I am a 74 year old woman who has only recently (since the death of my husband) found that the internet is a good place to do research on a whole manner of things. I was a typewriter girl back in the day and I have been using word processors since they first came out, but the internet, well that’s a whole different kettle of fish and it was only recently that I caught onto it. I get The Australian delivered to my house, the old fashioned way, and love to read it after I’ve finished breakfast. I don’t care much for paying for The Advertiser, but still feel I should be following the news locally, so I go online and read the paper on the web. I use the forums and comment regularly. It’s quite exciting to see people agree or disagree with me, for opinions and ideas to form in this external world … it’s rather exciting.

Technologfy can be fickle. Each time I have tried to write a story here there has been a power outage but here I go again! I use old technologies and new technologies. In my work as an audio engineer at the State Library of South Australia I work with old technologies like reel to reel players, cassette decks, 78 record players etc. Through these devices I am connected to the people of the past. I digitize the content on tapes and records using specially made softwares and high end computers and through the conserving of the material I am connected to the people of the future who will be able to access this material in multiple ways and places. So to me its important that new technologies can make sense enough of the old before the history gets lost. I have a sound recording studio at home and use a combination of old and new technologies to produce CDs and other audio. Here I use an Apple computer not just because it does better with my sound recording and editing software but also because I like the design. Technology can be beautiful. I live on a farm and use the internet for banking and shopping to decrease the time and the petrol it would take to drive around to get things. But I am on dialup so its very slow and I don’t bother with websites that take too long to load up or with emails that are too large. I also use my mobile phone to access my bank account. I skype occasionally. I have set up a website. And I like to use the internet for political action and education. My partner would like to have a new tractor with onboard computer and air-conditioning and I’d like a sound system in it too but we have a tractor from the 1960s that does the job well enough. The most useful piece of farming technology that we have is a quad bike. It starts first time, is cheap to run, and doesn’t compact the soil like the tractor would so its better for the environment. And being small and light you can get to places that you couldn’t with a tractor. I am in my fifties and technologies of one sort or another are useful to help me physically do things that I might have done without technology when I was younger and fitter. Our house and shed are powered by the wind and sun and I enjoy the connectedness that gives us to the planet. If the wind is blowing like mad and the battery bank is full then I do things like the washing or using greedy electric devices as otherwise the electricity would be wasted. If there isn’t much wind and sun then I use less electricity. Its important to me that my technological devices are not too greedy on electricity and not too depleting on the planet in their construction. So now when I need to buy something I google a lot to find out about where it is made and who made it and whether I could get a fairer or more environmentally friendly version.

We moved from Mildura in Victoria to Paringa in South Australia in June 08. This was difficult for both of us as we have family and friends there. We use many different ways to communicate with them, Skype, MSN and email on the computer as well as SMS messages and calls on mobile phones and landline. My partner is from Argentina and his family and friends are there. Since we have encouraged his Mother to use Skype we hear from her on a more regular basis as landline rates from Argentina are very expensive. He also keeps in contact with his friends in Argentina using Skype. Although Mildura is only 1 hour and 20 minutes away and we travel most weekends we can keep in touch with loved ones on a daily basis even if only to find out how their day at work went. We also use the internet for tracking our banking details as well as paying our regular household accounts. Technology has moved ahead so far, it’s amazing. We even sold a car over the internet. We advertised it on a website designed for this purpose and communicated back and forward with the buyer through emails. It’s fabulous…..works well for us!!!!

For a very long time I have always been against having internet access on my phone. I refused to believe that I always needed to be connected to the interwebnet. However, time and time again I have found myself calling friends from my mobile while I’m out and about to check things on the internet for me. This could be as simple as checking the weather, or checking my email for a contact detail, or even giving me directions from google maps when I’m lost! I suppose it’s about time I admit no matter where I am, as long as I have access to a phone, I’ll always have access to the internet!

Knowledge started with the acquisition of a home computer so that my husband was able to do training necessary for his job. I taught myself all I need to know!! [Of course still learning]. Now use it for everything. Eg - today wanted to buy a coffee machine, just researched and bought it on line. Am currently in the process of booking an 8 week holiday to Europe. I will be taking the computer with me and will use Skype and email to contact family at home. Use Google Earth to check locations of accommodation! I have used the computer to run a weaving loom producing articles for sale. This was a long learning curve. Started with a Commodore 64 and progressed over 20 years. All our photos are digital, my husband has spent many hours putting all our old vinyl records on to CD using the computer. We own 2 GPS systems, one for our trip - cheaper to buy here than hire in England. We use a mobile and while very convenient isn’t as vital to our existence as is broadband. We use the mobile phone as a phone with a few SMS but don’t use any of the other gimmicks e.g. mp3 player etc. Technology makes living in isolation far more comfortable than it used to be.