“You’re Three Versions Behind”

When I worked as a research scientist, one day I had some problems synchronizing my iPhone and my desktop computer, so I called the IT service at my College. When the young man who came to help me started checking my iPhone he said “you’re three versions behind.” Although I had upgraded with a new phone within the past couple of years, I hadn’t realized that three updates had already happened, although I knew that two years was a long time in technology development. Since I didn’t like the bigger screens I had seen recently I had put off buying a new phone, but I asked if that’s what he recommended.  His suggestion was that I should wait, since a new system using the smaller screens would be coming out later in the month (meaning that I would soon be yet another version behind)! I bought a new phone shortly after his visit.

This experience recently led me to think about other areas of my life for which I was several versions behind, especially in the current “smart” technology era.  

There are now hundreds of what are called “smart” products- like TVs, watches, telephones and home appliances. They are connected to other devices, usually through the internet, and they can use data to react to the environment they are in, talk back to us, and adapt to the desires of their owner.  Many people work to have the smartest home they can create. It’s not easy for me to say, but in terms of this arena, I am not as smart as some others. My wristwatch and my telephones – I even have a landline in addition to a cellphone – are not smart. And my apartment building provides central AC and heating, so even if I wanted to be smart about that, I can’t. And in terms of my TVs- I have one that is smart and one that’s not, and requires a Roku device to access Netflix. Thankfully, the two TVs don’t get into conflicts about their intellectual differences, as they are in separate rooms.

What is the message here? I conclude that it is to accept that technology and capitalism will continue to bring forth new versions of lots of things. Accepting that and learning to use the newest ones are important parts of staying engaged, and can make life easier. Although I am at times reluctant to abandon older versions of things that work well, I am resolved to make continued updates or replacements when needed. I remind myself that at least I will still be the only version of myself that is available- maybe not too smart, but certainly unique.

(PS- The term “smart” originally was an acronym for “Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology”, and also became known as “smart” because the technology allows what were previously inanimate objects to talk to us).