Sunday, August 31, 2008

Digital(l) age!

Ever since I heard/saw in the news about television broadcasting in the US going all digital from February next, it's been unbelievable that there are television antennas in this part of the world and that there are users too!! It looks like eons now those good(!) old days in the then, Madras with most houses showing off (multiple, sometimes!) antennas which was crows' kuttichuvar' for their daily discussions. There had been numerous times when we had to dance with those antennas moving it in different directions to get some decent audio or grainy video.

For me, digital age started with those Rs. 35 digital watches. Aaah, those were the days! Now almost every room in our house has a clock with digital display like clock radios, cooking range, cable box etc. that sometimes I doubt my clock reading skills from dial clocks!

When my husband bought his first digital camera, I thought it was an unnecessary expenditure(little did I know, mega pixel count was in competition with mega serials!). Although I agree that digital cameras help us record every smile, every step, every milestone of our little ones, it is no match to looking at a physical photo album. And with the numerous pictures sitting in supposedly organised, appropriately named folders, it's become so tedious to find 1-2 specific ones from the chakravyugam! I fondly remember those 24-36 film roll camera days when finishing a film roll was a big task followed by the wait for the prints('aanandha avasthai'!). The look on our faces at the photo lab - priceless(can be 'Salangai oli' Jayapradha style or that podi payal style!)!

15 comments:

Me said...

About five years back we were using a TV with an indoor antenna in the US!

I still stay out of all these digital gadgets...Cell, Laptop, and Digital Camera...avalov dhan!

Raju said...

Enga veettu Antenna-vai thiruppi thiruppi mottai maadiyile oru periya kuzhiye vizhundhuruchu.. Any revolution, digital or wireless, is welcome.. I just dont wanna get caught in the mid of HD vs BluRay kinda wars..

Me too said...

me, 5 yrs ago, I understand(especially with the owner of a faded pothy's bag full of certs!) cos' we started off with an indoor antenna too!
But this - "I still stay out of all these digital gadgets" - I can't understand! You one 'adhisayapiravi' of this age!!

raju, I know you are a peace lover(no getting caught in wars!) and content with your wireless laptops!

Me said...

I have a pendulum clock at my apartment...& it is not a battery operated one..

..and I have two battery operated dial clocks...

mitr_bayarea said...

A good post with lots of humor.....laughed at the mega serial vs mega pixel competition and of course the Jayapradha salangai oli one in the end. Yes, digital ulagam vanthachu.

The Talkative Man said...

When a couple of guys in my primary school started wearing digital watches, I used to get piqued that the time was some abstract 1:23 or 10:37 instead of a rounded value. So I used to wait for [1-12]:59 and then ask them the time!

Clicking with digital cameras - familiarity breeds content is all I can say! A click is meant to catch a rare moment.

Never used analog watches ever and last year, ordered the vintage F-91 Casio, the first sports watch, for $10 from a hongkong ebay seller, despite howls of protest from those near and dear :(

Me too said...

me, yengiyo poiteenga!! If not battery operated, do you have to wind the clock from time to time? My thatha used to religiously do that job with his thatha clock!

mitr, thanks!

ttm, for activities that I can't decide when to start or stop, I wait for a rounded value on the digital clock! After my kids were born, every second counts!
So, do you sport a vintage sports watch on your wrist now?

Me said...

yes..everyday..:))

D LordLabak said...

yeah, its the time of the year when everyone is talking about things of the bygone era. Join the gang.:-)

Me said...

allo metoo eppadi irukeenga?

The Talkative Man said...

me2,
glad that at least you didnt call it 'roadside watch' like everybody else, haha :D

Me too said...

me, present sir! Viral infections on living and non-living things are to be blamed!

deepa, back with a bang!

ttm, I'm among the few souls who can appreciate "vintage", "antique" etc. ;)

Me said...

ah..i suspected infection on living beings but not on compooter...take care metoo..

Me said...

appie deebavali!!!

Me too said...

me, danku and wish you guys had a wonderful celebration too!