Learn 'A Little' Tech Today
I’d like to be able to speak Spanish and play the piano well. However, learning to speak a language other than English and play the piano with both hands is the equivalent, to me, of being able to climb Mount Everest.
How do you make a mole hill out of a mountain?
I spent years in Ms. Kipp’s grade-school Spanish classes. All I learned was Lotto—Bingo in Spanish. I’d be pretty good in a conversation with a native Spanish speaker if we could confine our conversation to numbers.
My parents dutifully provided me with years of music lessons. Their return on this investment was my complaints about daily practice. I can read music but I couldn’t play a C Minor Major 7th chord to save my life.
One day, as I tell myself, I’ll begin to build on my mastery of numbers in Spanish and I’ll be able to make use of my left hand when seated at a piano.
“One day?” From how many have you heard that before…?
In my own defense, except for my experience with Spanish and the piano I’ve always tried to master the subject matter necessary to be successful at work. Since coming to Microsoft seventeen years ago I’ve tried to keep up with all our new products and technology advancements. My motivation, of course, is employment.
Nevertheless, have to admit that if I had I applied my practice of learning about the latest technology to learning Spanish vocabulary and piano chords I’d be able to say a bit more than: Hola. ¿Cómo estás? and I’d be on my second pass at learning the 8400 piano chords.
Let me explain…
I’m using Windows 8—the release preview version that is currently available. This is the next version of the operating system that will be used on PCs in the near future.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/release-preview?ocid=O_MSC_W8R_OandO_Consumer_EN-US
I know that there will soon be books available on every aspect of this new operating system. For example, there is a book on Windows 7 entitled: Windows 7 Inside Out .Guess how many pages it is…? 1360. Who would be motivated to read such a tome on one product? There won’t be a Microsoft employee who isn’t asked about Windows 8. I’m no exception. It would be helpful if each one of us knew this new operating system “inside out.”
I’ll accomplish this objective, a “little bit” at a time.
Assuming that the Windows 8 equivalent of the Windows 7 “Inside Out” book is similar in its page count, I’ll be going at it one page a day to insure I’m a knowledgeable Microsoft employee with reference to our new operating system.
What if you wanted to learn more about technology?
Could a “little bit” of new knowledge of technology be sufficient to enable you to stay up to date and know, for a fact, that you are using what is available and whatever else is destined to arrive on the digital landscape in staying independent, productive and healthy?
I would not only answer that question with a hardy “yes” I’d encourage anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of technology to go at it a “little bit” at a time.
What would that look like…?
For example, read the technology section of any news Web site at least once a week. For example, MSN.com has a “tech & science” section under its “News” tab.
USA Today has a technology section that is accessible on their Home Page.
There is no lack of online sites that are full of new information that are written for individuals who need just a “little bit” of technology knowledge. Here are three that I’ve found that are particularly interesting:
http://www.cnn.com/TECH/index.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/
Don’t be like me and Spanish or the piano—take technology a “little bit” at a time."Y sólo tal vez estaré mejor estudiante de español y el piano como resultado." I think that means you’ll be a better student of technology for your effort to learn a “little bit” at a time.
The opinions and views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not necessarily state or reflect those of Microsoft.
