Did people say “The refrigerator reminds me of work?”

During a long car ride filled with men over 60, I overheard someone say “I don’t use the computer to do anything any more.  I used a computer at work, and now that I’m retired, I don’t want to use the computer, because it reminds me of work”.

WHAT???

Isn’t the computer a common household appliance? My children look at our computers the same way they look at our refrigerator. You go to the refrigerator to get food, and you go to the computer to get answers.

Was there a time in U.S. history that I could have overheard a refrigerator repair man say “yeah, we don’t really use our refrigerator at home. That new technology just reminds me of work”.  I’m fairly certain no one ever heard Benjamin Franklin say anything of the sorts about electricity.

Maybe it’s because I”m sometimes an innovator and always an early adopter.
I like “technology”.  It fascinates me.  Hasn’t the computer crossed the chasm?  If you haven’t already read Crossing the Chasm, let me explain:   Geoffrey Moore’s chasm theory says that thanks to early adopters,  high-tech items initially sell well.   Then, however, they often hit a gap instead of moving on to the early majority.  This is what often kills high-tech products.  Moore also explains that he believes this is unique to the high-tech industry.

So I leave you with one question for the day:
Will the computer ever reach “refrigerator status” in all homes?


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