Mark Wu : Design & Art Direction for Digital Media
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Bad Tech Phobia - The thought of New Gadgets Breaking

Monday, 24 March, 2008

I've read that gadgets and the internet have been reported to be addictive, as well as the cause of all kinds of stress ("Still waiting for that all important email, that should have arrived by now?") Well, I've experienced something far worse. It happens way before the addiction has a chance to kick in.

I've recently bought the new Macbook Pro laptop and Apple's Time Capsule. I had planned on these purchases as a complete and overdue upgrade to my existing hardware set-up and back-up system.

I only do something like this every four years or so. I'm not a gadget freak out with my credit card every time Apple farts out a new product or upgrade, so I do consider myself a "normal" consumer when it comes to technology, bar the odd gush of appreciation for sleek, aluminium-cased designs.

However, perhaps its the infrequent purchases, and my consequent reliance on these product's reliability that cause this slight phobia that I have.

I always take my time to create a new set-up, software-wise, as it gives me the chance to flush out any old application cobwebs I never knew I had, in order to have a nice, new machine. As part of the process, I back-up anything I still want to keep, more so in this case, as I'm having to transfer all my archive files onto the Time Capsule as well, so this period can be quite intensive on the hardware.

However, as with most new things, you're never quite sure if something should be doing something the way it does. I've noticed the odd clicking sound. The persistent humming and whirring. And the odd flickering of the screen. Lights are changing amber and green. And flashing. Does the manual explain that?

Honeymoon period this isn't. Its rather like beginning a long and important journey you're taking with your car. After it becomes too late to turn back, you start to notice the odd spluttering in the engine every now and again. You wonder whether that's happened before. And then you wonder whether it will happen again, only far worse. And so the rest of your journey, you have this worry that something will go wrong, your car breaks down, and then you're stranded.

Gadgets, like cars, can and will break down. It's something most of us will have experienced, so we're not really surprised when it does happen. But the worse thing, is when you've just bought something and then it starts to break. Sure, you have the warranty, but that doesn't give you back the time you've inconvenienced yourself with in setting a new machine or with any delays in getting a replacement. And don't get me started on stuff breaking after a month out of warranty!

I haven't been able to find much on this - maybe its an as yet unpublicised condition, but for now, I call this "bad tech phobia". The worrying thought that the new piece of technology you've just spent an arm and a leg on, will break. It causes anxiety! It causes undue stress! Or maybe its just me.

It doesn't have to be new technology as such, though that doesn't help. It could simply be existing, proven hardware technology, and you've simply be sold a faulty product.

Thankfully, in my case, nothing has gone wrong so far. My new laptop is still whirring away contently, and I'm slowly becoming accustomed to the sounds its making when its healthy.

But it could still happen. Give it a few months and the phobia will probably slowly but reluctantly fade away like a bad dream. Until the moment my warranty runs out after twelve months, and then "post tech warranty phobia" kicks in.


This entry posted in : Observations.

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icon comment  4 Comments :

Sounds a little bit like buyers remorse?
Posted by TK10  on  20/04/08  at  01:34 PM

I'm not so sure - I don't usually regret what I buy as I do tend to think carefully whether I need something.

But its an interesting thought. It could apply to the fact that you NEED to buy something (I.e. Macbook Pro for work) but that thinking it might go wrong, could be indicative of our expectations as consumers. Maybe?
Posted by  on  20/04/08  at  06:03 PM

Digital media goes on and on!
Posted by Laptoper  on  23/04/08  at  06:46 AM

If you are getting the tech support from India, then you are screwed. I'm mocking their tech skills. But there is a lingo problem.
Posted by  on  16/05/08  at  04:16 AM

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Quick intro :

British Chinese, Digital Design Consultant. Professional experience spans over 9 years working on digital design projects for both small and large clients. Read more...

Events attending :
  
28/04/08 :House of Commons :
Barry Gardiner MP Reception
13/04/08 :The BC Project :
Get Active UK - Register to Vote (Chinatown 12 - 4pm)
27/02/08 :The British Chinese Project :
Political Seminar
Hosted by Cllr Thomas Chan
21/02/08 :Five Circles Arts Festival :
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10/02/08 :Chinese New Year celebrations in London Chinatown
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Visit China Design Now at the V & A
Sign petition to stop BIA raids on Chinese catering businesses
Absorb The History of Visual Communication
Listen to the Five East Asian Music Acts to watch in 2008
Revisit my childhood
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