Karla's Kolumn: Technology, the good, the bad and the ugly

Technology makes our lives easier, or does it. There are things that make our lives easier if they work. There are a lot of technological marvels out there but yet we still have a ways to go.

I’m not talking about the meme that says by now we all thought we would be flying around in a George Jetson car. I’m talking about basic necessities, OK maybe necessity is not the right word.

But let’s look at some facts. We all know that with the right appliances you can pretty much program most things with your smartphone, including your refrigerator. There are refrigerators also with a quick knock and it shows you what is in the fridge without opening the door; there are refrigerators that will automatically refill a water bottle or have precise filling features and so much more.

There are refrigerators with Bluetooth speakers but here comes one of the problems with technology.

You can do all these things with a refrigerator, you can program so many things with your phone but you cannot have more than one device connected to Bluetooth at a time.

How is that even possible?

So, let’s start from the beginning. First, I have a regular refrigerator with an ordinary ice maker. I work on computers all day but I would not consider myself tech savvy. I was one of the last of my friends to get a smartphone.

But I’m progressing in my tech savvy, or maybe I am just getting more gadgets. I have had a Kindle Reader for about two years and up until two months ago I rarely used it. Two months ago it dawned on me that with my new Amazon Prime membership I would have access to more free than without Amazon Prime.

I have read three new books in that time and just started on a fourth. I thought I would never like reading books on the Kindle but I have changed my mind and attitude. I love it on the Kindle. When my eyes are getting tired but I just have to finish that last chapter before going to sleep I can make the font larger to help out my tired eyes.

A 300-page plus book on a Kindle is much easier to take with you on the go than a hardback or paperback book.

But, I digress, back to Bluetooth technology or lack thereof. Up until six months ago my knowledge of Bluetooth consisted of connecting a wireless printer to my work computer and connecting my phone to my Ford Escape.

For my birthday this year, my wonderful husband got me Bluetooth earphones. I believe, that while he was moderately entertained by my struggles of keeping my earphones in while doing dishes or housework, he also knew the struggle was real and got me the wireless earbuds so I need not worry about the long cords.

I can connect them to my iPod, my phone, my work computer, but wait therein lies the problem.

I knew I had to disconnect my earbuds from the computer to use them with my phone, I think there should be a better way but I’m a little slow when it comes to technology I will admit.

I had been cussing my printer for oh say since about my birthday because some days it would work great and other days it would not seem connected at all.

The lightbulb went on last week when I disconnected by earbuds from the computer and something I had tried to print earlier that morning started printing.

Oh, ya – Bluetooth printer, Bluetooth earbuds. I, sadly cannot have my cake and eat it too. So on days I know I need to use my printer a lot I am tethered by my regular earphones or I have to continually connect and disconnect my earbuds and let us be honest that is just not efficient.

Do not say I could just go without listening to music because there are days you just need to jam out to some country or rock or find some soothing instrumental sounds, depending on the type of day.

Now you are right. As I am writing this the only thing I am connected to is the computer. When I write I don’t listen to music, there is a time and a place.

I am not asking for a Jetson car, I just feel that in the 21st year of the 21st century I should be allowed to print while listening to my music on my wireless earbuds.

Don’t you?