I make (though rarely keep) New Year’s Resolutions every December. This year, my resolution is to re-activate my personal blog, which has been mostly lying fallow. Do you have any…finally backing up that hard drive? Making your home more energy efficient? Or maybe you want to de-technologize some of your life, say, walk to work instead of taking the car. Let us know your technological new year’s resolutions here!
Twenty winners drawn at random will win one of these stylish and practical Spark re-usable grocery bags (robot arm not included).
I resolve to use facebook a lot more and conventional email a lot less!
I resolve to complete the task of converting all my songs to mp3 format and uploading them to my player.
I resolve to stop being such a technical peasant and get with the program.
I resolve to use facebook a lot more and conventional email a lot less!
I resolve to complete the task of converting all my songs to mp3 format and uploading them to my player.
I resolve to stop being such a technical peasant and get with the program.
Rather than sending email, I’ve started writing (with pen & paper) to the members of parliament, my city councillor, etc. about things that annoy / please me.
And surprisingly am getting responses – not always favorable – but they know who I won’t vote for next time round.
All the best, Alice
My techy-type New Year’s resolution is without question to check my facebook account only ONCE per day. If this fails help from Facebook Annonymous will be sought.
My techy-type New Year’s resolution is without question to check my facebook account only ONCE per day. If this fails help from Facebook Annonymous will be sought.
I feel that I have been leeching off the information provided on this and other electronic media sources. I listen/read/download ideas and entertainment without ever posting any comments.
I resolve to actually participate on communities that benefit from member input and group discussion.
Resolution made, resolution kept…
I feel that I have been leeching off the information provided on this and other electronic media sources. I listen/read/download ideas and entertainment without ever posting any comments.
I resolve to actually participate on communities that benefit from member input and group discussion.
Resolution made, resolution kept…
My Techno New Years Resolution is to not purchase any new technology. If my television, stereo or computer die, I will replace them from a thrift or second hand store. No Ipods for me……life is too short to miss even a few minutes of it….
I resolve to broaden my podcast playlist to include a more diverse selection of shows over and above the solitary one I listen to now, which is Q. I also resolve to take a page from Mitch Joel’s book and unify my various online presences!
As a teacher I feel like I am bound by the paper to pencil, project type assignents for my students. Don’t get me wrong we are creative BUT this year my resolution is to integrate technology into my classroom with group media friendly assignments and updating my own tracking sheets/mark book to something more fluid and flexible and of course computer assisted!
Cheers!
@ Sherrie,
I have heard of some really interesting school projects using web 2.0 tools. I heard of one class project that involved making myspace pages for historical figures (I think it was the Tudors) and using the pages to show the links among them.
When I hear from teachers, I find that they’re very aware of things like online media literacy and using technological tools, but the challenge often seems to be finding the time to get up to speed and implement it, when there’s so much other work to be done.
When I first heard about de-technologizing life for the New Year it put a smile on my face because I’ve been doing so ever since my girlfriend went to Halifax for school. I realized that we have so many unnecessary gadgets & technological-related commitments. Ever since September I’ve accomplished great things by reducing the amount of technology usage around me.
For starter’s I’m that 0.001% of university students that de-activated their facebook account during the school year. Guess what? My grades went up, I didn’t need a vanity page reminding me how good looking I was, and its not like I hung out with my facebook “friends” on Friday nights to begin with.
Secondly, I limited the amount of time I wasted on the phone by changing my cell phone plan. I began tutoring ever since September (a home-based business of mine). Instead of having an expensive unlimited everything plan— I have a very affordable free incoming plan with a few free daytime minutes in case of emergencies of course. My cell phone is now a business line as opposed to a drama line.
Another de-technologizing step in my life is the lack of television. I don’t have much interest in television, I watch maybe 2 hours per month. (Which I think is above and beyond reasonable.) I prefer to listen to CBC radio 1 on study breaks or while I’m on the bus.
I’ve been doing pretty well so far. I’m not abandoning the advancements in technology but rather I am adopting Darwinian 21st century theory: technological selection.
I now have time for the things I love. Yes I am only in my early 20’s but reducing the amount of technology in my daily life has provided me with the time to conduct research in the virology lab at the faculty of medicine which I must say is a passion of mine. I’m also hoping to make out with my girlfriend when she comes back from Halifax as opposed to sitting at the computer. Hence my new resolution is to limit the amount of internet time I spend and use that time more productively with good company such as Natasha and reading of course.
I was toying with the idea of resolving to turn off my blackberry for 24 hours (consecutive) each week, but I know that one wouldn’t make it to Epiphany. So in a more realistic vein, I resolve to embrace the technology in my life hi-tech and lo, from my blackberry to the Japanese water heater that I use to make my tea. I resolve to buy a TiVo so I don’t have to rely on my friends to record shows for me. And most importantly I resolve never to use the expression 2.0 unless I am actually referring to a piece of software.
When I first heard about de-technologizing life for the New Year it put a smile on my face because I’ve been doing so ever since my girlfriend went to Halifax for school. I realized that we have so many unnecessary gadgets & technological-related commitments. Ever since September I’ve accomplished great things by reducing the amount of technology usage around me.
For starter’s I’m that 0.001% of university students that de-activated their facebook account during the school year. Guess what? My grades went up, I didn’t need a vanity page reminding me how good looking I was, and its not like I hung out with my facebook “friends” on Friday nights to begin with.
Secondly, I limited the amount of time I wasted on the phone by changing my cell phone plan. I began tutoring ever since September (a home-based business of mine). Instead of having an expensive unlimited everything plan— I have a very affordable free incoming plan with a few free daytime minutes in case of emergencies of course. My cell phone is now a business line as opposed to a drama line.
Another de-technologizing step in my life is the lack of television. I don’t have much interest in television, I watch maybe 2 hours per month. (Which I think is above and beyond reasonable.) I prefer to listen to CBC radio 1 on study breaks or while I’m on the bus.
I’ve been doing pretty well so far. I’m not abandoning the advancements in technology but rather I am adopting Darwinian 21st century theory: technological selection.
I now have time for the things I love. Yes I am only in my early 20’s but reducing the amount of technology in my daily life has provided me with the time to conduct research in the virology lab at the faculty of medicine which I must say is a passion of mine. I’m also hoping to make out with my girlfriend when she comes back from Halifax as opposed to sitting at the computer. Hence my new resolution is to limit the amount of internet time I spend and use that time more productively with good company such as Natasha and reading of course.
watch more stuff online
watch more stuff online
I love that idea of de-technologizing your life, Karim. I think it’s true that sometimes you actually have to intervene actively, by doing something like changing your cellie plan, to make that change in your life happen.
Nora,
Thanks for the reply; it really shows that you care about the opinions of your listeners. Kudos! I agree with your point. Technology was intended to make life better, however, in an attempt in doing so it can also sometimes make life feel more convoluted and inefficient. It’s a question of choice. Is this thing, whatever it is so worth it? Will it really make my life more organized, faster and more fit for the technological society around me? Fit (another Darwin joke, no pun intended). My view on technology is want vs. need.
I don’t see the need in purchasing the latest XZ5000thingIcouldcarelessabout to temporarily cradle whatever emptiness might be inside. Materialism and consumerism only go so far before you realize you have nothing at all.
The things we want are the things we don’t have and the things we need are the things we take for granted. By the way, thanks for the conversation. Any chance we might be able to meet in person? Or maybe we can be pen pals? knass097@uottawa.ca
P.S: Despite the comments, I’m very pro technology. As mentioned above, I’m just selective about the ones I personally use.
Does the XZ5000thingIcouldcarelessabout come with flash—upgradeable firmware?
As John Meyer puts it in Something’s Missing, "How come everything I think I need, always comes with batteries? What do you think it means?
This is in a slightly different vein to the bulk of the other comments. I’ve just joined, and am planning on getting seriously involved with, a group trying to lobby the Wellington City Council to introduce light rail instead of relying solely on buses as a basis for the urban public transportation system here.
I can also reiterate a few other ideas: less gadgets (and bought 2nd hand), reasonable levels of personal organisation, and I quite liked the comment about cooking with simple utensils.
Ideally, I’d like a theme for the year (and maybe longer): think about the stuff I use – where it comes from, where it goes and what makes it work. With that, I can look at my lifestyle, justify the bits that I can, and do something about the bits that I can’t.
Next year I plan to spend more time learning about the different technologies used in television production and how to use them. I also want to learn more about the inner workings of my computer in order to better understand its quirks.
Next year I plan to spend more time learning about the different technologies used in television production and how to use them. I also want to learn more about the inner workings of my computer in order to better understand its quirks.
@ Annabelle, I’m that way about a lot of tech things. I’m not so much interested in learning about them for their own sake, but as soon as I see a useful application in my own life, I’m willing to invest the time.
@ Karim, anyone is free to reach me via email, spark@cbc.ca. I read all the email.
I think it’s interesting how on a website about technology, a common resolution was to use less technology.
My resolution? Do my best to pry myself away from my Imac.
Go outside. It’s nice out there.
[quote]Fewer light bulbs, more mirrored fixtures using LEDs to stop that silly power meter spinning. [/quote]
Where do you get those?
I resolve to stop using stored phone numbers for calling (yes I still call people in addition to text). I will press the keys myself, recalling from memory. I don’t do sudoko and perhaps this will help keep me sharp.
I am a digital packrat…. Yes, I admit it. I cannot delete my files. It pains me to use the recycle bin. Each time I upgrade my PC, all the files from my old hard drive go into “C:\Matts Old Drive C\. And now, podcasting has made it worse. What were once I am a digital packrat…. Yes, I admit it. I cannot delete my files. It pains me to use the recycle bin. Each time I upgrade my PC, all the files from my old hard drive go into “C:\Matts Old Drive C\. And now, podcasting has made it worse. What were once < 1MB word documents, excell spreadsheets, and joke emails taking up a small corner of my hard drive; are now 25MB+ podcasts, and digital photographs bogging down my hard drive space.
I resolve to delete my “Matts Old drive C folder” because I do not need to retain that grade 7 attempt at novel writing, or the dancing baby video….,
…and I resolve to delete my old podcasts after I have listened to them… because hey man, I’m never going to re-listen… remember when it was just radio!?
@ Matt,
The dancing baby video! Ha! Have not thought of that in a long time.
So, um… when is the drawing? It’s been two weeks!
Hi Ed,
We picked the winners, and I believe the last of the packages were mailed out on the 24th, so if you’re lucky, you should be getting something in the mail soon. If not, we’re going to have more opportunities to win a bag in the new year, so I hope you’ll participate again.
Thanks to everyone who commented here, and for participating in the blog more generally. Figuring out how to make the radio show/podcast/website “cross platform” thingy has been an exciting challenge for us, and obviously, we couldn’t make it work without you. We really appreciate it!
My New Year’s resolution is to learn how to cut and paste pitctures from my camera onto email letters!
My New Year’s resolution is to learn how to cut and paste pitctures from my camera onto email letters!
Actually fill in my Google calendar so it will stop sending me “You have no events scheduled today” messages, making me feel like I have no life.
[quote]I resolve to recycle more of my computer and other electronics hardware, our landfills certainly would appreciate it
[/quote]
Sorry to say this but it takes more energy to recylce electronics then to use new matirials, you would be better throwing your elctrinics in a landfill, or getting them repaired.
@Lel,
Hilarious! Because I write about technology, I’m forever signing up for web-based services and not following through with them. The other day, a friend wanted to connect with me at a music/podcasting service. I went to my profile and it said “Nora has 0 friends”. Zero friends. Way to start a new year!
Selling my X-box 360. I find it useless, and I’ve already fulfilled half. It’s on E-bay. I find I spend more time playing computer games then the Xbox, and the games are too delicate. Pick them up the wrong way and BAM-ooooooooo, scartched for good, even after I get it buffered at Block buster or EB Games.
I also plan on starting my own podcast, which has already been fullfilled and short lived.
ANother Tech-olution that has haunted me for years (Eight to be exact) is to upgrade my comp’s hardware. I can barely run XP properly, and the hardware that i have does work, but isn’t actually proven ‘compatible’ as it is all outdated…
Cool site, i will come back here, regards