Ode to the Tech Talk Listener
(Who Thinks Things are Changing Too Fast)
by Dr. Richard Shurtz (Doc)

I remember when you only needed the screen size to buy a new TV
Now we have LCD, DLP, Plasma, HDTV, and Surround Sound

I remember when you got your telephone from Ma Bell in black or tan
Now we have CDMA, GSM, Picture Phones, and Text Messaging

I remember when Ma Bell actually made money
Now we have voice-over-IP putting the telecoms out of business

I remember when business and government were in buildings
Now we have e-business and e-government

I remember mail ordering using the Sears & Roebuck catalog
Now we order online using the World Wide Web with SSL encryption

I remember when people wrote letters and stamped envelops
Now we send and receive email using Outlook and POP servers

I remember when PDA meant Public Display of Affection
Now we have Personal Digital Assistants like Palms and iPACs

I remember when you dug worms and went to the doctor for a virus
Now we have anti-virus software to guard against worms and viruses.

I remember when you bought film and then got it developed
Now we have Megapixel digital cameras with mpeg picture files

I remember when you typed with a typewriter on paper
Now we have templates, style sheets, clip art, and Microsoft Office

I remember when music was recorded and stored in analog
Now we have digital MP3 and WAV files and Internet file-swapping

I remember when satellites carried only astronauts and monkeys
Now we have DirecTV, XM radio, and GPS

I remember when kings consulted the Oracle at Delphi
Now we query an SQL database made by Oracle

I remember when the richest man in the US owned railroads
Now he owns a software company

I remember when Information was not related to Technology
Now Information Technology is a career

I remember when keeping up with the latest technology was a struggle
Now we have Tech Talk……what a relief!