Interface

I have chosen an interface between my daily practice and technology. This blog is a part of that interface. Research and education via the Web is another part of it. I take technology seriously. I view it intentionally. It is not an ass-scratch reflex, like texting while driving. 

So, when I sit down with the intention of writing my blog entry as I did this morning, I must realize in the moment that change can occur even in the sanctity of my temple of personal reflection. The wind can blow in an update of Open Office, Version 4.0.0, to be precise. This is sobering, not only because I still flinch at dialogue boxes, but because I use Open Office to maintain my household accounts on a spreadsheet. I do not like being reminded I have a spreadsheet, let alone a rigorous budget.

I chose Open Office years ago as a revolutionary act, a protest against Microsoft domination...and Microsoft cost. I know the motivation of its original volunteer designers was egalitarian. They wanted to provide free access to a state-of-the-art document software. This is very empowering for anyone with a second-hand computer, no money and the desire to write a cover letter to a potential employer. I know this to be true because the person to whom I gave a computer several years ago used Open Office successfully for this purpose. 

I tried to remember all this this morning when I was interrupted by a box telling me about the Open Office updated version. I was already running late. I was also paying one of those annoying utility bills which never fail to take my breath away. So here I am writing my entry at a later time. My neurons are stretching to adapt. My legs are calling to take my morning walk. My mind threatens every moment to disregard the monitor and drift out to the sunny summer day.

Interface, between human and machine or human and human or whatever, always requires adjustments of some kind. Interface with my computer is a surrender of unilateral control. It is a process, like every other aspect of a humanist practice.