Technology in this Maker’s World
I went to college with a typewriter. Senior year we were assigned to turn in a paper ‘word processed’, which required us to sign up for computer lab time. Fast forward a few (or more) years and it seems almost everything is technology driven. AI can write for us (not this blog post!) and even create art. I still haven’t figured out what an NFT is (I am not the only one, am I?). If I complain about these ‘new’ ways I sound like an old lady but I often feel like I have tripped over my shoe and fell in the tech race.
What prompted me to do a blog post on this topic? It’s one that has been discussed ad nauseam, especially by the boomer generation (of which I am not- by a hair). I worked on updating my personal website, which like any site needs maintaining. I finally had real photos taken and wanted to add them. (On a tech note, I asked about photoshopping my wrinkles out but was advised that I wouldn’t look like me. ). I struggled. Navigation. Editing. Deletion. Re-entering.
The truth is I would rather be creating than sitting on a computer or worse, my phone. Precious time to paint or weave, use my hands and FEEL the textures of my materials as they slowly and deliciously change into something new. There is nothing tactile on a keyboard. I am missing the experience of many of my senses when I am working digitally. Technology, specifically websites and social media that allow us to connect and conduct business, is important. There is no disputing this fact. For me and other’s like me (perhaps of a certain ‘experienced age’) there is no joy. Creating social media posts with photos I took on my phone and making it all look captivating enough that people will not just scroll by is a chore. A chore that takes a bit more time and produces a tad more angst than my other chores. Again, it’s me.
Is it just me? Do some of you enjoy sitting and working on this technology? How might one make it fun? How might I follow the popular mantra like “do more of what you love” ? Hiring a virtual assistant to do social media was an idea presented to me back in the shop days. But how does one portray ME and my brand when they are not me, nor do they have my phone. Authenticity is going to have to come direct from the source and no VA or AI will capture the true essence of ME. I tell students in my workshops that practice is key to improvement; perhaps I should practice what I preach. I remain open to any suggestions on how to make these tech chores fun and easier so I can back to my preferred type of creating.
