Sometimes I wonder if I’ve learned more about history from book clubs than formal education. Hopefully this means that I am a “Lifelong Learner”. When a story is linked to people, even fictional characters, it becomes so much more compelling and memorable and makes me want to learn more.
 
I just finished reading The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen. This book about the Vietnam War (or the American War if you live in Viet Nam) made me realize how little I knew about this war. And some of what I thought I knew was wrong. Nothing, or next to nothing, about this war must have been included in my American history classes because I’m sure I was seeing some familiar words for the first time in print. These words dominated TV news in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Seeing them written down was a surprising jolt.  Additionally, I’ve never encountered more unfamiliar (English) words in a single book, it was not an easy read, and the story was often uncomfortable if not downright disturbing.  I didn’t like it much until the very end, and now I am so glad I read it. It’s one of those books that provides a perspective that I hope makes me a better person and a better citizen. It wasn’t boring or hard to understand, it’s just that I wasn’t the only person in my book club to comment about the fact that I didn’t feel compelled to pick it up most days. In order to complete it on time, I ended up creating a strict reading schedule that included frequent breaks and periodic chocolate rewards. 
 
It's also worth mentioning that I read the book instead of listening to it. Listening is my new preference because it enables me to move while making progress, my house is way cleaner when I listen, and I sleep better when I’ve moved more during the day. Some friends tell me they can’t listen because their minds wander, and I get that. It happens to me too. But I’ve learned that if I am doing something very mundane like cleaning the kitchen, doing laundry, weeding, walking, or even painting a room, the time flies by, and  I am transported into the story. And whatever I’m working on turns out cleaner, neater or nicer in the end. Most recently I painted a wall … in Paris (as I listened to America’s First Daughter by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie).
 
This is a very long lead in to some questions. Have you heard of archive.org? My latest reading assignment is 11/22/63 by Stephen King. I have about three months to “read” 849 pages. I’d rather listen! It’s not available via my local library audiobook sources (Hoopla and Overdrive). I’m willing to buy it via either Audible.com or Audiobooks.com, but while searching for it last night, I stumbled across a free audiobook version via Archive.org, and I also stumbled across another source of free audio books called LibriVox. Without any help, I was able to start listening to 11/22/63 on both my computer and phone, and I also downloaded the Archivist app onto my phone. With a little help from my husband this morning, I now have the Smart Audiobook app loaded onto my phone which provides a friendly interface for listening to the downloaded book. Here’s what I’m wondering; is listening this way legal? It’s a Tech Frustration because I know that just because I can do something, doesn’t necessarily mean that I should do it, and finding that answer isn’t easy. The last thing I want to do is to deny Stephen King any income he’s rightly earned. My husband did a bit of research and said the answer wasn’t immediately clear to him either. I’m also wondering if anyone has used LibriVox. I haven’t checked it out yet because I have 849 pages to read. And my kitchen is a mess. 
 
Tell me what you know!  Thanks, and happy reading.
 
P.S.  Listening to snippets of an NPR TED Radio Hour show Can Ordinary People Become Leaders? yesterday inspired me to keep blogging. It was pretty entertaining. Who knows what it will inspire you to do.

That’s what a very nice woman asked me earlier this week when I called a reputable financial services company to discuss my pension. And I have to tell you, it caught me off-guard.  Especially since she knew the pension was earned while working for a computer company. The great news is that she gave very clear and specific instructions. Even after I told her, “Yes, I know how to use a computer” she continued to speak to me as if she wasn’t convinced. It’s nice when the biggest Tech Frustration of the week also makes you laugh. A lot. My husband is now asking me, multiple times per day, “Do you know how to use a computer?” He thinks this is super funny. And he thinks he’s super funny when he says it.
 
Not only do I know how to use a computer, but I’m listening to more audio books. Nothing beats them when you need to clean the house or do other mindless tasks. It turns out that my local library offers ebooks and audio books via Hoopla and Overdrive, so I’m registered for both now. But I have to tell you, I have a strong preference for the Hoopla experience. It is just so easy! Overdrive offerings appear to vary by library, so the key to success with this app seems to be collecting library cards. So far I have one.  It’s really frustrating to be able to see the book you want only to be told it isn’t available via your library, but the people in the city right down the road can borrow to it. I just started To Kill a Mockingbird. After about five chapters I had to get online to figure out why this book is so important. Apparently it will become more evident as I read/listen on, and at least now I know how to listen more carefully. Sometimes I wonder if high school literature classes are wasted on the young. Or maybe mine was just wasted on me.
 
For now, all is well; I have a stock of free ebooks and audio books, the house is pretty clean, and I know how to use a computer. In fact, I'll bet I was using computers before the nice woman was born. But I think it's time to let that exchange go.

​So ... I wish you a Merry Christmas and will keep an eye out for any new Tech Frustrations reported via this site on Christmas morning and beyond. 
 
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It's been a good week on the technology front. I finished my first free audio book and started a second. I enjoyed watching the World Series. And we started a new Netflix movie. All of these activities had one thing in common; streaming.

Streaming means that data, especially audio and video content, is received (or transmitted) over a computer network (like the Internet) at a steady, continuous rate. Basically, the content is delivered to you as you listen and/or watch. It isn't permanently stored on your device (e.g. computer, cell phone, or tablet).  

Streaming is different than a "download" which copies the content completely from one device to another providing you with a permanent copy (unless it has some technology to automatically erase it after a given time period). 

Free Audio Books  Unlike an Audible.com purchase of an audio book where you download the book onto a device and then listen to it, when you check out an audio book from your local library (via Hoopla or Overdrive), the book is "streamed" to your device via the Internet. This means that you have to listen to it on a device that has an Internet connection.  For me this is my phone or laptop. Previously, with the downloaded books, I listened to them on my tiny iPod Nano. I am surprised that the phone actually works really well.  I finished my first book in record time and am already into my second book. This change has caused me to swap my habit of listening to the radio while I'm in the house and listening to my audio book while I walk outside. Now I'm listening to books in the house and listening to the radio while out for a walk. Given that the news is rather unsettling right now (with the election and all), I'm finding it better to take in the news while I'm outside where it seems easier to remain optimistic.  It's worth noting that I had the ability to listen to audio books from Audible.com on my phone all along, I just thought I didn't want to use that device because of its size. Necessity really is the mother of invention ... or at least the incentive to try something new.

Live Video Streams  More and more, live video streams are popping up on my Facebook News Feed. It's been fun to watch Cubs fans live as they celebrate their big win, while concerning to watch some civil unrest unfold real time. I've also had a friend and a relative post live video streams on occasion. This has me wondering about the appropriate etiquette for these events. Should I feel compelled to watch if a good friend or relative is "live streaming"? If I do watch, should I feel compelled to comment in the moment? These are not rhetorical questions. Please let me know what you think.

Netflix Streaming vs. DVD Movies  It feels like we've watched most of the reasonable content via the Basic Netflix Streaming service, so we recently decided to live it up and order the DVD option too. Over the years, as we've watched streaming content via Netflix we begrudgingly learned to endure the occasional Tech Frustration when there is a break up in the picture and or audio.  It wasn't until last night, as we were watching a movie via a DVD, that I realized the streaming experience has really improved recently. It's rare to have a picture break up these days.  Unfortunately our DVD contained a few trouble spots (aka Tech Frustrations) which required us to skip over very small sections of the movie.  As it got late, we gave up during one of the glitches near the end.  Hopefully we can finish this nail-biter soon.  (We are watching The Intern, which really isn't a nail-biter at all.  It's surprisingly funny and even a little thought provoking.)

So it seems that streaming is merrily here to stay, the quality it good, and it is changing the way we listen, learn, and connect with each other.  What are you streaming?
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​A Tech Frustrations reader, who is also a friend, recently commented that she does "not use technology to its fullest". She wrote the comment on Facebook, and it sparked a lively conversation about whether or not we should feel bad if we don't use every feature included with a technology product. Many of us feel like there is some "shame" in not using every feature of a product we've purchased as though we may not be getting our money's worth out of it. "Not so" said another friend. He pointed out that not every feature is designed for every user. He says it's OK for us to have a "take it or leave it" attitude toward product features.  

When I borrow a DVD from Netflix, it’s often capable of displaying subtitles in German, Spanish, French and Japanese. I don't use those features, nor do I feel like I've wasted any money by not using them. Cell phones, PCs and other technology products aren't any different.

​As my smart friend (who also designs and builds technology products) pointed out, “If there are enhanced usability features they should be so natural, obvious, or self-teaching as to provide high value for little effort. The complex features may bring joy to the technology connoisseur while not creating difficulty for the common user. It may be ego, or it may be the fact I do some technology design, but if I have issues with any consumer product I would blame the design first.” I liked that statement because I find it a lot easier to blame a faceless designer than myself.  But I’ve noticed that a bunch of us blame ourselves first when it comes to technology.
 
It can’t be easy to be a product designer, so in defense of them, I have a story. A few weeks ago my son came home from college for a weekend visit. (Not to see me, of course, but he did stay at our house :)  As I drove him back to school on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, he grabbed my phone and offered to “tune it up” so that the apps would run faster. I gladly accepted the offer. (And it wasn’t lost on me that my business-major son was helping his mom with a computer science degree use some very pervasive technology). I only hoped he could offer a few suggestions to help with some of the apps that are totally non-intuitive.  Imagine my surprise as he darted from screen to screen clicking and swiping. I told him to slow down and explain what he was doing and on multiple occasions I asked, “How did you figure that out?” to which he’d replied, “It was intuitive.” Hmm, it hadn’t been intuitive to me.  So I just want to recognize that the designers have a challenge on their hands. What’s intuitive to one person isn’t necessarily intuitive to another.
 
Anyway, back to my smart friend’s comment about features being natural, obvious, and self-teaching. He pointed me to a very interesting and entertaining video about product design. And that reminded me of my smarty-pants son’s struggle with a door he encountered in Sweden earlier this year (see 2nd paragraph).   
 
What’s the point to these stories? I want people to realize that if they are having trouble with a product, rather than letting their blood pressure rise, it’s OK to recognize that the product may not be all that well designed.  Basically, it’s not you, it’s them. As for me, I’m going to try to be bolder about using my technology products and try to start out with a better attitude. My first success story occurred last night as I sat down with my PC, a new library card, a cancelled Audible.com subscription ($15/month), and the name “Hoopla” (and "Overdrive", "Amazon Prime", and "Prospector") written on a sheet of paper. I’d been wanting to try out one of these free audio book services for a while and finally had the time to investigate them in a relaxed way. Guess what?! It was super easy.  Within 10 minutes I had 17-day access to a new audio book via my PC and phone (via Hoopla). And it’s my latest book club assignment (The Cove by Ron Rash). So at least the first attempt is a big success! Earlier today I downloaded the Hoopla app on my phone and that was even easier. I wish there was a way to listen to the books via my iPod Nano, but I’m happy to walk with my heavier phone since the price is right - free. (I most often listen to audio books while walking on the Cathy Fromme Prairie, washing dishes, and folding laundry).
 
So next time you experience a Tech Frustration, take a deep breath, don't be a George Costanza, and just remember, it’s not you, it's them.  


Do you have any Tech Frustrations?  If so, tell me about them on the Tech Frustrations web site.

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