A long time ago, or to be more exact, in the years 469 to 399, there lived an early classical Greek philosopher by the name of Socrates who has been credited with being one of the founders of Western philosophy. He also had a pupil named Plato and both Master and pupil expressed their opposition to writing because it would “create forgetfulness in learner’s souls because they will not use their memories”.

Since then the same may have been said about printing using our inkjets or laser printers, listening to radio, education generally, watching TV, using computing devices, email, Facebook and Google and other similar brain rotting technology as writing was seen as.

We are always suspicious of new technology and let’s be honest not all technology is perfect, there are the occasions when the batteries explode or your GPS takes you the wrong way, but what would you do without your TV or radio, your telephone, and nowadays your internet connection, your calculator and your iPod music player.

Skype and Face Time has been a boon to connect to friends and family around the world and not just in black and white but in colour, and oh yes free of charge.

Those of us remembering our first black and white TV sets in enormous cabinets with tiny screens thought they were marvellous and such a wonderful advance on radio. Compare that to today’s 60” screens in blazing colours and wonder on the wonderful genius that provided us these pleasures over the years.

We may complain over much of the rubbish that we are presented with and at times agree with Socrates, but whether we think the current generation is spoiled for choice or that our brains have rotted, aren’t you glad to live in an age of unprecedented innovation making your life just that bit richer, more knowledgeable, easier…Technologically speaking.