The Faraway Nearby: Diary of a Taranaki Tech Traveller – Part 4

iPhone rings in my pocket. I’m hanging out the washing. It’s a Facetime call from friend in hospital in Auckland. I can see her sitting up in her hospital nightie and she can see my towels blowing in the Taranaki breeze. We chat about her health then recall the days of phoning the hospital ward and waiting for the ‘ward phone’ to be wheeled to the patient – if the staff had time.

Now hospitals encourage patients to bring their mobile phones as they realise texting and phone calls help with patient morale as well as filling in time. With smartphones the patient can, if they’re up to it, also read, play games and surf the internet. My phone and charger will be the first things I pack if I’m heading to hospital. I won’t have to hang out for visitors for entertainment and to refresh my reading material.

I remember how I used to spend half my annual leave allowance traipsing to Christchurch to cheer up my aunt during her frequent hospitalisations. Now, if she was still with us, I could use Skype or Facetime (the Apple version) for virtual visits – saving air fares and annual leave. Not as good as kanohi ki te kanohi – face to face – but a great substitute.

Skype and Facetime are great for virtual visits with grandchildren too. I recall international picture book reading and watching bathtime. I’m guessing we’ll move to homework help as they get older. I recall my brother’s very small grandson when the phone was held to his ear and he heard my voice. His only prior experience had an accompanying face with any voice. He was very puzzled. I wonder if he’ll have a hologram of his grandchild!

Relaxing with TV time – but as usual the programmes don’t require 100% concentration so out comes my jigsaw puzzle. No need to take up the coffee table or angst over lost pieces as I use the Jigsaw Puzzle App. My Scots heritage restrains me from paying for upgrades so I’m limited to a 400 piece puzzle with no rotation of pieces but that’s hard enough for me!

A couple of hours watching undemanding TV while pushing pieces around with my fingertips and I have a completed puzzle. A free puzzle can be downloaded every day and can then be worked on off line, so I have a small collection for offline holidays. The app has various features I have yet to explore but I’m surprised to find in the ‘history’ that I have completed 100 puzzles since June 2015.

Clearly, I like this App.

Kaye Lally, Age Hacker