Outside the Box
How Prior Experience Limits Cell Phone Usage
Lost on Boomers. Obvious to Millennials.
Normal Usage
Growing up when computers with the power of my cell phone would occupy my entire house and phones hung on walls, I still think of my cell phone as a hand-held computer, phone and camera. I make phone calls and send text messages. Occasionally, I will take a picture or use Google Maps. I know it can do more, but I have a large computer for that where I can see the screen.
The Incident
I started karaoke at age 72. My song for the evening was “Let It Be Me” by The Everly Brothers. I did ok, but it was a little out of my range. The Alan Ross karaoke catalog had 7 other versions. I had another song where an alternate version worked better for me than the hit.
My wife pulled me from entrenched thinking.
I got a piece of paper and started to copy the artist with each of the other versions. My wife said, “Why not take a picture of the page with your cell phone?”
The cell phone picture was much easier. I didn’t have to write, didn’t have to worry about losing the paper, and didn’t have to worry about being able to read it later. Worked perfectly. I had not thought of using the cell phone to copy and save text, i.e. take notes.
Found
When I got home, I could read the list perfectly. Six could not work, but I will try the Glenn Campbell version next week. I discovered a copy by Lobo that would have been even better, but he was not on the list.
Using the camera to take notes worked perfectly!
Conclusion
This demonstrates how important it is to think outside of whatever box you are in with all new technologies, not just cell phones.
References
- First attempt
- Second attempt
