or social networking. (I do have a Garmin GPS, but it was a gift. I would have continued to rely on my own wits to find my way around without it.) My children now are far ahead of me in consumer electronics technology. The idea of a Kindle 2 is interesting. The audio option seems very worthwhile. (I now spend more than an hour a day commuting, and have grown tired of the radio. I now listen to recorded books - mostly nonfiction - but the availability seems so limited. It seems like the Kindle 2 could solve that limitation.)

I think I am typical of Architect Rationals who love technology, but do not need to be on the cutting edge, nor surround themselves with gadgets. To me, gadgets may interfer with thinking, learning, and unraveling the puzzel of systems. I am a faithful reader of TechnologyReview.com, and used subscribe to the magazines Scientific American and Popular Science.

I would be interested in learning if there is a concensus about which temperaments have greatest desire to push the envelope of early adoption of technology. Do the utilitarian Promoter Artisans adopt technology - like Blackberries - to increase their influence and impact? Do Mastermind Rationals adopt the latest technology just because they can? Are the expresive Idealists so focused on people and morale that technology holds little interest? I am really curious. Adoption of technology seems like a good marker that would help in speed reading temperaments.

[Architron]

Yeah, my buddy told me about it when it just came out.

Yet there's always something fulfilling about an actual book. That and the Kindle 2 will be outdated any day now.

[fuzzynavelnot21]

I'm not sure where to put this, but I thought some people here would appreciate this. I never actually thought of myself as a 'geek', haha, but...ummm....I do a generous number of the things listed here, haha. I figured overall that more Idealists and Rationals, as opposed to Guardians and Artisans, would relate to this article. Oh, and btw, I don't think these things are 'annoying', haha. If I did, I'd be also calling myself annoying. Yea, not gonna happen.

http://blog.wired.com/geekdad/2009/03/10-annoying-hab.html

[halcyondreams]

Yes, I must agree. The allure of technology is so very strong. For me, I find myself buying, but actually finding very good uses for the technology I love so. At this point in time, I have only a short list of wants...a kindle 2 and an iPhone. A device for each hand. hahaha

[Azure]

Yes, I must agree. The allure of technology is so very strong. For me, I find myself buying, but actually finding very good uses for the technology I love so. At this point in time, I have only a short list of wants...a kindle 2 and an iPhone. A device for each hand. hahaha

Okay, now I gotta go look up Kindle 2. I’m curious! Heck I just bought my first Nintendo DS Lite on Ebay last night! Hope I got a good deal. It was used & came with 5 games, & the games being offered seemed like ones I would enjoy.

But actually Halcyon, I saw your name & had to ask this ? Are you a Mary Chapin Carpenter fan? If so, then I suppose you know why I asked.

[keirsey]

I think I need to create unique category for myself as a uberubernerd , since my second book I downloaded is The Discovery of Quantum Mechanics 1925, Volume 2, of The Historical Development of Quantum Theory, by Jagdish Mehra and Helmut Rechenberg.

I find there are some aspects of using the Kindle2 that are better than reading the book. Being older my eyes aren't so good as they use to be, so I like the big fonts. It keeps my page I am reading. I haven't explored all the things that can done, but I like it, and I am very glad I took the leap.

[halcyondreams]

But actually Halcyon, I saw your name & had to ask this ? Are you a Mary Chapin Carpenter fan? If so, then I suppose you know why I asked.

Hey Azure, that's pretty cool and yes. I bet I know which song you are thinking of too.

I think I need to create unique category for myself as a uberubernerd , since my second book I downloaded is The Discovery of Quantum Mechanics 1925, Volume 2, of The Historical Development of Quantum Theory, by Jagdish Mehra and Helmut Rechenberg.

Question, could you recommend a good book on that subject? I just finished Stephen Hawking's "The Universe in a Nutshell" (probably simplistic in comparison). I would love to know another good read. Quantum mechanics, string theory, and the possibility of M-Theory interest me...but on a hobby level. Any ideas?