What did we do before computers?

I use my computer for a wide variety of things, which naturally incudes such standards as visiting Mylot, checking emails and playing music or videos. I can also stream videos and music to me television if I prefer and usually book my holidays and groceries via the internet. I keep all my finances up to date in an Excel spreadsheet that I created, create and print my own greetings cards for Christmas and birthdays and have even created a VPN so that I can access the network where I work to keep in touch if I am off work or at weekends. A lot of people tend to purchase a computer and become addicted to one aspect, often the internet or downloading films and music, but there are so many uses a computer can serve if people use a little imagination and actually bother to learn how to use one properly.

Isn't that something to think about!?! We went to the library, called on the phone, wrote letters, talked to each other, played board games..did crafts, read books, read magazines, and watched tv and turned the channel with the knob ON THE SET!!!! yeah, things have changed. I was helping my Grand daughter (7th grade) with homework yesterday as she is being homeschooled...and in the actual history text book..published in 2008...at the end of the chapters where they always have had questions and activities to do....it actually said to "log on to (this homework site place) and use (gave a keyword to use) this keyword and then choose an option to find out about...." Serious? You actually have to have internet access and have to USE internet just to do homework!!! What if you dont' have internet access or dont' have a PC? Some don't! But still... come on...can't teachers teach anymore? Can't text books teach anymore? I am on mine alot, as like you say... I am alone so much. I quilt ALOT but still have some time. I do things for earnings and for fun and am on some social networks/forum for quilting and other things for chatting like here at MyLot. But if I didn't have internet...I think the thing I'd miss most is...I wouldn't be up on the news as I hate reading the newspaper..to big and cumbersome to have to deal with! And only tells you so much..the internet gives so much more options of viewing. And being alone..no one to quilt with! So those on the quilting boards/forums...they come in "handy" to have someone to talk about quilting and other crafts with. But it is really weird...if you think about it. When my GD started kindergarten 13 years ago...one of the pre-registration/admittance requirements was that every child had to be able to "sign in " on the computer and use the mouse and know about ID names and passwords. They used the PC's for educational games that they could play at school, but still...what happened to "tie shoes" and "count to 100" and "know your phone number"?

Hi joyceshookery, I'm used to sit in front of my laptop when at home. I get on line to acquire latest info related to my work. Other than articles I need to read latest news so that to get more accurate information. Besides I would like to listen music while doing work on the screen. If without computer I can't watch movies during my leisure. few hours would be spent in front of the computer daily. While away front home I do my best to access free wifi to them all on my smart phone I find it's more convenient to surf net on tablet or notebook than on smart phone. Happy posting

I use the internet for work and for finding out information. I also do the usual housework, talking to people, going for walk. I use the computer itself for writing my novel, playing music, and before I got the computer, I would write on my typewriter, take the paper out of the typewriter, see if it was the exact space to start the chapter, and if it was not or if it had a mistake that could not be fixed by white out while in the machine, and that included getting it at the exact spot, I would have to throw it in the wastebasket and start again. If I made a spelling mistake, I would have to start again. If the ribbon ran out of ink, I would have to start again. So in fact, the computer made everything easier. Oh one thing, I do not play games. That would be wasting time.

I grow up in the late 90’s where the advent of computer technology was boosting in the mainstream but I would say if I was born a little year older probably I would stick in the normal traditional life such as living my life with friends in a way that we hangout without the need of any digital technology to let us communicate in doing so, traditional communication and leisure would be more prioritize rather than living and doing such activities over the computer.

I use the computer in the afternoon till the evening. I search the internet for news, music videos, game apps, and anything that interests me. Other times I just create art using my computer graphics software. It's amazing how much free stuff online. I'm still searching for websites to earn more money. Before computers, I did a lot of watching television, socialize with my friends, and listening to the radio. I been so addicted to the internet and my eyesight is getting poor. Although, my eyesight is getting affected by too much use of internet, I just wish that I wouldn't have to ever wear eye glass.

Before computers, we have games outside the home, we have games where we are to run, to be outside, and not be stuck on computers, etc.

Hahaha ... this is really an interesting topic. I spend most of my wake time online. Eight hours working with computer during office hours, back home online to check on any emails. Those with smart phones basically online almost all the time. I think if there is no computer, I will be watching movies on dvd player rather than online. Will write fewer letters rather than emails. Will read books rather than surfing the internet. But I like computer and internet because I like to be here at myLot.

I can't believe my eyes that the technology are so advanced right now. Almost everyone in the urban city have it. I who are not so computer literate was forced to learned computer due to work requirements. So I normally do my office works, check emails and myLotting on my computer notebook. I remembered I will go with friends for bowling (real physical bowling), for movie with friends, read book and of course watching the television!

Computer now become smart gadgets for help peoples in other thing,as you said now we can spend so much time in front of computer,many peoples has been addicted with that,and i heard that many peoples has die cause of that problem.

Hi, I use the computer in business, work and entertainment. Before, we don't even have a transistor radio, television is unheard of thing much more computers. I can't believe how times have changed, now I have electronics in my room, from LCD TV to subwoofers, mobile phones, a desktop computer, laptops and PDAs. I went on training just the other week, in place far from civilization, no electricity, just the basics. Evening comes and I just sit down by the seaside watching the sunset, reading a book or lying in bed listening to the radio in the dark. That was a reminder for me when life was just simpler with just minimal electronics around. I like it.

I usually take a walk around my house or my office before use my computer,I always pay a lot of my time sit before my computer because all my work need to use computer,this is my job so sometimes I really tired of that because it really do harm to my eyes,as you know,I take more than 10 hours in front of my computer everyday.So that is why I need to take a walk,I really need a break.

I sit at the computer several hours a day. I use the Internet for reading, writing, finding, education,... But I feel tired when i sit at the computer too much.

I use the internet and my word processor for almost everything I do. I'm terrible at crafts and detailed work, so writing and mental stimuli is my main entertainment - with the right project, I even feel like I have the potential to be useful someday... The way my family works is almost like a Jane Austen book: very patriarchal, controlling, so this is my main outlet. I played outside a lot as a child without the computer, and my family played a lot of board and card games. As a young adult, this keeps me indoors more than it should. When I break away, I go out to eat, sightsee, or stay home and draw or teach myself foraging.