Technology

Technology has changed dramatically in a short period of time. For example, one of my favorite new gadgets is the DVR (digital video recorder). Unlike a VCR or DVD recorder you can record well over 40-50 hours of programming. If there is a favorite series that you like you just tell it you want to record the entire series and it does. You no longer have to worry that they changed the day of the week that it usually broadcasts because it will find it and record it.

Most recently I was watching "America's Funniest Home Videos" the season finale. It was a two hour special and I usually don't watch the show but decided to because it was the season finale. Well, I fell asleep. I had paused the show, I guess, before I fell asleep and lucky for me my DVR recorded the show although I had not asked it to record. Not only did it record "America's Funniest Home Videos" but it also recorded "20/20". The segment on "20/20" was excellent. At first, I was so disappointed when I woke up that "America's Funniest Home Videos" was over. I decided to look at the listings of saved shows to see what I was going to watch next and discovered it had recorded the show. I was so happy. What a great invention. I can now go on vacation and know that my favorite shows like "Lost" will be recorded even if there is a power failure it is still saved in its memory. Kudos to the inventor of the DVR.

It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are.-Clive James