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ShareMumbai: Internet has become a part of our life. Housewives, professionals, youngsters and businessmen all want to be tech-savvy. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, DNA finds out how everyone is using the tool.
World is now a smaller place
Technology has taken a huge leap. When I grew up we faced a lot of problems trying to communicate with our kin in the city. Today one can access someone living in America, with a single click. I'm not at all familiar with using the internet or even a computer. In fact I don't even know how to switch on a computer. I see many youngsters and members of my family glued to the computer, but I don't feel I'm missing out on something. I have my family around me, so communication becomes easier. There are other senior citizens who learn to use the internet just to communicate with their kin who live abroad.
--Julie Dsouza
Matches fixed with a click
Internet has come to India for a little more than a decade, but it has revolutionised the way we work. The Net is not only about communicating with friends and family, social networking has also become easier. It also has some practical uses. Earlier if we wanted to find a suitable match for boy or a girl, it was very cumbersome. Now with the help of online matrimonial websites, it's become easier. Moreover no one feels offended if the match doesn't materialise. Earlier we would have to wait for the 9 pm news bulletin to know about happenings in the city or nation. Today, they can be tracked at the click of a mouse. At my age I'm internet-savvy.
--CK Subramaniam
Not fearful of Orkut, Facebook
Most of my friends lead hectic careers and already had a good understanding of the latest technology. They made up for their absence from their children's lives by gifting their children expensive electronic games and gadgets. When I thought of hitting the net and finding out for myself what the world had been up to while I was busy raising kids and looking after the house. It was a magical experience, the world was at my finger tips literally. It instantly brought me close to my children as they worked hard to instill a sense of confidence in me and helped me make the best of my new found abilities. I'm no more fearful of Orkut and Facebook.
--Zohra Javed
Knowledge tool which everyone must use
Today, I cannot imagine life without the World Wide Web. Internet has become a lifestyle. If I'm connected to my friends and relatives is only because of e-chatting, email or chatting-via-video. Since I'm a student, I don't have so much time to personally pay a visit and socialise with everyone. So, social networking sites help me socialise. Moreover internet helps me in getting information for my school projects and other information, I need. My whole family uses the tool and everyone has working knowledge about it. I consider internet as a tool to improve our life and a convenience, but I'm not addicted to it. I use internet twice in a week.
--Dhwani M
Changed the way we seek jobs
For me, the way we do all our project work in college has been changed by the augmentation of web tools tremendously. To access any information, we use internet search engines nowadays. Earlier people just used to rely on books and library. That too was a convenient option, but was too time consuming. Presently, I'm pursuing my masters in computer applications and I'm seeking a job in the same field. I need not peruse through newspapers to obtain information on vacancies. I get all the news on job portals. Beside this I can pursue cooking as a hobby, since I get information about new recipes. Internet isalmost like a magic box for me.
--Nidhi Joshi
Want to see online photos of my children
I can't operate a laptop or use an internet connection on my own. When my daughter was around, she would encourage me to use the internet. I want to learn and I think it's vital to know the use of internet in current times. This is because everything is easily available at just a click. So if there is some assistance, I can manage basic internet applications. Both my children live in the United States of America. We communicate with them on phone on a regular basis. However, at times I feel like watching their pictures which they put up online and can be accessed by everyone on social networking sites. So sometimes I do feel that I should be tech-savvy.
--Daksha Panchmatiya
Take cyber tech to rural hinterland
I cannot imagine life without the net. I'm a marketing professional and my job involves communicating with my peers and clients. In office, we have an intranet which reduces travel time within the workplace and enhances productivity. Data transferring is much easier nowadays. Though I communicate with all my friends through email, I still write letters to my distant kin, who live in the village, where technology hasn't made much of a dent. India hasn't increased the penetration of the technology throughout the rural areas. A majority of people of India don't know about the internet or even the electricity. Internet may have turned 40, but in India it has a long way to go.
--Yogesh Mhamunkar
System has added a new dimension to my life
Internet has turned 40 years old and I'm quite dependent on the system today. I know how to operate a laptop and it has helped me to keep in touch with my friends. I can't imagine life without internet. I basically use the internet to check my email and also log on to social networking sites like Facebook. Internet has indeed added a new dimension to my life. It is amazing and one can chat with people abroad and even speak to them without paying a penny. We don't have to perpetuallywait for letters from faraway places to arrive. My parents don't keep a tab on what I do online. I'm responsible enough and I know which websites, I need to visit.
--Aishwarya Raut
It is a great mode of conducting business
For me, internet is a boon. I'm a businessman and half my revenue is raised due to internet advertising. It has revolutionised the way business is conducted. I couldn't imagine 10 years ago that we could order things online.Even communication with my extended family and friends is done through email and social networking sites. One doesn't have to roam around with a bulky photo album anymore. But it has its side effects also, I'm a little apprehensive my 13 year-old-son, who may be tempted due to peer pressure, to surf undesirable content. We must keep a watch on what our children are browsing.
--Shankar Machcha
