The 3 forms of technology that I consider to have the greatest influence on my life are the Internet, cell phones, & Microsoft Multimedia programs.  The invention of the internet, unquestionably has become a major part of my living experience.  The World Wide Web literally has granted me access to anything imaginable in the world, from factual information to potential employment, all in a single click! I recall that in my childhood years whenever I was in need of a source of factual information I would have to refer to the encyclopedia volumes, which often contained outdated content.  Once my family purchased a computer with internet connection (around the year 2000), obtaining all forms of information became a simple task, with countless articles & search engines I would find on the web.  With such a wide variety of sources at my disposition, the legitimacy & appropriateness of the information I was learning online certainly became an issue. Similar to Olivia's story in the video, I soon realized that my young generation had quickly surpassed many adults in our knowledge of how to maneuver a computer & in our awareness about the world, which we would acquire online!  My uses for the internet are quite parallel to those described by the youth in both videos. Like the young lady who learns Japanese online, I also find the web quite resourceful in my endeavor to learn Arabic.
The 2nd technology that has significantly influenced my life, chiefly involving academic matters, is the Microsoft Office programs. The functions of programs like Microsoft Word, Power Point, & Excel have dynamically enhanced the way I produce & present academic work.  The features of Microsoft Word allow me to idealize my work by adjusting fonts & margins, adding bullet-points & headers, along with spell check & dictionary / thesaurus reference. Microsoft Power Point likewise has proven to be a vital tool for displaying class presentations & for summarizing class lectures in the case of some professors. Just as Olivia chooses to personalize her MySpace page in the video, I find it useful that Power Point has several configuration options for one to customize the display of the slides according to the occasion.  However regarding professors who deliver class lectures via Power Point, I feel that class lessons should not be entirely read off the slides. The instructor should use the slides as a guide in combination with other engaging teaching methods. Adding video links & images to the slides is one way of making Power Point more interactive.  I have had some exposure to Microsoft Excel, which I consider a key resource for organizing data & doing calculations.  No doubt, I know this program will be practical me in my future teaching profession when I am composing rosters & calculating grades.
Lastly, my cell phone is an important technology that affects my daily living. Despite the fact that I have only owned a cell phone since the age of 18 (always a jaw-dropper!), it has served as a primary mean of instant communication with those important to me. I don't view myself as a cell phone addict, but I have developed the finger speed for texting & the habit of checking my phone every couple of seconds! I remember how during all the years in which I didn't own a cell phone, I would have to write phone numbers down & ask other people to allow me to use their phone. In this aspect I can relate to Olivia's story, being that she did not have her own computer, yet would constantly seek access to a public/school computer. Having a cell phone at hand, is a potential distraction when I am working on a school assignment. Nonetheless, like with most things in life I make an effort to place my priorities first, knowing that they ultimately will have the greatest impact on my life.             Technology is awesome, don't text & drive!