Tech-Hungry Americans

[Katahu]

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,69896-0.html

Shows how dependent we crazy yanks really are on electronics.

[TacitBlue]

Not me, I could easily live without electricity and everything that goes with it if I had to (not that I really want to). I don't consider anything but water, food, and aviation to be essential. But that's just me.

[Hagar]

I notice the word essential keeps cropping up in that article. This shows how out of touch with reality some people in the Western world are. This is not just an American problem. Computers might be almost indispensible these days but essential, I don't think so. Along with things like iPods, cell phones & wide screen TV sets they are luxuries & it's perfectly possible to live without them. In fact I think life was better before many of these things were invented. The manufacturers & suppliers must be laughing all the way to the bank.

Not me, I could easily live without electricity and everything that goes with it if I had to (not that I really want to). I don't consider anything but water, food, and aviation to be essential. But that's just me.

It's frightening to think how much we rely on electricity. Even my gas central heating won't run without it. Add to that the fact that gas supplies are running out & we might have to get used to doing without some of these luxuries sooner than we think.

[Fozzer]

I notice in the article that most of the devices can actually run on batteries.......!
...but...
...they all need mains electricity and a power-pack to re-charge the batteries... ...!

It's only when you suffer a power-cut late in the evening that you suddenly realise how much you rely on electricity...!
...no cooking....no light...no heating...food rotting in the 'fridge...
All you can do is go to bed...
...and hope it will all return by the morning...!!
LOL...!

Paul.......!

My only source of entertainment which doesn't rely on electricity is my acoustic guitar... ......!

Monthly electric bill =

[ozzy72]

For my first three years in Hungary I had no TV, no radio, no internet access. It was bliss
I had soooooo much time to do other things. I have to say I can still manage quite happily without the TV and the radio

[Katahu]

I can survive with nothing less than MREs and a compass. But that's only if I'm out on the wilderness. If I have to be anywhere near a town, technology is essential [internet access for researching, financial programs like Quickbooks, etc.].

[jordonj]

Apparently they never considered comparing us to the Japanese (and other Asian) markets.

Any new gadget that comes out here is years old in Japan (almost obsolete!)

[JBaymore]

Apparently they never considered comparing us to the Japanese (and other Asian) markets.

Any new gadget that comes out here is years old in Japan (almost obsolete!)

Yup....Japan certainly has lots of techno-wiz gadgets FAR before we have them here.  My cell phone in Japan years ago was the stuff just happening here now.

But for every cutting edge techno user in Japan...... there are dozens of people that live a very quiet and decidedly non technology based lifestyle.  

Sometimes the juxtoposition there is funny.  I remember living in a thatched roof farmhouse about 300 years old with a "one holer" privy.............. with a direct TV satelite dish stuck on the side.    ;D

best,

.....john

[bbstackerf]

Must be talking about dorks like me. I won't even leave the house till I make sure I have all my car adapters packed.

Keni

[H]

It's frightening to think how much we rely on electricity. Even my gas central heating won't run without it.

Natural gas appliances are common in the midwestern U.S. To me, electric appliances are somewhat safer. They're less apt to explode and send me right through the wall. When I said that I was told, "But they're not going to work when the [electric] power goes out."
"No," I replied, "but aren't the thermostats on your gas heaters electric?"
He just stared at me.

...they all need mains electricity and a power-pack to re-charge the batteries... ...!

Solar power chargers to the rescue.

It's only when you suffer a power-cut late in the evening that you suddenly realise how much you rely on electricity...!
...no cooking....no light...no heating...food rotting in the 'fridge... All you can do is go to bed...
...and hope it will all return by the morning...!!

lighting: no candles in the U.K.?
cooking: if worst comes to worst, use the candles
                 if it comes to the very worst, eat it raw
heating: a roomful of candles could set the whole place on fire -- plenty hot enough
go to bed: remedied your heat problem and you may have a nice water sprinkler system when the water lines thaw.