I used to think I was a reasonably intelligent person. I managed a household, worked full time, raised a kid, balanced checkbooks (using a calculator) — and yet, somehow, my phone has made me question all of it. It knows what I want before I do, answers questions I didn’t ask, and mocks me with smug little autocorrects.
Just last week, I text reminded Kate “I’m going to physical therapy.” which was autocorrected to: “I’m going to psychic therapy.” (Honestly, might be more fun.). (Another blog ... shoulder injury). Now I changed my signature when writing from my phone to "semi-retired, fully committed, occasional fat finger typing and help from my friend, AutoCorrect"
Back in my day (oh yes, I said it), phones were attached to walls. They rang. You answered. Simple. Now, they ding, vibrate, flash, ping, and occasionally burst into song because I assigned family and friends with distinctive ring tones.
And don’t even get me started on voice assistants. Alexa and Siri might as well be mean girls from high school. I'm trying. I've given up on Alexa but am making progress with Siri. And really, she gets it right most of the time. I need to use her more. Texting? I’ve learned to use one finger, very slowly, like I’m diffusing a bomb. I haven't been brave enough to ask Siri to write my text.
Passwords are another modern torture. Fortunately, my tech savvy nephew recommended One Password a couple of years ago. In the past, I would use a birthday (let's say mine) with my first pet's name in between the 19 and the 52. Then if I had to change that password, I would use a grandchild's info. Now I let it create a new password like
het4jmr8KET8azn.rmz
Because the software works on my phone and my computer. AND - I am finally letting facial recognition open things on my phone. Then I don't have to put on my readers.
But here’s what my real problem is ... finding a file or an email from two years ago. Or a recipe for salad dressing but can't think of what I named it. So I’m taking an online class on digital organization.
The first best thing I've learned is to use a dated and very long description for easier finding. For example:
The first best thing I've learned is to use a dated and very long description for easier finding. For example:
2025.05.02 JB dressed up to go out
for dinner for my birthday.
Now I can go to the little magnifying glass and search for "my birthday" or "photos in May 2025". It's not much and the best advice? Just start NOW with the new naming system. I can always go back and rename just ONE of the photos I took of that sunset in April 2013 while deleting the other 13 that I took "just in case"
Happy Mother's Day to everyone who has a special someone in their lives ~
My Mom
My Daughter
I need to take that digital organization class. Although I can usually find things by searching a phrase I know is unique to a particular file.
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day!
I've been lucky as well, although having a long list of qualifiers might save me time. And I wish there was a bulk way to delete duplicates. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteWhat great Family Photos of your Mom and Daughter. I am Tech Challenged and likely to stay that way. I do not like Auto Correct either, it presumes things I didn't say at all and sometimes I don't catch it in time to correct the auto correct. *Le Sigh* I don't use those Bots Siri or Alexa at all, they creep me out. I would like a Photo Online Organizational System to find specific Pixs coz the old way with Dates somehow got messed up and now they're no longer even in that order at all. When I bought a new advanced computer it didn't integrate well with what was transferred over to it and I'd only just gotten used to the old archaic one and how it worked. I'm a Dinosaur and when my Species is extinct I think the Tech savvy World will be grateful. *LOL* I frustrate the Hell out of them by refusing to use Portals, Apps and such... I don't even like having a Phone, let alone using one and having it be my Leash.
ReplyDeleteAnd each of us is happy choosing Analog or Digital life. We still get our things done. When Mr. Ralph passed, I copied his photos into mine ... so imagine 40,000 photos to choose from. Today's lesson was about managing email although I do that every day, so not big project looming.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting.