How time really flies remember years ago when I first had my encounter with my first phone. It was a dream come true for me. If I could still remember vividly, I was just 12-13 years old staying with my parents of course and living in a town close to be called a city but still referred to as a town. I can still remember vividly as there was a visit from my uncle to us for a December visit. Pulling his phone out, I watched effortlessly how he was able to actually make calls and even send messages by just tapping the screen.
That will be the first time I will come across a screen touch phone. I never knew that experience would be kickstarting me in the adventure of smartphones. Of course, everyone will agree with me that before we witness smartphones with touchscreens, we were living in the Nokia 3310, Nokia C2. Those phones can actually withstand damages even when they fall as they can still remain in full operation.
I remember the first phone I owned. It was Nokia C2. I think I used close to 6 months to gather the money from the little pocket money I was getting from my parents and other guest visitors then. Then, the phone was a wonder for me as I can call, text and even play mini games like snakes, Bouncing games and many more. At that period, I knew I was holding a device, a technology that can transform my life.
Years goes by, I begin to see that there is begining to be more evolution. From the phones, the games and generally the internet. We fully entered the world of internet browsing. I remember making use of my phone then to explore wap pages on the internet like Wapkid. It was really fun and so exciting. Even though sometimes it might take a while to load those pages but eventually, it will definitely bring the pages.
Of course like an average Nigerian young boy then, Gaming was one of the most important aspects of my early phone life then. In fact, I spend most of my time gaming making use of the phone even though it was Nokia C2 then. Of course there was amazing and interesting games then to explore even with the mini phone, I remember playing Snakes, Tetris and Bounce. If you don't play Bounce, then probably you don't have an interesting early phone life.
Years goes by, I think my first encounter with computers started around when I was 15-16 years old as after I was done with my Junior waec, I was enrolled to learn computer in one cyber cafe then. The first game that I was welcome with at that cafe and of course it was to actually help my typing skills and speed was Mavis Beacon Typing. I can't forget that game ever. It was my go-to game then on computer. I can spend hours playing it day in day out without not getting tired and that is apart from enjoying the game, it gives me an avenue to build up my computer literate skills.
From the games, I begin to interact with the computer from the mindset of I just want to play Mavis Beacon to I Need Information. It was a transition of mindset that happens to me which I believe I actually need at that particular time. I begin to browse the internet and begin to explore what the world of internet really contains or hold. I was feeling fulfilled because it actually means I cannot access information and be able to watch a lot of content that gives me the necessary knowledge I need or want.
Over 15 years later, I can say I am still the curious Nigerian guy as I was then. Now I have more devices at my disposal to make use of and always ready for actions. Smartphones for me now is not really about chatting with my friends or even playing games as back then. Now it is much more, my phone is my personal assistant, my need source, my source of income. As opposed to then, I no longer visit the cyber cafe as the world has evolved.
Instead of waiting for hours as of then for a page to fully load, I now find myself multitasking between apps with smoothness. Quite beautiful it is. Looking back now, I can just admire the memories back then. I started using a phone as an innocent boy who was just introduced to the digital world but now, so many transitions has really happened in the digital world and I am so convinced that more and more will still happen in the coming years. Nevertheless, with or without those technology Advancements, I still cherished and held onto the humble beginnings and those feelings can never change.
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