How dependent are you on the internet?

[Brian Turner]

So I posted in the ISP issues thread about problems with connectivity.

However, it got me thinking, so here's a question - how dependent are you on the internet?

Myself, aside from it being my business, it also serves as my daily source of information on all things - for example, I don't read newspapers, I check online news.

Of course, it's scary when you lose connectivity - for example, I had a few problems when I moved house recently.

OVerall, it's made me realise how utterly dependent I am on the internet - not just for work and information, but it also as a social environment for interacting with people from all over the world who share similar interests.

[TWD-Tony]

I'm exactly the same... My business would be like a pub with no beer with no net connection

I also gain most of my clients through online contacts (Forums etc) and have good friends around the globe thanks to the net. It's weird to think that i could continue trading without a phone but not without a net connection

I have also planned ahead slightly incase the worst should happen - I often upload important files (Outlook contacts, FTP profiles etc) to a secure sever which I can access from anywhere should I need to move during a power-cut / Internet failure

[Eagle]

What's this "world" thing you speak of....?

[rtroxel]

Over the past few months, I've been weaning myself away from the Internet.

This sounds funny, but...I began developing pains in the upper right side of my body: my right hand,arm and the side of my face. This was due to excessive (12- to 18-hour) sessions on the Web. I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't stand it anymore, so I made a list of the things I could get done without using the Web. To my surprise, the list wasn't very long! Most of my time is spent working on investments, and it's mandatory that I keep up with certain financial reports, sometimes on an hour-to-hour basis.

My solution is to spend no more than 20 minutes at the keyboard at a time, and then for the next 20 minutes, walk around the room, do some exercises, etc..

I also print out many of the reports I find, so I spend less time at the keyboard.

This all adds up to about 4 hours a day at the PC, but I've learned to budget my time - a valuable skill.

Also, I listen to a lot of music while at the PC.

[newma]

...Two connected worlds - real and web. And internet in last is everything - my computer is created for net. It's the most magnificent source of interest, ideas, thoughts and news. It's lea of food for my mind.

[Craig B]

Hi,

Well, were in a strange situation whereby we are yet to find any clients using the net, but rely heavily on the internet to support our existing clients primarily using email for corespondance and remote access tools like ssh and vnc to remotely support clients wherever we may be.

Craig.