What's Up, Doc? This Time, Technology Wins

By Randall Freeman, PhD

Technology is fascinating. As a useful tool, it simplifies and improves the quality of my personal and professional life immensely. As a husband, I can be in real time communication with my wife to discover what is next on my to-do list. (Don’t have to remember anything, it’s in my phone!)

It allows me to be in contact with my daughters. (If I don’t answer immediately, Megan keeps calling back until I do answer. Don’t try to call her, though; she’s busy on Instagram.)

At school, my teaching is enhanced using technology. More quickly and accurately demonstrated for my young kindergarten students, it also serves to keep everybody engaged. Can’t remember the tune of a math song? It’s right there on YouTube. Everybody learns more and enjoys it more at the same time.

Downside? Glad you asked.

A major Internet service provider decides to transfer service to another company. We are constantly told how this will improve our lives. Uh-huh. Believe that? If so, I know a little bridge in Brooklyn that I can let you have cheap.

I followed the instructions as they were provided. I arrive at Step 3 and BOOM! No Step 3! I was told to go to so-and-so and click on "get started." OK, until I discovered that "get started" was absent. I eventually received some invaluable assistance from someone reading from a technical script. It only took three days and four phone calls. No big deal. Between calls 3 and 4, I took a two-hour nap.

The result was that I was set – except that somewhere along the line, I lost access to my original email account. That’s OK; I didn’t want to save those critically important emails from 2013 anyway. I ended up with an email address that even I will never be able to memorize, so I opened a gmail account. All is good.

It matters not how much experience one has with technology. Somewhere down the cyber road, it will bite you in the backside. Fun. Next time, I’ll show technology who is boss!

Randy Freeman and his family have lived in Menifee since 1993. Randy teaches kindergarten in Perris and his lovely wife Karen teaches first grade here in Menifee at Freedom Crest Elementary School. They are the proud parents of four beautiful daughters: Daniela, Sarah, Holly, and Megan. Other family members include dogs Scruffy and Max, and turtle Tuttles. Randy earned his PhD in early childhood education in 2011 and has served on the Menifee Union School Board since 2008. When not assisting Karen in driving the girls to all of their sporting events, Randy volunteers at the Boys & Girls Club of Menifee Valley.