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I was born in August of 1998. Daily life was analog, but the digital technology was quickly evolving. ARPANET was transitioning into what we know as the internet, the Sony Walkman was popular, and floppy disks were the standard for transferring data. Home entertainment was primarily VHS movies and cassette tapes, and the encyclopedia was the standard for knowledge acquisition. Photo courtesy of dictionary.com.
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The World Wide Web is introduced by Tim Berners-Lee. This created the internet that we know today, a "web" of linked information accessible around the world. Most homes still did not have internet access. Photo courtesy of shacknews.com.
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The computer lived in the family room and was a shared unit. I don't remember using our computer until later in elementary school, when we learned how to type in class. A few of my favorite CD-roms were Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego and The Oregon Trail. Photo courtesy of theoregontrail.com.
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This was the question I asked my dad as I opened an iPod on Christmas in 2001. I had never heard of this little portable media player with a scroll wheel to navigate the screen. Little did I know that I would never be without immediate access to music again. This was the first tech item I had that could produce what I wanted on demand, wherever I happened to be. Photo courtesy of apple.com.
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My first phone was a Nokia that could withstand a drop from 100 feet and had a battery that would last for weeks (seemingly, of course). I could make a call after 7pm, when minutes were free, and there were no text messages allowed. I also remember mastering the game "Snake" during my middle school years. Photo courtesy of nokiacollection.com.
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I opened my Facebook account in 2006. I was a senior in high school and finally had a .edu email address I could use once I was accepted into WVU. My social media use at this point in my life is casual, as most of my friends are signing up for accounts during this time as well. Photo courtesy of facebook.com.
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I was gifted a Dell laptop as a high school graduation gift. I remember being excited to have a personal computer, away from the prying eyes of my younger sister. I used this laptop throughout my undergrad. It became an extension of me; it was how I stayed connected to friends via social media and the lifeline to my classes, announcements, school emails, and homework assignments. Photo courtesy of ifixit.com.
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The Kindle e-reader from Amazon was released in 2007. I was gifted my first Kindle for Christmas that year, and I'll admit I did not see the allure in reading a book on a screen. Fast forward to 2025, I have had several Kindles and it is never far from my side. It has made reading accessible, easy, portable, and fast. Photo courtesy of CNN.com.
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My first smartphone was a Blackberry. This transformed my social life, allowed me to access school email away from my laptop, and was the first time I had social media on a portable device. The smartphone era introduced us to apps and bluetooth. My phone changed from a basic device for calling and texting to a computer, able to be customized to my needs. Photo courtesy of wikipedia.org.
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I ventured into the world of Samsung Galaxy phones in 2011 and have never looked back. Around this time, 4G LTE networks become available. Photo courtesy of CNET.com.
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In 2015, I bought my first Alexa device. Ten years later, I can't imagine living without my smart home devices. Alexa monitors the outside of my home with the connected cameras, is connected to the thermostats and is able to maintain the temperature in the house to my preferences, and turns room lights on and off. Photo courtesy of amazondevelopers.com.
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The COVID-19 pandemic taught the world how to attend events, work, and school remotely. Programs such as Zoom and Teams, become a vital part of this transition. The rapid transition to video calls in businesses and school settings allowed the world to keep moving forward with work, classes, virtual social events, and online fitness classes. Photo courtesy of NBCnews.com.
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Our lives revolve around technology today. I rely on my cell phone as a primary mode of communication at work and home. I wear a smartwatch that keeps me connected to that phone when it is out of my sight. An unexpected technological addition to my life this year will be my hearing aids. My hearing aids will connect to my cell phone and I will be able to hear calls and music clearly. They will also be able to connect to my television at home, allowing me to clearly hear the programming.