debcook

Do you use the gadgets that you own? That may seem like a strange question but I often wonder about the answer. Am I guilty of buying and then not using my gadgets? Of course I am.

It is not clear why this phenomenon is so common. I think that has much to do with apathy. The thrill of the hunt is fun. Learning functions are not. An all in one gadget runs a greater chance of lying idle than those that are more dedicated to one or two functions. That is my opinion anyway.

If you can consider a car radio a gadget I have a great example. My 1998 Toyota Avalon had a great radio. It was a combination AM-FM radio, a CD player and a tape player. I owned that car for over five years and I never had a firm grasp on how to use that radio. A dedicated button has a pretty straightforward function but once a single button is given two or three functions the confusion increases.

This same explanation is why I prefer a touch screen cell phone instead of a SmartPhone. Sending an email or a text message is so much easier with a single letter per single button – whether it is on a QWERT keyboard or on a Touchscreen device such as an iPhone.

Have you tried to set the time on a digital watch? I don’t even try. I just buy a new watch.

Personally I am trying to resist any gadgets that make me feel uncomfortable from the beginning – no matter how cute they are! However, I cannot promise that I will use all of the functions of the gadgets I don’t resist.