Digital Dilemmas

By Peter Baynes

When I read the Judging Task Force’s draft about the AKC Canine College (temporary name), whereby the newly formed AKC Judging Task Force is to investigate various distance-learning possibilities, it gave me pause. This includes the possible creation and development of a virtual, computer-based simulation of a judging experience that could be of significant value in the education and evaluation of aspiring judges.

I felt it was presumptuous of the AKC to believe that everyone was in possession of a computer of some kind. In a recent survey, it was discovered that only 27% of Americans over the age of 60 possessed computers, this meant that over 70% did not own a computer.

AKC Judges may be a rare breed, because looking through the latest edition of the AKC Judges Directory I found that almost all the listed judges have e-mail addresses, but maybe most are under the age of 60.

I, of course, envisaged that the AKC had ties to the various computer and electronic sales outlets just in time for Black Friday. Judges without computers (JWCs), in order to be ready for this new adventure, would be lining up at Best Buy, encamped in tents outside the doors ready to snatch up highly discounted computers, the leftovers from the Memorial Day Sale where, if memory serves me correctly, they were then even cheaper. Then I realized (silly of me) there was no way those judges would know about this newly discussed project as it was reported by e-mail.

Nevertheless, the dog world is famous for its grapevine and I am sure that even those judges will have heard of all these new proposals. I am sure a few judges and even aspiring judges without computers may have decided that it is not worth the expense to partake of this digital development. This is a pity really, since if it is true that the bulk of these reluctant computer users are over the age of 60, we are losing some of our most experienced dog people. Maybe they remember the breed video tapes they bought, along with video players. Where are those things now?

For those on the fence about a computer purchase, I can assure you that it can be an expensive endeavor to join the digital revolution. I can only relate my own experiences, although — unbelievably — I am over the age of 60. I have dabbled with computers for 20 years and I still don’t know anything about them. To me, it is a screen, a keyboard, a black box with something whirring inside, and a mouse that sometimes misbehaves. It can be the most frustrating invention ever made.

Twenty years ago, I traded handling fees for a computer, not knowing that I really needed the programmer to come and live with me to explain its complex workings. Mary and the late George Bragaw did come by one evening after the Greenville shows, and did manage to get it working, but as soon as they left I forgot the instructions.

Not to be discouraged, I bought another computer from an advertisement in a trade paper. It worked quite well, as the only reason I needed it was to print my handling accounts. Of course, I had to buy a printer. Unfortunately, various parts of the computer kept burning out. The manufacturers were very helpful, and kept sending me spare parts until they went out of business.

Of course I was younger then, and must have been smarter, as I easily replaced the parts, and bought a cheap ($3) accounting program, which I learned to program for my own needs. The accounting program survived after the computer fell apart.

I think I bought my next computer from Sears which was a big mistake since the staff didn’t know anything about computers, and if anything went wrong it had to be returned to the manufacturer. I quickly replaced it with another well-known brand. Since then I have alternated, buying computers from Staples or Best Buy. When something went wrong, I just bought another one. Trying to solve a problem online has always been difficult. Apart from tying up a business line for hours, one individual in India would blame the hardware, and another would blame the software.

It was around this time I realized I had to be able to get on the internet, so I bought an American Online account. Of course, the computer had to be hooked up to a phone line, so when I was surfing the net, we couldn’t receive phone calls. This didn’t last long until we had to get a second phone line. I’ve been with AOL ever since, then AT&T kept providing additional services at an increased cost. At the same time AOL had the annoying habit (for several years) of frequently sending their disks to promote their services and upgrades. I have a large collection, of which can only be used as coasters, although someone suggested they could be used as Frisbees to annoy the neighbors.

AOL did and still does charge a monthly fee. Over the years, surfers realized they could get similar services at a lesser fee. My handle (AOL address) was already known throughout the world and so I was reluctant to change. Most of my cheap English friends did, however, succumb to the reduced costs. Incredibly, AOL had ascertained my IQ and they gave me the title PBaynes250.

I recently had to call AOL when the digital edition of this magazine only showed one gold page — quite charming really! It did work correctly through Internet Explorer, and so I thought it would be an easy fix. Instead, it took the nice young lady at AOL a couple of hours to remedy. I probably missed numerous phone calls during that time; I am sure some being invitations to judge in far reaches of the globe. Since then, I mistakenly upgraded my AOL connection, and I’m back to the old gold page again.

Over the years my web surfing has increased. I have regular web pages to explore sites like Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Consumer Reports, CNet, Drudge, e-bay, Expedia, Facebook, Google, Google maps, Netflix, Orbitz, Music, Telecharge, Trip Advisor, Twitter, and Wikipedia. It’s a pain trying to remember all the passwords. E-bay is still my favorite. I only buy, I never sell. I still haven’t figured out Facebook, and Twitter is a complete mystery.

Nowadays I must have the latest equipment, although I haven’t splurged for an iPad yet. I have had my current computer for 2 years, the longest I have ever had the same machine. One program tells me that hard drive failure is imminent, and another says it is fine. I have an external backup drive, but I can’t understand why that is nearly full, whereas my internal hard drive, which is the same size, is only half full. My laptop works fine except when I’m away from home where I really need it. My wireless scanner, separate printer, and Nook Color also work fine until I lose the wireless connection, and I have to go through a long process of restoration. Someday I will write the secret instructions down.

I always admire cell phone users who can use their phone for nearly everything. My Windows phone is a disaster. I miss most calls. Maybe I should turn it on although when I do the battery discharges in a hurry. (This is my second faulty one). If I’m calling a business and they say press (1) (2) or any other numbers, my numeric keypad has disappeared. I keep threatening to go to AT&T for a refresher course. Unfortunately, the contract isn’t up until next April.

My pocket PC that contains all the up-to date breed standards still works fine, although my first one from Amazon lost everything when I dropped it. I bought my latest version on e-bay, as I have with numerous digital cameras. They all work fine, too.

I wish, even today, computers were more user-friendly for elderly users like me. I feel that I have conquered one program, then it is supposedly improved and, like an idiot, I have to have it. I recently fell for a scam put out by AT&T. They offered me a new line service for my computer called U-Verse. They said it would be half the price at twice the speed. They lied, it is half the speed, and half the cost is only for one year. Changing back to my old, unreliable, faster service is not an option.

I am sure that some JWCs are inclined to stay away from computers because they keep hearing about the dangers of ID fraud and other malicious acts that come from being online. For the first time in my computing career, a virus recently infected my computer. I think this was caused by the installation of U-Verse; they must have uninstalled my McAfee virus protection program.

It was quite scary; it was a ransom virus, whereby I couldn’t get past their warning screen unless I paid them $300. I took it to the local computer repair shop, and they removed it for $120. My address book was also hacked, and it sent messages to all in there advertising a weight-loss program. I just hope no one was offended.

To return to the new AKC online education plan, they state, “On a computer screen, the participant is shown a class of six dogs, one by one, with a series of photographs showing side views, front, rear, head, and breed specific examination perspectives, and videos of movement, including down and back and around the ring for each dog. The participant chooses which images to view, and then places the first four dogs in order, first through fourth.” I think it is a little like the Hands-on Test which was tried for several years but, despite the advantage of feeling the coat, and what was under there, it turned out to be too cumbersome.

They do admit to eight known challenges to the proposed program. Two of those seem scary to me, i.e. “With so many breeds to cover this will be a large project and potentially (be) very expensive and time consuming,” and, “The costs and maintenance of computer services could be substantial.” I hope this does not mean that the costs will be passed down to the judge’s application process, a fee that is already unpopular. Then what happens when they decide to film it in 3D?

I would also add another concern, which may affect my participation. What if they impose the same time limits for evaluation? I may be at a disadvantage… my internet connection is very slow. My greatest dilemma, if this is so, is should I leave the witness protection program and move to another location with speedier access? I’ll keep you informed.

Click here to read the complete article from the Canine Chronicle The Annual 2013-14 Issue, Vol. 39 Number 1.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=40693

Posted by Alex on Jan 2 2014. Filed under Current Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.