Then and Now

Before the internet.

School bell ring announcing the start of the weekend was everything for us.
We used to focus on our studies and planned impatiently for the weekends to have fun. 

Fridays, 4 pm is the gathering hour.
Basketball and football were the games. Even if the field is not available, we used to draw squares to define the basket or the goal area.
Hide and seek was our favorite game, and fighting over who wins and resolving these fights with chocolate bars and chips bags. Mud was all over our faces when getting back home.

Bikes were the ultimate means of transportation and bottom bracelets were the most annoying thing when they slipped by. Our hands were covered in grease and cleaning them was another thing.
Saturday mornings were scheduled to finish given homework and to do research on a  cardboard box to earn points and lift our grades up. We used to call each other on the land line to regather in the afternoon to continue what was on hold as games from Friday evenings. 

Sundays were family days and afternoons were to revise our studies and to be mentally and emotionally prepared for school on the next day.
School bus passed by early Monday to pick us up where we used to meditate by the window, observing everything on the road; people reading the newspapers, cleaning the roads in front of their shops, counting their goods …

Job researches were made through people’s connections or by the ads written in the newspapers. Applications were made through “Al Waseet” or through people who are already working in a company where candidates send their CVs printed on a piece of paper to reach HR’s hands. Interviews were on site, people used to wear formal clothes for meetings. Preparations were made via newspapers and magazines. Most of the positions were locally done with the modest tools available in hands. 

Then came the internet.

School researches were now done on the Encyclopedia in the networks until we had access to the internet from home.
We used to connect through the phone line where you link the computer with the phone line to the internet. And if someone picks up the phone for a call, major fights will arise for breaking the internet connection. 

I can still remember the sound that comes up when the connection is made.

We used to have funny email IDs; ebn.lebnen@hotmail.com, amiretelkawn@hotmail.com …
MSN was the master of the game along with a platform that allows you to post your thoughts and share it with your connections; Facebook.
Playing online was limited by specific hours. The struggle is with who’s turn is with your siblings until “Network” gatherings were the solution. Counter Strike was the epic game of all times, along with Red Alert and Dotta and many other games who were the buzz.
Skype was used to chat with our siblings abroad on a planned date and time. 

The internet era.

The internet connection is accessible now, anywhere, anytime.
Cars are now replacing the buses for school.

Smartphones are now the replacement for the Laptop and the PC. Having an accessible internet in our hands changed the whole perspective of living.
Books are now implemented on a tablet. Homework is given online and the solution of the homework is shared by the student on the platform of his school.

No more heavy backpacks!

Recesses are now a break to check the latest trends online or to chit chat with friends about the latest rumors.
Different platforms now are the rulers of the market; Tiktok, Instagram, Facebook…

A video call around the world now is made in a few minutes where several people can join the call and discuss whatever topic they are interested in.
Games are now downloaded on phones with no restrictions or limitations.

People are no longer reading newspapers, instead; news is now delivered on phones where a notification marks a new event.
Job Applications now are made online via specific platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed and many others.

CVs are now saved as word or PDF files and sent via email through a professional email ID (lastnamefirstname@gmail.com) to the company desired.
Research of the companies is now done online, adding to that the online interviews. The formal dress code has changed to “Smart casual”. With the option of remote work, tasks now can be done online, remaining the same productivity.

Now AI is the talk of the town and things are moving forward.
All of this happened in around ten years. 

Ten years were more than enough to change the world’s construction, and if you look back at it, you understand how fast that was.
Now the question that can be asked is; What will be the next new impact and what will those next ten years hide from us?