Smartphone

You beat me to it, watch me!! I was going for Internet.

I agree. I love my iPhone. Cell phones were just getting popular when my daughters were in middle school.

I can't tell you how many misconnections we had during pick up time. MY DH and i often discuss what things were like before. We own rental properties. We are easily reachable. And, once there was an issue of siding coming off a building. The tenant send him a picture, my husband then forwarded that with instructions to a contractor. All this being done while we were on vacation, several states away.

I like my microwave too, but I think I could probably do without it if I had to. I only use mine for warming and can certainly do that in the oven or on top of the stove.

Y'know....I think the amount of computer and telecom I had back in the day was sufficient. OTOH, I've never been able to do with a knife what is dead easy with a Paderno spiral cutter....

I adore the Internet and all it offers with regard to entertainment and shopping. I would give up almost every convenience before I would give up access to the Internet.

Well, I'm not 80+ but my mother is and I can completely relate to what Nanny98 is saying. I think the ipad would be my choice.

Definitely the internet and all its usage via smart phones, tablets, etc.

I'm not even 50 but I do remember having to get a ride to the library on the weekend to research a school paper, then going home to type it up on the typewriter.

I basically grew up during the advent of the internet. When I graduated high school, cell phones didn't even have texting capabilities and your phone would be confiscated if you got caught with it.

Now, they encourage kids to bring technology (smart phones, tablets, etc) to school. I graduated less than 15 years ago. Crazy how fast things change with technology.

My kids can't comprehend the fact that if they don't like the song playing on the radio, I can't just skip to the next one. Same with TV.

I have to go with things that make household chores easier. Like automatic washers & dryers. Or maybe my food processor or my salad shooter (love it). Then I think about teflon, it has made cooking easier too. There are just so many things, blow dryers, curling irons, fancy steam irons, and my slow roaster too. Of course I can remember a time when there was no TV. It's a wonderful world today. In that all these things make life easier. People thought that all these inventions would free us to have more time to spend with the family. Instead everyone is in their own little world busy texting, spending less time with family. Strange.

How to...Utube videos! #2) A soft edge can opener.

Fifty years ago I was a newlywed. I can't imagine how a smartphone would have improved my quality of life. In fact, although I like my phone (up to a point) and love the Internet (to excess), I'm concerned about how they are changing human interaction. Even watching the Red Carpet prior to the Oscars last night . . . the venue was packed with people, half of them staring at their phones.

That said, my husband and I were the first among our friends to acquire a portable phone. It was a "bag phone," big and clunky, and we kept it in my car for emergencies. I have always appreciate their safety aspect. We were the first to get smoke alarms too--at over $100 a pop.

Fifty years ago I was dragging a heavy Electrolux vacuum around. Maybe if my present Shark had been invented then I would have been a better housekeeper. :-)

Hands down, GPS. I remember the days of getting a TripTik (sp?) from AAA, and driving around with an unwieldy map strewn across my lap.

Another wondrous thing is streaming tv. I remember when cable tv came onto the scene, and my family never had it, so it seemed like such an extravagance.

I absolutely envied my friends who could watch MTV. I felt so uncool!

Now, cable is mostly dreck so I look to streaming to watch quality programming, especially British tv

I remember being copilot for my mom on family trips from Michigan to Florida... Triptik in hand! My youngest (2 1/2) is baffled when a commercial comes on television. He is used to watching shows from the DVR or a DVD.

I love TripTiks!!! They show where the restrooms are. And it's possible to glance at one while driving without changing focus, same as checking one's gauges. 'Course, my Garmin got me to a mountaintop wedding that was way beyond the scope of a TripTik. :)

DVR. It would have solved many arguments. So many times, I think someone said one thing and DH thinks he said something else. A quick rewind and it proves one of us right. I wish we had it for the radio in the car, too.

Fifty years ago I had most of what I have now except of course the internet, cell phone or a dishwasher. Dishwashers were available but I did not have one. I probably would pick my computer and internet and then my cell phone, not a smart phone. That I do not have nor want one.

Sue