"Digitally mixed soda, anyone?" [T3]

It's no secret that I "love" technology. Any time a silicon chip can make my lifestyle more efficient, fast, or just plain better, I'm up for it.
But a soda fountain? Really?

While traveling for a Gospel meeting, I stopped into a sub restaurant to get a sandwich. After placing my order, I took the cup that was a part of my combo meal, and proceeded to the fountain machine to fill it. But I couldn't find the fountain machine. Or at least I couldn't find what looked like a fountain machine.

Instead, what I saw was something akin to a refrigerator, emblazoned with a Coca-Cola logo and a spout in the middle. Just above the spout (obviously for a cup) was a screen, and a single button that said "Push." I cautiously walked up to the machine, took a long hard look at the screen... and then I took a chance at looking silly... I touched it. It reacted! It was alive! It was a touchscreen!

It turns out that what I had found was one of Coke's new "Freestyle" fountain machines. It's named "Freestyle" because it allows you to not only select from various Coke products, but there is a sub-menu for each drink which allows you to add various flavors to your "coke," including cherry, orange, vanilla, and a host of others. Once you make your selection, your press the only hardware button on the front of the machine, aptly labeled "Push," and your selection is mixed by the machine and dispensed into your cup. Wow.

Now why am I bringing this up? Well, because whether you like it or not, more and more computers are showing up in more and more unassuming places. Things are changing at a rate of speed that surprises even me.

I know that a few weeks ago I turned some heads by making the switch to a "paperless" Bible. Even a digital soda fountain takes me by surprise, though. Still, the trend continues - technology brings efficiency and more options.

This edition of Tech Tip Tuesday will be an interactive edition, since I have a question for you.

How has "high" technology changed your life in the last year? What are you using some sort of a computer for today (in the form of a tablet, smart phone, or desktop/laptop) that you were doing in some "low-tech" way a year ago? Have things changed for you at all?

Please respond in the comments section of this post.

Thanks!

-D

P.S. - This post was created, both the text and images, using only my Droid X, iPad 2, and a WiFi connection at Starbucks. No desktop or laptop was involved at all. Think about that...