So this weekend we had an unofficial “mini reunion” among former high school classmates (this would explain the no blogging for the past few days). I reconnected with people I haven’t seen in 17 years. Technology is a truly marvelous thing, because through our class of ’88 message board, we’ve all had the opportunity to get reacquainted in a way that never would have happened otherwise. Without the Internet, this impromptu reunion wouldn’t have taken place. This has made me ponder the impact of technology, specifically computers and the Internet, on my life.

For one thing, it has changed the way I communicate with friends. Letter writing may be a lost art (though one I think I would have been good at), but in some ways e-mail is a better option. It’s easy, it’s convenient, and at least in my case, I type much faster than I write. Who knew that typing class I took in high school would turn out to be so useful?

Another big thing I think about sometimes is that I am attached at the hip to my computer at work, and often even at home (easy to do since our computer sits in the living room these days). I can’t help wondering, what kind of career would I have ended up with in a time before computers and the Internet? How would I have communicated with clients and coworkers without the benefit of e-mail? What? You mean actually pick up the phone and call someone? What a novel idea! I guess in some ways, e-mail is something of an anti-social medium. But in a work setting, it’s instant documentation. That has come in handy for me on more than one occasion.

While I’m on the subject of the Internet, how in the world did people get information about anything before Google? The world at your fingertips, 24 hours a day! And speaking of Google, have you ever tried to Google yourself? I did, and many of the hits were actually me. Except the one where a character in an erotic fiction story STOLE MY NAME!!! That’s definitely not me!

So those are just a few random musings about life in the Internet age. I’m sure I’ll visit this topic again.