Voices of MainStreet: Scott Serene

Don't Call Me Inspector Gadget

Jan. 7, 2011

I have never been to CES and probably never will but I do always read about it and try and learn about the new and improved things that are coming out.

When I think about all the new gadgets the first thing that comes to mind are the new TVs. What guy does not love a big new TV? I mean they are getting bigger and more advanced every year. Can they get any flatter? Phones peak my interest too. Now, while I do not own a smartphone, it's only because I can't afford one. I’m sure if I could afford one, I would have one and so would the wife.

New tablet computers and iPads and stuff like that are very interesting to me. I have this idea that having an iPad or a smaller laptop might help the wife and her home schooling of the kids since she can be on the move more easily. But I do not know enough about them to know if they can hold all of the information that she needs for the schooling. Would a smaller screen hurt more than help? I also wonder about having a computer that can be hooked to a TV so the kids can see the lessons on the TV. I bet they would love that. Do I think that technology would help us out? Sure. But can it hurt us too? Yes.

I would also love to find out how technology can help me in my attempts to provide a better blog. I want to blog about my family but I would also like to add new elements to my blog and make it more appealing to others. Technology has played a small role in our lives. We are not up on all of the latest things but some of the advances help our family. Internet coupons help the most. Printing coupons that you can get online makes a huge difference in our budget. Being able to home school from a laptop and have the kids being able to navigate and do some of it themselves is a great part too. Little things that go a long way for us. That is what matters. Those little things being a GPS - it helps the wife get to places she needs to go (if it has the right directions), but it does help. Things for the kids like being able to DVR kids' shows - that is big.

For the wife and I, being able to have cell phones has been the biggest thing about technology that has helped us in the past, present and probably the future. Letting her have the availability to call me about kids' appointments and other problems is the main reason I wanted her to have a phone. Now we text, tweet and can check e-mails from the phones. I can remember her saying “I don’t need a phone." Well, when you are carrying our baby you need a phone.

The only thing I can see changing in our home gadgets is the stuff we get for our kids as they grow up. I'm sure they will want more advanced stuff. I’m sure as things change we may have to change and adapt. Guess we will see and (who knows?) maybe the prices will come down and everyone can share in the world of new and fun techno toys.

—Scott is a dad of four who blogs about everything from being a daddy to his love for his wife and normal issues in his everyday life. You can check out ThisDaddysBlog.blogspot.com for more.