Catching the Tech Wave

Boy, a lot has happened since I sketched this concept of catching the tech wave! The technology keeps getting faster, smaller, and cheaper. But are we any better for it? If we are continually connected to our devices, is it a good thing?

Technology is changing everything, including surfing. Apparently, it has changed surfing in dramatic ways; from surf forecasting to shark mitigation. I found this in my sketchbook. It was about surfers using GPS devices to find the best waves back in 2012.

Is the Tech Wave a Good Thing?

I’m no Luddite. My career has benefited greatly from technology. But it has also suffered a few times from the changing surroundings.

When I was in college, desktop publishing had not arrived yet. Everything was paper-based. And my first couple of jobs out of school used that method of prepress.

But soon, I found myself at a quick printer that embraced desktop publishing. I no longer needed a typesetter (machine and person) to create sheets of type. It was all done on the computer. Because I caught the tech wave, I was soon a layout artist, then a designer for a computer book publisher.

However, I was laid off from the company when the 2001 tech bubble flattened the wave. Alas, it was fun while it lasted! Since then, technology has continued to define and shape my career. This blog came into being when I worked for a tech publisher. It amazes me that after all these years, I am still working on it. Though today, it’s more likely someone is reading this on their phone or tablet instead of a desktop computer.

I drew this for an Illustration Friday challenge. The word to illustrate was “fluid.”

Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.