I make a practice of doing a Google search on my name about once a season. It’s just a good practice, and occasionally, I discover something interesting. When I did a search in March, I stumbled upon a photo of me at age 3. And a few days ago, I found this Pew Research Center report, The Positives of Digital Life, that I completely forgot I’d contributed to…in the section titled Family enrichment and enhancement.
Here’s what I wrote:
“I started using videoconferencing early. First I used a black-and-white video phone that sent a still image every 5 seconds or so. Friends and I got our hands on one and did some fun experiments with artist techies at the Electronic Cafe in Los Angeles. Later I used Cornell’s CU-SeeMe videoconferencing. A real turning point for me was using the high-end PictureTel videoconferencing system in the early ‘90s. When the PictureTel staff dialed up and connected me to a person in New York City (I was in Monterey, California), as I said hello, tears came involuntarily to my eyes; the intimacy was so unexpected, I was overwhelmed with this encounter with a stranger.
Fast forward to five years ago. My 85-year-old mother had a recurrence of cancer. We lived many miles apart. On one of my visits, we went to the phone store and I helped her pick out her first iPhone. It was so awesome to watch her learn to text with her friends. I could FaceTime her from my home while I got my life in order so I could return to take care of her. That phone was a literal lifeline during her last months—a source of joy, a tool for coordinating her care, and a reassurance for me that I could actually see daily how she was doing.
I think of all the technology in our lives, videoconferencing technology contributes in a profound way to my well-being, bringing me closer to dear family and friends who live at a distance, or even just across the bay like my daughter does. I love it when we both have time to just hang out together via FaceTime when we can’t be there in person.”
What is your Positives of Digital Life story? Consider sharing it in a family conversation about the technology in our lives. And if you feel like sharing it wider, I’d love to hear your stories. Just reply to this email.
Elsewhere…
Book: My friend Tanya texted me this book cover tonight. (Thank you, Tanya!). Pub date is Feb. 1. I’m looking forward to reading it. Meanwhile, here’s an article by the author, Kaitlin Ugolik Phillips, “Can Virtual Reality Change Minds on Social Issues?“
