Something to Keep
“Technology is at its best when it is invisible.”
Nassim Nicholas Taleb – The Bed of Procrustes
A Second Look
I talked about my relationship with technology before, and it’s complicated. Others feel the same way as well. In my case, what surprises me is that I went from loving technology to hating it over the course of a few years.
I remember picking up my first iPod when I was around 17 years old, and it felt magical. The fact that I could pick up a device that held dozens of albums in the palm of my hand felt enchanting. I also listened to my first podcast around that time, and it felt like the natural evolution of radio.
Fast forward two decades and every song ever recorded in human history is at the touch of a button, but it feels the opposite of magical. It’s overwhelming, and most apps are full of cheap music made by robots. My solution has been to retrieve my old iPod Touch 5 and download the few albums that really matter to me.
Which brings me to something I’ve been thinking about too much lately: I love tinkering with technology. The thing I missed the most is having a project device. Maybe that means dusting off an old computer and installing Linux on it or finding my old Nintendo 3DS and softmodding it (more on this later).
The fact that the software could fail at any point, but nailing it anyway feels weirdly satisfying. Using a machine for something that wasn’t meant to do is also weirdly satisfying. The creative freedom and problem-solving I’ve learned with technology is something I treasure to this day.
I know it’s not for everyone, and even when it involves manipulating software, there’s something “manual” about giving hardware new life by installing weird shit on it. I’d particularly encourage those who are scared of technology to find an old device and do something with it.
Get a project PC, flash a router, build a home server, or program Arduino chips. There’s more to technology than passively consuming. You can also turn into an active creator.
Something I Liked
So here’s something different I don’t talk about often. I used to play a lot of video games growing up. In fact, before this site, I used to have a gaming website. I don’t miss gaming, but I think there’s a healthy way to engage with the hobby without having to waste hours of my life.
I recently found an old 3DS lying around, and I might try to install custom firmware on it. There’s a chance that I never play games on it, but I know I’ll enjoy tinkering with it even if it doesn’t lead anywhere. I’ve also been using my iPod on my commute, and my relationship with music has changed completely now that there are no distractions. Maybe the 3DS could do the same with gaming.
It’s weird that I write all of this. I started this site to talk about self-development, but most self-help advice tells you to avoid technology, and I get it. At its worst, modern tech can distract you or steal your data. If you use it as a tool, though, technology can enrich your life. It’s certainly been like that for me lately.