But an artificial sort of assignment. Since I'm 69 years old, I grew up without anything digital. However, I took my first computer programming classes in 1963, in my freshman year in college. I was an enthusiastic early adopter of technology, because of its usefulness. The benefits were unmistakable. In 1972, I wrote my thesis on a typewriter. I ended up being a magazine writer, and began longing for a time when I could edit my writing while reading it and without retyping the whole damned thing. Clearly, that day was coming, but hadn't arrived yet.

In 1984, as a struggling writer, one of my editors offered me a book contract. I said, "Well, OK, but my condition is that I get a PC Clone to write it on." My condition was met, and I never looked back. I put my old IBM Selectric in the closet forever. It's still there, covered in dust.

Our digital technology is a distraction, at times, but it's also the most important advance in any of our lifetimes. It has enabled so many people to do so much that I can ignore the trivial uses to which it is put by many people. I just don't care if people text to each other instead of talking. I don't do that, but I don't care if others do.

Technology is incredibly useful. With it, we can do more, express more, and learn more. Luddites are silly people.

ETA: The irony is that some people will use their device to post in this thread that digital technology is a plague. Those people will not recognize the irony.

Rather than technology per se. Or limit technology to what was available in 1950, or another specific date.