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| What can I take a picture of? |
Has technology devalued travelers' experiences? Does traveling with technology bear an extra burden on travelers or has it helped to shoulder the burden on our miscues?
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| Three people, three cameras, one picture. |
Cameras
The original travel technology and seemingly the most rational of the technologies have changed over the years. I remember my first "serious" vacation in which I was given a disposable camera with about 7 rolls of film and a pack of AA batteries. I can still remember the sound of the film loading and finishing. Now, everyone and their grandma has a Digital SLR (single lens reflex), 18-megapixel, camera.
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| Some people, like Casey from geecasandra.com, actually know how to use their cameras quite well. |
Video Cameras
The new "it" thing in traveling is video. I can't help but remembering a comment from a recent adventure when one of my friends was giving a running commentary of a person with a video camera. "Hey kids look at the castle, if it moves, I will surely capture it on camera. Any second now." Luckily for us, the person didn't speak English. Of course, there are those who do a great job with videos and video editing and I love to watch them, but others can't seem to rise to the challenge.
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| It's a beautiful view yo. |
I-Phone, Pod, Pad
These devices put entertainment, media gathering technology, and useful apps at a travelers fingertips. Need an app? There's an app for that. Not to mention its 3G and wireless capabilities. If you don't want to be lost, get the GPS app that determines your approximate location and calculates the best walking, biking, an driving routes in a matter of seconds. I'll be the first one to admit that some of my greatest traveling memories have come from being lost. However, the camera and video recording apps do come in handy when you don't feel like lugging around your big camera, but using your I-Pad to take video inside the Vatican Museum is a bit ridiculous. That's right, I'm talking to you, lady.
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| When possible, turn around. |
Miscellaneous (Kindle, phones, computers, GPS)
The unfortunate thing that with any bit of technology these days is that each and everyone comes with a mental burden. Every time you leave a hotel, hostel, resort your subconscious places a ping of fear in the back of your mind at the thought of your device getting stolen. Not to mention that everything has its very own charger. Also, over half of my suitcase when I travel is taken up by electronics or chargers.
Spanish Basic
Me cobras - What do I owe? Check please. (literal - charge me).
Advanced Spanish
Te doy # (uno, dos, tres, etc) leches or ostías. - Your going to get hit # times. (literal- I'm going to give you # milks or hosts (the host that you receive at communion).
Basque
Gero Arte - see ya later
Auzokoa (Owe-so-co-a)- neighbor
British English
chav - tool (person)
Technology is a godsend in that it allows us to preserve are memories long after we are gone in this world. It allows us to just point and click and their it is forever. It is burden in that we lose touch with people since you can't walk two feet without hearing someone talking or the phone or texting. We better find a happy medium at some point and time.
ReplyDeleteMy weighed-down backpack points to the tech-happy side of the debate. I love to document, although I do draw the line when it comes to taking a portable Radio Shack inside the Vatican.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the language files are back! Thanks for the shout-out and Gero Arte
Thanks for the input you two. Complete tech freak myself, but I find myself a bit reluctant to pull out my camera in smaller, less touristy towns that would otherwise be unspoiled if not for my camera's appearance. Your welcome as always Cassandra.
ReplyDeleteIf we see in the majors and during all those times to me 2 days niagara falls tours from new york is one of those most helpful things that exists big time in it.
ReplyDelete