Zing go the mobile tones; the computer network systems have been brought to the bedrooms; while earlier they had occupied the space in dining rooms, before which they were highly luxurious items to be afforded..
Talking about my own house, we own three different computer systems. One is what you refer to as the desktop; that is placed in the drawing room, and it is one of the oldest commodities in our house right now. That was way back in 1997 when my father made the purchase; we still remember our high levels of excitement when it was welcomed by breaking coconuts and applying tilak on its front. I was 14 years old at that time. There was no Internet connection, but we familiarized ourselves with its variety of features - Disk drives, Accessories, MS Office, and Paint. There were a couple of CD Roms that were received free of cost along with the Rs. 80,000 purchase.
Laptops were one of the most expensive products of modern technology that people could own. The most common ones ranging between Rs. 1,50,000 to Rs. 3,00,000 during those days, they were systems that had limited stock for the few who had the capacity for purchase. Now we have PC tablets starting from Rs. 15,000 with more features than what anyone could have imagined 10 years before! I myself am presently working on a 10 inch HP PCthat has every built-in facility except for a CD Rom (Guess I don't need one on this machine)
Mobile phones, just like computers, are another luxury turned necessity items that have stormed the world in the past few years. Regardless of whatever heights technology reaches and makes people get rid of most items that they cannot imagine existence without right now, the former two (cell phones / computers) are commodities that will always stay in demand. With their models getting stale even if they have been purchased a year back; and while the so called modern society demands keeping oneself up to date with the latest versions in whichever way possible, wonder what the scenario actually has in store for the common consumer.
Has this technology in any way made things simpler for someone who struggle regularly in meeting his daily requirements i.e. the core necessities for survival? How have the iPods and the WiFi connections made lives easier for the average person on the streets, in his struggle for basic living?
At a time when mobile phone rates keep going lower when the model is even 6 months old, there are people who struggle to get education loans to make sure of a post graduate degree for their child; there are another set of commoners who spend half their lives in collecting money in their provident funds to ensure independence in their old age; and then there are families that earn in unison for assimilating a 'handsome' dowry package for their daughters and sisters.
It was said that with liberalisation, India achieved its second independence. But has that remained just a notion on paper,? If yes, then how has the common man benefited because of something that happened two decades ago?!
