Please order some tulips on the internet for me.

When I woke up this morning, I heard ”little darling” singing in her room.

As I approached her room, I heard yet another new song, coined by her. The lyrics went: ”hooray, hooray, my mommy is coming home today”.

Upon seeing me, she stopped her melodious (not everyone concur with this opinion) little song.

After our exchange of “good morning, por-por” and “good morning, darling” she said: “Por-por, please order some tulips on the internet for me. Mommy is coming home today”.

I can’t stop to marvel at the evolution of the humankind’s reaction and acceptance of information technology.

One day, perhaps twenty years ago, I went shopping (one of Singaporean’s fav pas-time) with my late mother. She noticed a queue at an ATM, observed that some people, after pressing a few times on the machine, moved away with cash in hand. In answer to her questions, I briefly explained what the ATM was about. Followed by my demonstration on how to withdraw some money.

Mother was thoroughly amazed; but concluded that she would rather deal directly with the bank cashier.

The next day, I shared the experience with my lunch-time “kakis”.**

Devi and Cheong, shared my mother’s mistrust and suspicion of the ATM. Devi voiced her fear that the ATM may issue lesser cash than recorded ………. etc. Her parting shot was, “I would rather go to the bank too”. Devi took many years to accept the use of ATM, on an URGENT basis only.

Those were the days when computers and such, were viewed with awe (by a good number of people besides Devi and I).

We were aware that the computers could do many things, besides saving a lot of time — when used by those who had the “know how”. Whereas Devi, many of my friends and I stood in awe of computers PLUS feared that a computer may blow up in our face at any time.

Over the years, more and more people accept the use of computers in their office and home.

Simultaneously, a whole generation of our children grew up, learning to use computers in schools. They use the word processors and spread sheets with ease. They refer to the ”Yellow Pages” on the internet when they need to check a phone number. They play games and make new friends via the net, on the computers. The list goes on.

Our grandchildren are growing up in an enviroment filled with computers and the constant mention of “the internet”.

Although I marvelled, I wasn’t very surprised when my little grand-daughter requested “please order some flowers on the internet for me”.

PS ”kakis” is Singlish. Translation: companions, friends, supporters. Originated from Malay where “kaki” means “leg”.