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A rock musician and a chamber orchestra violinist found apps that allowed them to play music with others far-off. A girl in Toronto says she’s discovered how you can take programs and order groceries on-line, however she longs to be along with her great-grandsons.
I wrote final week about our pandemic-altered year of technology, and I requested On Tech readers to inform us what you really liked or loathed a couple of extra digital life.
Some of you mentioned you had fashioned new habits that you simply assume may stick, together with meditating on-line and gathering weekly with buddies over Zoom. Some readers mentioned they had been grateful for digital stand-ins however couldn’t wait to get again to the library and hugging their relations. (Virtual hugs to you all.)
Thank goodness tech has helped us muddle by way of a disaster. Also, simply ugh to all of it.
Here is a style of readers’ views on know-how that has helped them cope. The responses have been frivolously edited. And wave hey to our On Tech editor Hanna Ingber for plucking a number of your new habits:
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My 3-and-half-year-old grandson lives in Portland, Maine. I learn a web-based e-book whereas he follows together with a tough copy in entrance of him. This 12 months, studying collectively has strengthened our bond at a distance. He calls me all the time, asking me to please learn him one other story. — Starker White, Rockford, Ill.
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Because I’ve watched a lot Netflix that I obtained bored, I began drawing cartoons that spotlight how our lives have modified throughout the pandemic and shared them on Instagram. — Irina Blok, San Francisco
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A brand new behavior I’ve picked up is studying e-books on my iPad. When libraries closed down, I didn’t know the way I used to be going to get my repair in. To be trustworthy, I miss holding a bodily e-book in my hand, turning a web page and the satisfying feeling of closing the e-book if you’ve completed. I can’t wait to go in and browse the cabinets for hidden gems! — Elizabeth Price, Seattle
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My new tech behavior is meditation class by Zoom. I’ve by no means earlier than been capable of efficiently meditate (monkey thoughts to the max). But being at dwelling, in my most snug chair in entrance of the fireside with a cup of espresso has labored for me. Meditation has been an awesome device to assist me address the stress and nervousness of this horrible, no-good 12 months. — Julie Lindmark, Shoreview, Minn.
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I’ve been geographically distant from my previous band mates for over 20 years. During lockdown, we found we might use an app known as JamKazam to play music collectively over the web in actual time. We’ve been doing that each Sunday for the previous 10 months. Rock on! — Gregg Butensky, San Francisco
Since May, I’ve performed in about 100 chamber-music classes using Jamulus, which has nearly eradicated delay in audio communication between gamers even lots of of miles aside. I’ve been capable of keep my social ties with my musician pals and make some new musical pals as nicely. Last, however not least, I’m inspired to maintain working towards. (Nothing like understanding one has to play a tough first-violin half the subsequent day.) — Tom Frenkel, Sunnyside, N.Y.
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My new behavior is ordering groceries on-line and no contact pickup! I LOVE it. I’m 68 and retired and have very dangerous eyesight. My “shoppers” have accomplished an impressive job! It’s a real enchancment that ought to stay in place. — Patricia Cornett Farley, Bluefield, W.Va.
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I’m 86 years previous and haven’t hugged anybody in my household for one 12 months. But I’ve discovered to make use of Zoom and to order my groceries on-line, each of which helped me maintain myself fed, unbiased and sane. I’m taking an awesome course on insurgent Russian authors. I’ve attended companies at my synagogue with out having to placed on my snow boots. I’ve gone to artwork galleries and operas with out having to decorate up or fear about the place to park.
Still, I miss being out on the earth. Will that ever be pure for me once more? Time is valuable. How will I ever make it up? Will my little great-grandsons know me after we can lastly be collectively after a 12 months or extra aside? — Sandra Atlin, Toronto
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My psychologist is now doing telehealth visits, and I adore it. It’s my hope that this turns into a everlasting possibility sooner or later. Not just for me, however for the multitudes of people that want psychological well being care and aren’t ready to entry it in individual. — Laurel Mollison, Jacksonville, Fla.
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I educate ballet to older girls. When we needed to cease dancing collectively in individual, I used to be motivated to discover a option to ship a category in some kind. With an iPhone, my teenager’s tripod and the tech recommendation of my three grownup youngsters and my son-in-law, I used to be capable of rapidly be taught to report a ballet class, edit it on my laptop computer, make a YouTube channel, add the video and share it.
The entire studying curve was enjoyable, because it concerned abilities that the children loved displaying me. I’m grateful for the possibility to be taught from my youngsters and to profit from an in any other case isolating 12 months. — Hallie Blanchard Rehwaldt, Evanston, Ill.
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I bought Duolingo and brushed up on French and picked up Arabic and German. It was one thing I constructed into my schedule day-after-day and needed to do for not less than 20 minutes. It was my “mind exercise” and saved me linked to the world regardless of journey restrictions. Also, I feel I impressed my son to select up Beginner French in his highschool course registration! — Therese McCauley, St. Paul, Minn.
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I’m going to an annual women’ weekend journey on Lake Gaston with 5 different girls. That needed to be canceled final 12 months. We’ve instituted a weekly Zoom name on Tuesday nights after we put the children to mattress to meet up with one another and speak and chuckle, and generally cry. It’s introduced us even nearer collectively than the same old as soon as per 12 months weekend might. — Rebecca Antoszewski, Ellicott City, Md.
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Before we go …
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Streaming isn’t the way forward for sports activities fairly but: The National Football League and the TV networks want each other to ensure viewership and their fortunes don’t disappear in a single day. That’s why N.F.L. games will mostly be on TV over the subsequent decade beneath a brand new contract price about $110 billion (!?!?), my colleague Kevin Draper wrote. Also, Amazon will produce its own football telecasts for the primary time.
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Are colleges paying an excessive amount of for web entry? A former AT&T lawyer instructed The Washington Post that the corporate had overcharged schools for years beneath a consumer-funded program to cowl web prices for colleges and libraries. (AT&T says it charged the bottom costs as required by regulation.)
A query: Is the federal government doing too little to police this fund, or is this system fatally flawed? Here’s a 2003 article about fraud in this same internet fund.
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Humor doesn’t compute: As Facebook has develop into extra attuned to posts that glorify violence, its computer systems and human moderators have generally mistaken political satire for dangerous indictments, my colleague Mike Isaac reported. There is a protracted standing drawback of web firms failing to grasp the context of posts.
Hugs to this
This is what a snoozing dormouse sounds like. It’s whistling and loud night breathing on the identical time, possibly?
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