From the editor
Like many across South Jersey, the recent blizzard kept us homebound for several days. Despite the inconvenience of yet another snowstorm, we tried to embrace it. The wind howled, the snow piled high, but inside our home, we felt warm and cozy.
We built a fire and settled in for a movie Sunday night. My daughters were over, and between their streaming subscriptions and ours, the options felt endless. Platforms I had never heard of appeared on the screen, offering virtually any film ever made. After scrolling and debating far longer than necessary, we finally chose one.
The next morning, my mom and I were the first ones awake. Coffee in hand, we stood at the window, taking in the extraordinary amount of snow. Thankfully, we had not lost power. She turned to me and said she’d like to watch the morning news.
It should have been simple.
Instead, the television prompted us to select a streaming platform, log in, reset a forgotten password, authenticate the account with a phone code, and scan a QR code. I found myself juggling two remotes and my cell phone while my mom gently but repeatedly said, “Channel 6. Just put on Channel 6.”
“It used to be that easy,” I replied.
There was a time when watching television required little more than pressing a button or even turning a dial. News aired at predictable hours, and movies were scheduled events rather than infinite scrolls. When my children were young, Friday nights meant a trip to Blockbuster, walking the aisles, and committing to a selection. The choice was right there in our hands for us to take home.
Then came cable’s on-demand features and, eventually, streaming. Now, entertainment is summoned rather than scheduled. There is undeniable convenience in binging on favorites and watching multiple episodes. Algorithms predict our tastes so a similar storyline is cued up with the next movie or show to watch next. Technology has granted us extraordinary access and convenience.
Yet, somewhere between turning a dial and scanning a QR code, I began to feel overwhelmed. As my mom requested “Channel 6,” I was reminded that progress isn’t always intuitive across generations.
Growing up, the rhythm of my evenings was marked by the familiar intro of Action News, signaling it was time to shift to evening routines, dinner and homework.
Innovation never moves backwards though, and change is constant. But, on a snowy morning with devices in hand, I found myself longing for the simplicity of a single button right on the TV.
But, if someone could invent a robot to shovel the driveway at the push of that same button or a QR code, I would happily embrace the future.
Peace & Love, Cindy
