Do you remember what life was like before we had the internet in our lives?  I certainly do.  As a somewhat heavy internet user, there isn’t any facet of my life that hasn’t been affected by it.  What I do on a day-to-day basis is enhanced by having access to so much information at my fingertips.

I can’t do everything on the internet, but there is plenty that I’ve found that has been helpful to me over the years.  Being an early adopter, I was a member of Compuserve back before the internet became an avenue of public access.  Compuserve’s information service was like a scaled-down version of the internet, but all contained in one place.   Things have grown by leaps and bounds since them, but the basic premise is the same.  How so?

Information.  Compuserve had many sections to it.  You had areas you’d visit that were tech-related: Microsoft had a huge presence on Compuserve.  Ziff-Davis, the magazine publisher, even had their own sub-service on Compuserve.  I really didn’t “get it” for awhile, until I discovered the discussion forums on Compuserve.  I had run into a nasty problem with Novell Netware and couldn’t find an answer anywhere. I asked a question in Novell’s forum, and got an answer the next day.  From a total stranger.  Very nice!  And I was hooked.  I found forums for my interests–music, audio equipment, etc.  I could download new drivers and add-ons and templates for Microsoft products.  I found I could buy things online too!

Of course, things changed, and I wound up having a website of my own on the internet.  And so did everyone else.  Microsoft jumped ship and set up their own internet site.  Databases that were on private networks soon became part of the internet as well.  All branches of government appeared online, companies large and small made their own presences online, and…search engines appeared.  Google is now not only a noun, it’s also a verb!

In short: look at where we’re at today!

The reason I decided to write this piece is the result of a thought I had the other day.  I was working on a website for one of my clients.   I can code just fine in PHP, but Javascript throws me for a loop.  In Google, I just typed in keywords for what I was looking for, and within minutes, had some sample code and a tutorial I read through, and figured out my problem.  As I did so, I realized how easy it was to pull up the information, and how quickly I had it in my hands.  And I reflected on how, in the past, I never had an internet to help me research anything.

Some more examples:

• While working on the Honda, I had to do some research on how to remove the timing belt.  Logging into our local library, which is connected to our state’s inter-library program, I was able to access the Chilton Library online and pull up a service manual for my vehicle.  No charge!
• Curious about some music I was listening to (the first Lyle Mays album), I jumped over to the All Music Guide, typed in Lyle’s name, and within seconds, had his album information online.
• One computer’s power supply went bad in the house.  It was in the Ideq, which uses a small power supply.  I can get a direct replacement for it, or use a similar one that may require some small modifications.  No calling around to a dozen computer shops, for them to tell me they had no clue as to what I was asking.
• “The dance recital?  Sure!  I videotaped it, and I’ll send you the link to view it tomorrow morning!”
• Since we’re on the fence about cell phone service, I took a look around to see what other phones and plans were out there.  Rather than hop between stores for half a day, I visited a few sites.  I found I can’t use a Blackberry on Boost Mobile, but how can anyone else beat Boost’s $50/month “everything” plan?  Time for some heavy duty comparison shopping!
• Two months ago, I was getting a bit anxious about reaching some schoolmates of mine, and online friends I’d fallen out of touch with.  Thanks to Facebook, I’ve reconnected with so many individuals that I’m having trouble keeping up with them all!  10 or 15 years ago, I had no idea that this whole “social networking” phenomenon would be such a success.
• My winter project will be to, finally, restore an RCA Victrola 45 record player.  15 minutes online is all it took for me to find a good forum where they discussed these players, and after reading a few threads, came up with a current list of suppliers for replacement parts.
• It can’t be true…Michael Jackson?  Dead??  The news came from a good friend via Twitter, before any of the news outlets had it.  In the old days, I wouldn’t have heard about it unless I turned the radio on, or read it in a magazine a month later.  (We don’t do TV at Casa Rudy…sorry.)
• Is that Zune FM transmitter/car kit I saw on Amazon any good?  According to the reviews I read…no, it’s not.  In the past, I’d have purchased something like this and been highly disappointed.  At my fingertips, I can read user reviews on just about anything, and decide for myself if a product is worth buying or not.  It’s a lot more informative than asking among my own small circle of friends, none of which own a Zune.   Yet.
• So, what’s a good alternate route around the road construction on the local freeway?  It only takes a few seconds to punch out a route on Google Maps and find out.  I no longer rely on my tattered collection of AAA road maps in the car.
• I never imagined there would ever be a better gaming system than the original Nintendo console.  Earlier this year, Nintendo released the third version of their hand-held dual-screen console: the DSi.  My daughter has one.  The web browser is cool, no doubt…but did you know you can actually go online to Nintendo’s site and download new games and applications, within a minute or two?  Incredible!  Connecting a game console online is something I never would have dreamed about!
• Going through some boxes a few weeks ago, I came across my KitchenAid food grinder/pasta maker attachment, unused, with no manual or cookbook inside.  I located some pasta dough recipies online, but had no idea if they would work in this attachment.  Enter KitchenAid: I signed up for their forum, posted a message, and within two days, one of their moderators e-mailed me PDF files for both the food grinder and the pasta plates.

These are but just a few of the examples of activities I do on a weekly basis on the internet.  Google helps me get started, within seconds, on finding what I’m searching for.  The numerous sites I end up at are often helpful, and it’s easy to weed out the good from the bad.  Nowadays if I have a question, you’ll find me hopping into the pilot’s seat and typing my way to an answer.

Those who think the internet is evil do have a point: there is a lot of nonsense and garbage out there.  But, think of how it has enriched our lives, especially in recent years.  There is so much at our fingertips now.  The time and money I’ve saved is immeasurable, and it leaves me more time to enjoy life with friends and family, or by myself pursuing my many interests.

I really don’t remember life before I became “connected”.  And maybe I’m addicted, but I don’t know how I’d function without it today.