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- Online Word Processor Comparison: Google Docs vs. Zoho Documents, SkyDrive, Box.net - August 29, 2010
I received my Droid X this week, which I think everyone can agree is somewhere near, if not the top, of mobile technological achievement (I’m willing to share the spot with the iPhone 4, but it’s worth pointing out that mine makes calls with or without a case). The device is truly a testament to what humanity has been able to achieve. For $99 plus tax, after rebates, I now own a piece of metal, plastic and silicon that more or less fits in my pocket and serves as: a phone; a camera; an HD video camera; a DVR; a music player; a computer; an organizer . . . You get the idea – crazy good technology. I’ll talk more about it, Android apps, my transition from a Blackberry and an iPhone and more in the future, but holding this marvel of modern technology makes me wonder – what happened to low-tech?
Image by mthomps00.
Don’t get me wrong. I have always been and will always be obsessed with technology. One of my son’s first words came when we were walking through an Apple store and he pointed to a table of devices and said “iPod.” However, I can’t help but think about the fact that: Gandhi's low-tech solution of non-resistance triumphed over the most advanced military in the world; Genghis Khan’s technology that allowed him to rule all of Asia was a decidedly low-tech horse; and you can find any number of solutions on-line about how to cook a pizza with some foil and about $3 (yes I just included Gandhi, Genghis Khan and a DIY pizza oven in the same super long sentence).
In short, low-tech solutions and tools have brought us to this point in time, but most people picture a device that needs to be plugged in or charged when they hear the word technology. So earlier this week I set about to determine what is the best low-tech approach or device that I use on a regular basis. After ruling out the standard stuff like pens and paper I decided that it is my razor. I would argue that the five-bladed razor, with the “precision trimmer” on the back, that I used to own is fairly high-tech (it’s got six blades!), but in the last 2 months I have simplified to a safety razor and it has made quite a difference.
Up until two months ago I would watch the news while rushing through a shave on my way to the closet for a dress shirt and I was out the door. Now if I rush or even get distracted there’s a good chance that I’ll grab the blade wrong when I’m loading it into the razor head, or move the razor wrong and cut myself. The fact that this is a possibility and that I am putting it to my jugular has forced me to slow down and focus on the task at hand. I’m not able to think about my 9:00 A.M. meeting or that email I got last night. I think only about shaving. It’s not quite a Zen-like process, but it does clear the mind and force me to relax before I start the day. Once I realized I just needed to slow down and focus, I got a much better shave at a fraction of the cost of replacement cartridges.
So the question I pose to you, good readers, is what low-tech device or strategy do you use that has proven better than the high-tech option, and why is it better? Please leave your answers in the comments so that we can all benefit from the collective wisdom. If you are interested, I bought the Parker 82R razor from Amazon for around $30 and highly recommend it (and if you use the link, you'll be supporting 40Tech, as that is the 40Tech affiliate link, which means Amazon will pay out a tiny fraction of any sale).
Anthony Russo says:
Good post, but I would have to disagree with the choice of the simpler razor helping out. In your case it may be a chance for you to slow down and reflect on shaving rather than umpteen other happenings in your life, but is that so much an advantage?
I would rather slow down on my own and think about things if I choose to. However when I do not, or happen not to, I am very happy that the razor I use is safe enough not to kill me. With some of those early morning shaves when tired, I am even more glad when my eyes are barely open.
As for my low-tech device I enjoy more, it would have to be my toothbrush probably. I just don’t like the idea or feeling of sonic, ion, motorized, or spinning toothbrushes. I like to be in control of brushing my teeth with my hand and just feel better during the task when I use my normal toothbrush.
It’s possible my teeth could be cleaner with more advanced methods, but this is one that I choose to leave at low technology.
Anthony Russo
http://www.anthonyrussoblog.com/Anthony
Skype: anth.russo
Twitter: @AnthonyRusso
July 25, 2010 — 11:38 pm
Bobby Travis says:
Very nice article!
Honestly, I think my favourite low-tech item is my feet. Yes they are often encased in shoes and/or socks that are resultant of varying degrees of technological wonder, but I find the simple act of walking somewhere to be both calming, reflective, or a way to get some thinking done. I can do much of this while driving, as well, or sitting, but the driving distracts my thinking and vice versa, and sitting gives people the opportunity to interrupt. And I like to read while I walk (often on my iPhone, these days, however) — I can read and drive without a high probability of someone dying… and that just stresses me out.
So I walk.
July 26, 2010 — 2:01 am
Josh says:
Good one Bobby, very creative look at what’s low-tech. Have you tried Five Fingers before? I know they are somewhat trendy now that Tim Ferriss has been pushing them but they really are great shoes.
July 26, 2010 — 11:21 am
Bobby Travis says:
Never even heard of them, actually… I’ll check them out!
July 26, 2010 — 3:28 pm
Josh says:
http://www.vibramfivefingers.com/indexNA.cfm
Enjoy my friend, you can get them at REI or EMS or is it called “REIA,” as in “REI, eh” in Canada?
July 26, 2010 — 4:32 pm
Bobby Travis says:
LOL! Just saw this…
July 28, 2010 — 4:34 pm
Evan Kline says:
Great question! I’d have to say books and magazines. While I eagerly await the day that I have an iPad or Kindle, there’s something nice about the tangible feeling of a book or magazine, and the “ooooh” when a new issue arrives in the mail.
July 26, 2010 — 6:51 am
Tom Jolley says:
Plus… who is going to keep an ipad or kindle in the bathroom for reading material!
July 28, 2010 — 11:47 am
Evan Kline says:
Probably the most important point of all!
July 28, 2010 — 3:25 pm
Kosmo @ The Soap Boxers says:
Books.
If someone steals my paperback novel, it’s not a major financial loss.
My book also isn’t going to have a dead battery.
I love technology and I love books, but I’m not the Kindle sort.
(Uh, that’s probably not the smartest thing to say, since I have a few eBooks in print. Oh well.)
.-= Kosmo @ The Soap Boxers´s last blog ..How Much Money Should You Leave Your Kids When You Die =-.
July 26, 2010 — 1:08 pm
Bobby Travis says:
I never thought I would be into eReading at all (and I will never, EVER, buy myself a single purpose device like a Kindle, as it just seems pointless to me). I also like the feeling of holding a book. However, I am also a fan of trees… and even more importantly, in the short term, I can’t carry a book — or an entire library — in my pocket. I don’t get enough time to read, so having my library always at hand is, well… handy.
July 26, 2010 — 3:32 pm
Kosmo @ The Soap Boxers says:
Hmm. I wonder what has a bigger impact on the evironment – the electricity used to read an eBook or the resources needed to print a physical book. I honestly have no idea.
It’s worth noting that a physical book that gets passed around read repeatedly would spread that impact across multiple readings, resulting in a lower impact/reading, whereas an eBook would incur the costs each time it is read.
I often buy books used (or remainder copies), in which case the trees were going to be chopped down whether I read the book or not.
Interesting.
.-= Kosmo @ The Soap Boxers´s last blog ..The End of The Casual Observer =-.
July 26, 2010 — 4:24 pm
Paul YM says:
The first thing I thought of was the old-fashioned toothbrush vs. electric variety, but Anthony beat me to it. My wife got one recently and swears by it, but I have tried it and I feel like it doesn’t get my teeth really clean and it leaves me feeling vibrated and annoyed.
I, for one, am looking forward to abandoning physical books. Aside from some art books and reference books, my books just take up valuable space and look chaotic. I wish reading on my iPad was a slightly more pleasant experience, but I’m getting used to it. I’ll never be able to part with some books I’ve had since I was a child and some great cartoon anthologies (Complete Calvin and Hobbes!) I’ve amassed over the years, but fiction and such can stay in electronic memory.
Those 5-finger shoes are a riot. I think having material between my toes would drive me NUTS.
I think my favorite low-tech things are my furniture. I have some really great chairs, tables, and an awesome sofa. I don’t think I’m in too much danger of those being replaced by hi-tech items, but, who knows?!
July 28, 2010 — 9:59 pm
Josh says:
Hey Paul,
Totally agree on the books, plus it’s huge for me to have a searchable database, my memory is terrible.
The Five Fingers are really pretty cool, you should try them out if you get the chance. It’s not as bad as you would think.
I think you’re probably right on the furniture, although I would kill for a hovercraft lazyboy!
July 28, 2010 — 11:03 pm
Paul YM says:
Of course, a few days after writing this I read this article which makes my stance on physical books vs ebooks a little less clear:
http://theoutfitcollective.blogspot.com/2010/07/ill-be-hoping-for-big-one-out-of-blue.html
My mother, who is a retired librarian and a hoarder, puts related clipping into every book she owns (thousands). Pull any book off a shelf or out of a box and a dozen yellowed clippings fall out. Of course, who knows if we’ll still have newspapers or magazines in the near future to clip from while sitting in our hovercraft lazyboys.
July 30, 2010 — 9:58 pm