I love technology! I say that all the time. But here’s a particularly outstanding, if personal, example. That cannon icon (Arsenal soccer team logo) is my son’s current location in London, brought to me via Google Latitude. It’s beyond fun to log into the map and see exactly where he is at any time, especially when I can compare this map to one he made before he left, with little pins marking all the spots he hoped to visit while he was there. That’s in addition to the many points of interest already labeled by Google. Silly, perhaps, but this is the sort of thing that intrigues a map-nut mom like me.
The Son had to do some techie things to be able to use his Verizon (CDMA) cell phone in London, and I couldn’t describe them if I tried. But obviously it worked. It’s going to be fun watching his movements over the next 10 days while he, his dad (my ex), and my grandson are there, primarily to see an Arsenal soccer match at Emirates Stadium, but also to catch one or two other matches in the area, in addition to doing as many normal “touristy” things as they can squeeze in.
I’ve been promised a fancy “slide show” presentation, complete with music, when they get home and I’m really looking forward to it. It’s going to be light years beyond the old slide shows my dad did when I was a kid — Kodachrome slides, properly oriented (not upside down, sideways, or backwards) and inserted in proper sequence into the slots/carriers of a cartridge or carousel, which was then mounted on the projector. Slides were changed with a push button control on a long cord (we kids fought for the privilege), and jams were common. Images were projected on a big screen that dropped down from a compartment in the ceiling (an improvement that came after a few years of projecting onto bedsheets, followed by a few years with an awkward, heavy free-standing screen). Of course, there were movies, too. Lots of movies. 16 mm, not the lesser 8 mm.
My dad would have been tickled to death to see what “slide shows” and “home movies” look like today. Not to mention the giant HD TVs that serve as screens. He’d have loved the technology as much as I do.
Now that’s really fun…real armchair traveling! (We just bought an extra phone to use over there.)
Are they going to try computer online chats and “show and tell”?
Amazing
Yes, they took a laptop, cell phones, cameras, and some sort of portable wifi thingy. I expect calls, text messages, emails with pictures, and Skype calls. Not a lot. They’ll be too busy. But they have the capability.
Such new adventure with travel. (It’s a great time of year to be there – cool weather but not as crowded as summer – and not hot walking around)
Unfortunately, it appears they’ve flown into some unseasonably cold weather. But I’d take that over heat any day.
We were there during a cold Easter (had taken coats and sweaters – they can buy on there as a souvenir – there are bargains) – it was wonderful – no sweating and able to enjoy drinks and food that might be too heavy/hot for warm spring…fog, fine! That’s what all the stories talk about in London. Just a great thing they went
They packed for cold, wet weather. And personally, I love fog.
It was magical seeing it there…like all you image when reading books
That so cool PT, though I’m a little paranoid of having my own movements tracked like that. Does he get to choose who sees the updates?
BTW, I’m clicking the “Notify me of new posts via email” box, since all of my email sign-ups have apparently been reset.
And there’s my subscription notification. Jeez, I hope I don’t have to do this everywhere!!! 😯
Oh yes, you can set exactly who sees your location, by name. And you can turn it on or off anytime. Like when I go to meet my secret lover and don’t want my son to see … 😉
Haha! Now if I could only set it to look like I’m at my secret lover’s (you know, the “supermodel”) place? 😆
😆
Fascinating developments. And yet… though many of my peers in the 70+ world see my blogging as amazing and mysterious it is tough to convince them to get online more than for email.
Feel myself drifting behind the tech world. Finally got onto FB for social justice concerns but texting out of the question!
Somewhere there’s a disconnect between seniors who know, love, and embrace technology and those who don’t, and I can’t always understand why. I do feel I’m at a huge advantage having a techie son who can explain things to me or do things for me that would have me at my wit’s end otherwise.