The On Button

Technology. The World Wide Web.  I remember sitting at an old computer in a urban downtown video pool amazed at the idea of messages sent and recieved in a matter of 'minutes' to any where in the World.  I was chosen to participate in a federal/provincial funded pilot project for low income individuals interested in computers - specifically HTML.

As I sat facing the computer I recall being nervous to touch it. I was afraid I would break something or if I pressed the wrong button something horrible would happen.  As the instructor patiently explained the 'On' and 'Off' button my thoughts wandered to visions of mass power outages, smoking machines, and spinning clocks. A living SciFi film with a time machine at my finger tips. 

I reached for the ON button. Click. Beep. Beep. Grind. Then flashing acronyms and symbols.  The journey was about to begin I thought. The instructor, a tall English woman with a tightly wound scarf and a laugh that always ended with a snort, typed in a few letters to show off the Email function.  Then 'beep', the computer shut off.  I sat with little shock.  I knew I knew it is what I thought.  After the instructional 'snort', the instructor mumbles some darn technology comments and switches the machine back on.  Click. Beep. Beep. Grind.  Flash.  She presses a few keys on the keyboard to quickly bring up the email function once again and before it could 'compute' the machine shuts off again.  "It's a sign." I think to myself as I slowly move back from the machine. She gives me a "maybe you're right" kinda look and rolls her chair in front of the computer. After a few attempts, she decides she will let the computer cool down for a bit and goes into the history and purpose of the World Wide Web. 

The computer did eventually fulfill its promise.  At that time there were no email addresses that I knew but the instructor's personal email.  There were few pages to view. (I do wish I could remember the first page I viewed.)  But all in all I was amazed at the new world I was witnessing.  I studied my little HTML  book and continued to be amazed. 

2012. Within seconds high speed internet connection opens with information for everything.  My communication with most people are via email or social media sites, such as Facebook.  I am no longer afraid to press buttons and now venture into problem solving tech issues.  I have said hello and goodmorning to individuals over the waters and can view video footage of astronauts in space, learn how to build a exploding device, how to make the best saskatoon pie, murder, birth, war, peace, misery, happiness, church, sweatlodge, history, future, minds, voices, poetry, films, porn, love, marriage, divorce, friendship, racism, freedom - or how to build a house.  There are no limits to what can be found on the internet - The Web.    

The Web - we are all connected.  Yet .... we are apart.  Difficult to disconnect from the invisible life line we have all become so dependent.  I am still amazed at times at the capibilities of this communication attachment.  I can connect with a stranger as I view and read thought provoking text or his/her daily activities.  They let me in with a new kind of trust or 'need'.  Yet....there are limits to how far they will let you travel 'in' .  Those invisible lines of communication keep the humans apart but connected.  Safe. Safe from face to face interaction which may lead to human sensory communication while exposing the author with all its truths and deceptions. 

I miss the mystery and amazement meeting new people without needing the "ON" button close at hand.  The risk of rejection or the passionate acceptance of real 'live' humans.