So, I recently migrated all of my media & computing activity to Apple products–like a return home of sorts. Since I used an Apple //c as a kid as part of the first wave of personal computers in homes, I lovingly retain a certain fondness for the company who advised the daring maxim, “think different.” And there’s a mystical kind of mythos that still lives on beyond Steve Jobs’ death, a rich, enduring legacy he’s left–one of courageous, even devil-may-care, all-be-damned, intrepid innovation. That genius & maverick madness for creation absolved Jobs of the many character flaws that dogged his steps in life, flaws that even led to some of his biggest professional failures. Yet, even now, there’s a general reverence for his contribution to the tech industry. His words we still revere.

All this to say that it’s a fairly big deal & rather nostalgic for me to return once again to Apple devices–namely, a Macbook Air, an iPhone, an iPad with Pencil, & an Apple watch coordinated into one system.

Part of this full integration will be my ongoing effort of training Siri to do more things for me as my digital personal assistant, using AI for work purposes. My excuse is that I need to use this tech in order to innovate to support students in higher ed for the future of work, which is certainly justified. And that’s true. I mean, I think about how my son is already using my iPad & Pencil to “paint,” which basically means he scribbles with the Pencil on my Notes app. He really loves it & consciously chooses the colors that he wants to use when scribbling away. He will say to me, “I want paint” & “Daniel paint,” to indicate when he’s ready to create, & I definitely encourage his creative impulses, especially as illustrators, painters, & architects run in the family line. Other than when he “paints,” my little has limited access to tech, as I do try to encourage & protect his imagination & creative play.

It’s not that I’m against tech; in fact, I’m a strong advocate for it. But I do want certain devices to be introduced at appropriate times in his young life, & for the right context, as much I can control those things. Below, you can see one example of his digital masterpieces:

As a kid of the 80s who loved her Apple computer, I’m quite excited to be able to share some of the digital wonders with my little when it comes time. Already, he’s wielding the Apple Pencil with surprising dexterity for a two-year-old, & I love the way his eyes light up with excitement when he discovers something new. He searchingly makes eye contact, seeking encouragement & positive feedback for his efforts, as he creates. It’s magical to observe.

The newest addition to my Apple tech suite is the Series 3 Watch with GPS & cellular capability, & to be candid it’s a little intimidating to figure out how to use all of its features. One of the coolest things is a reminder or alert to get up & move every hour, which is already coming in handy, as my job is very much tied to computing & data analysis. For sure, I do need to remind myself to get up & move more, especially when my mind is deep in problem-solving functions or analytical thought. The idea that I can use my Bluetooth earphone buds with the watch without needing to carry my smartphone is also pretty appealing to me as an introvert, no lie. Furthermore, the integration of MS Office apps like 365, Teams, & Outlook also helps me do things on the go–so I’m not only tied to an office desk. And I like that I’m able to be responsive to requests as they come in, as notifications pop up in multiple places for me to see.

This tech suite also can help me to remain accountable to myself for several personal & professional goals–writing regularly being one of the most important of those. I do tend to write in a personal journal (which is private & not shared), yet I do try to use this blog as a way to mentally think through the issues I’m facing at the time or for reveries tied to creative impulse–or even for remembering things I rarely get to contemplate (whether due to my own avoidance or lack of mental bandwidth). It’s weird to find that people actually read my writing, since even though I’ve expressed my hope to relate to other introverts like me who work through anxiety, OCD, & depressive episodes, I still don’t always understand why people would want to read about me. Or my thoughts.

Despite whatever my career has yielded or education I’ve had, I still struggle with “impostor syndrome” most of the time–likely a by-product of the perfectionism that’s affected me for nearly my whole life.

And, so, I hope these tech tools will aid my attaining my digital goals. Here goes. Dear introvert (& other) readers, what do you find works best for you in terms of tech tools? How do you integrate tech into your life in positive ways? What are some of the wins? Losses or setbacks?

I’ll be detailing my journey here, so please stay tuned.