Postcards from the Imagination

Rather than mope about being alone this Christmas, I bought myself a really neat present. Several months ago when I struggling, I had to sell my Palm TX on eBay. This week, I went back to eBay and found both the PDA and a wireless keyboard in like-new condition for a fraction of the retail price. This little package folds up to about the size of two 3"x5" Moleskine notebooks.

It's WiFi-ready, synchs with Outlook, plays MP3s, and comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and a web browser. Using the wireless feature and a free service from Avvenu, I can instantly access any file on my laptop AND stream my entire iTunes library. If I happen to be out of range of a hotspot (rare given where I live and work), an inexpensive SD memory card will hold as much music as my old iPod Nano. I can blog with it, quickly transfer and post photos from a digital camera, and access the entire OED at the tap of the stylus. But what I'm most excited about is the ability to write poems or take notes when and wherever I'm feeling inspired. I've been doing that the old fashioned way for the past couple months, but for anything longer than a few sentences, I prefer to type. With this, I can use to the stylus for sketching and brief notes or unfold the keyboard for lengthier thoughts.

The last time I was in NYC, I wanted to go somewhere I hadn't planned on going. Within 5 minutes of hatching the thought, I was able to find a hotspot, google the address, plug it into the MTA's trip planner, figure out which train I needed, and be on my way.

I know some poets find technology loathsome, but to me it all depends on use. As a means of keeping workers tethered to the job 24/7, I think it's oppressive. Owning the technology and deciding for oneself how to use it, however, can be liberating. Rather than worry about forgetting to do things or losing track of time, I can schedule reminders and focus on the things I really want to think about. Imagine it this way, I have neither £500 per annum nor a room of my own in which to work (not to mention a Dorothy Wordsworth), but I do have a PDA.