DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN DEVICE ?

more participants at Jenny Matlock's Alphabet Thursday

During my tour around the UK, each night we stayed in another city and in another hotel. My first question was when we had got our room keys "Do you have Internet". The answer was always "yes" except in one hotel which looked like a little castle and was in renovation.

Besides my astonishment about the sometimes horrendous internet connection prices, I was also confronted with a new word "device" ! I mean the word is not new but the meaning has changed. And that I didn't know. The first time when a receptionist asked me if I had my own "device", I asked myself what she meant ! I asked her "what do you mean by device ?" she looked at me surprised and said "an iPad" No, I answered,  I have no iPad but I have a notebook. Now she was surprised. I told her that it was also a computer but in miniature, and therefore also a "device". When I had payed I told her to better use the word Computer instead of "Device" or she should say "do you have a thing"! 

I didn't want to remain ignorant and googled for the word "Device" !

An online dictionary explained :

de•vice (dɪˈvaɪs)
n.
1. a thing made for a particular purpose, esp. a mechanical, electric, or electronic invention or contrivance.
2. a plan, scheme, or procedure for effecting a purpose.
3. a crafty scheme; trick.
4. a word pattern, figure of speech, theatrical convention, etc., used in a literary or dramatic work to evoke a desired effect.
5. something elaborately or fancifully designed.
6. a representation or design used esp. as a heraldic charge or an emblem.
7. a motto; slogan.
8. Archaic. devising; invention.

In short : a device means a thing !

I found a new website "Webopedia" ! (not Wikipedia) and there it makes it really clear :

"Any machine that feeds data into a computer"

For example, a keyboard is an input device, whereas a display monitor is an output device. Input devices other than the keyboard are sometimes called alternate input devices. Mice, trackballs, and light pens are all alternate input devices.

I rubbed my hands and purred like a cat ! Now I knew ! I will show them that old ladies are not so stupid as especially young males think when it comes to computers ! I only hoped to find a receptionist who would ask me "THE" question "do you have your own device ?"


my devices

And it happened in the last hotel ! I innocently looked at the young man and asked him, "what device do you mean exactly ? my keyboard, my monitor, my mouse, or my Ethernet cable ? I have it all, but I call that a computer !" I should have taken a picture of his face ! But then he started to laugh and I explained him my adventure with the word "Device" in the first hotel, and still laughing he agreed, that never ever again he would ask a client "Do you have your own device ?"

Devices

WHAT DID YOU DO THIS WEEKEND ?

Helps you to remember what you have done on the weekend of March 16. If you participate please put the little logo on the top of your post and leave your link.



As Nicole and her 82 year old neighbor had some troubles with their computers, this time Mr. G. came along too, because in computer cleaning and other technical stuff I am a zero ! He connected a printer to Nicole's computer and then we went to Simone, were he started cleaning the computer, but after nearly 2 hours not even 25 % had been cleaned. I then showed her how to answer emails and meanwhile her brother with wife came along and brought a mouse ! Simone's grandpa was a very famous painter and on her walls hang a real fortune as the prices of these painting vary from 30.000 € (39000 $) to over 100 (130 $)  and more ! She has a cozy very huge apartment with full of antiques, but also loves stuffed animals which sit in a basket (above picture) ! We had a glass of wine and spent a very nice afternoon with all of them.



On Sunday morning I had my little "chat" with Toby, but he wasn't so much in a chat mood ! He has learned the word "No" by now and uses it with pleasure ! I couldn't keep his attention for long although I showed him a book with animal pictures, he preferred to walk away with his legs in two boxes ! Maybe it will be the fashion for the hopefully once upcoming spring !

After that, as it was not raining at least I went to the market in Brussels,



and had my coffee in this Café as usual, it's a real melting pot in there, locals together with all other nationalities ! People were even sitting outside in this cold weather !



I also admired the huge Moroccan cooking pots to make Couscous and the Raclette and Pierrade appliances.



On my way home I took a picture of the "Porte de Hal" a remain of Brussels' city wall. As you can see the weather was not inviting to go out for further adventures, so I stayed home the rest of the day.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

more participants here

FUN MONDAY - GADGETS

Wendishness, our host this week proposes following theme :

This week it’s all about gadgets! I would like to know what gadgets you can’t live without and those you could get rid of. It doesn’t matter what part of your life or house they dwell in, whether it’s the kitchen, your desk, shed or any other place but what works well for you and what doesn’t ?

What I would have considered as "Gadgets" when I was working, had a child to raise (the husband is still there) and a household, are not at all "Gadgets" to me in my today's life as a retired person.

It just would be like considering a hearing aid or a guide dog as a gadget.

Since I fill in my days with blogging, photo hunting and other nice occupations, I absolutely need my little "baby" computer when I travel. It has the size of a book, allows me to get on Internet and also to download my pictures and publish a post even when I am not at home.




my travel computer



and of course my window to the world, a "normal" one for home. If I hadn't this I would die of boredom.



Second very important "gadget" is my GPS ! When I was working I didn't need one, because my car found the way to the office alone. When we travelled Mr. G. used to drive and I became stupid. When I retired and wanted to go with my car to different places I always got lost. It came to a point that I didn't want to drive anymore except for shopping and on the streets I knew by heart. Since I have my GPS I feel free like a bird ! I can go everywhere I want to and it always brings me there safely. Today I couldn't imagine my life without a GPS.



Of course the mobile phone is also a very nice "gadget" which makes me available wherever I am and I also can call for help in case I find myself in the middle of the woods without petrol or a flat tire.




And last but not least my microwave ! what would I do without it ? It even bakes and grills and heats up everything when I am too lazy to cook.

These "gadgets" are really essential to me. I couldn't imagine my life without them. All other stuff is apparently useless, because nothing else comes into my mind, unless a camera and a TV is considered as gadgets.

Unfortunately a lot of women my age are still living as if there were 30, with the same appliances. They are afraid of a micro wave, because of unvisible rays, a mobile phone because it's too difficult to handle and they have lived their whole life without it, not to speak about a computer (!!!) this engine bites and a GPS ? why ? they can read a map. I am unable to read a map, I never now where I am.