Thanksgiving week!  It’s always been one of my favorite holidays.  Family, food, and spending time reflecting on the things you’re thankful for. I thought it would be fun to reflect on how I’m thankful for technology and how it has, and will, impact our lives…

When you were in school do you remember learning about iconic inventors like Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison?  Although difficult to grasp because I had zero clue what life was like without a telephone or a light bulb, I am now realizing that my children will not know a world without the advancements we often take for granted.

Here are some technologies I’m thankful for and ones my children at some point may view as historical…

Internet – commercialized in the 1990’s, the Internet has gone from requiring a phone line to being available on your cellphone as long as you can get a 3G or 4G signal.  I am certainly thankful for everything the Internet has made possible.  I’m confident there is more to come.

Cell Phones – commercialized in the 1980’s, like the Internet they have gone from requiring a phone line to being available anywhere you can get a cellular signal.  The combination of cell phones and the Internet has created devices that allow you to do just about anything, anywhere you are – I’m thankful for this flexibility.

Wireless Technologies – wireless technologies have been around a long time.  That said, just about everything I’ve known to be wired, my kids will only know as wireless – connecting to the Internet, using the phone or connecting the cable box to the TV.  Did you know both Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison dabbled in wireless technologies in the 1880’s?

Skype – I have family all over the world and being able to talk with them and see them is remarkable.  My kids expect every conversation on the phone to include video.  I’m sure 3D holograms are next!

Social Media – being able to share anything with an infinite amount of people instantaneously is incredible. #Thankful

These technologies focus on communication and information.  What technologies are you thankful for?