An Exclusive Interview with Shari Roach, Edward Kang, and Rachel Kushanick

Edward Kang's Answers:
1.    What is the first experience with a computer that you can remember?

It was 1998, a few weeks after my journey from Korea to America.  My family and I were over at a friend’s house, houses swirling around as if they’re waiting to be consumed by some huge toilet.  My cousins were on Paint, creating new black pixels that appeared on the screen.  I was dumbfounded.  All this time, I relied on this wooden, stick made of graphite that made Korean letters, which made more letters, and then they made words.  Later, I asked my mom, “Mommy, I want that!” “Eventually,” my mom asked.

2.    What was the first computer I owned?

July 2010 was one month after I “graduated” (I neglected to attend the graduation ceremony).  I was still stuck with a four year-old HP Pavilion desktop that still relied on dial-up.  And then one day, my uncle called me to get some research done for a laptop.  The moment that call ended, I probably did as much research as a college student.  I didn’t want a Mac, or anything that can be snatched at a retail store.  No, this was a (free) investment that I had to take very seriously.  And then there was one brand that kept popping up, whether it was Engadget or Wired – ThinkPads.

3.    Describe a specific instance in which a computer has had a positive impact on your life.

Every year in high school, there are these endgames I faced called the AP exams.  Although the teachers helped, I needed more.  Then I realized that many different AP study guides on the web, I didn’t’ have to buy $20 to buy these paper stuff- no! I had these study guides on PDFs, Javscript quiz form, all that.  I only failed three of my AP exams, so ha.

4.    Describe a specific instance in which a computer has had a negative impact on my life.

When I started middle school in Florida, I was forced to use AOL as my internet service.  It wasn’t the fact that AOL was so expensive, but the fact that I didn’t know what internet privacy was.  Soon after creating my screenname, I let my self to the privy of the web.

List as many parts of the computer that you can think of:

          Screen, webcam, keyboard, speaker, wireless antennae, DVD drive, USB ports, Displayport, SDCard reader, motherboard, CPU, RAM, GPU, battery, power source, Smart Card reader, touchpad, trackpoint, hinge, thermal fan, LED light, accelerometer, expansion slot, mini-HDMI port, hard drive, SSD drive,

Do I have a data-backup solution?

          Yes, I have my old 320GB hard drive I, once a month, use as a backup device.  That hard drive used to be the OEM hard drive for my laptop, but it failed me at one point in my life.  I used to use a backup program to do the work for me, but instead I only backup the files I absolutely need, such as documents for work/school, music/video/podcasts, etc. 

Do I do any activities on the computer besides word-processing/gaming that does not involve the internet?

         Watching video, maintaining the computer’s insides (diagnostics), photoshopping, video-editing, reading, listening to music

List as many sites or networks which I have an account.

          Facebook, Google (including Chrome Sync), Opera Link, League of Legends, Steam, XBOX Live. Apple, Engadget, Thisismynext, Amazon, FSU, Skype, Oovoo, Gamestop, Hulu, Twitter, LinkedIn, Chegg, Glogster, Column Five Media, Gojee, The Sims, Suntrust, Blogger

Do I store anything in the cloud?

          Yes, with Amazon Cloud, Facebook, Google Picasa,

Distraction websites:

          A.V. Club, Metacritic, all Gawker (Jalopnik, Lifehacker, GIzmodo, Jezebel, i09, Kotaku, Gawker, Deadspin) websites (sans Fleshbot), Allkpop, NY Times, Twitter, Wired, Thisismynext, Blackboard
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Shari Roach's Answers:

1.) Learning to type with a game my parents bought
2.) First computer was a Dell Laptop. I did not have to buy it, my parents gave it as a gift in highschool. I had to ask for it.
3.) Getting free books online for school.
4.) When I broke it right before leaving for college
5.) RAM, memory card, mother board, disk drive, keyboard, screen, hard drive
6.) Not a routine backup plan but I have put all important files on discs before. I would miss everything saved on my computer if it was lost, stolen, or broken.
7.) Watching movies, listening to music/cds
8.) Yahoo, Google, Facebook, Federal Credit Union, Suntrust, Universal Orlando, Outlook, ebay, FSU blackboard, Skype, Pandora, Blogger
9.) Yes, I upload attachments to emails frequently and upload pictures to Facebook
10.) Stumble upon, Netflix, Hulu, Pandora

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Rachel Kushanick's Answers:

What is the first experience with a computer you can remember?

-I was in Elementary school, learning how to type, and I was not able to pass the timed quizzes without looking at the keyboard. 

What was your first computer you owned?

-I bought and HP laptop with money that I saved up. It was $400 and my father paid for it with his card and I gave him the cash.

When has a computer had a positive impact on your life?

-I have been using Skype to talk to my mom, dad, and friends at other schools which has eased some homesickness.

When has a computer had a negative impact on your life?

-I changed schools in high school, and seeing my old friends announcing on Facebook all of the things they did without inviting me was difficult.

List as many parts of the computer that you can think of.

-Hard drive, RAM, USB ports, webcam, speakers, wireless router, keyboard, motherboard, touch pad, screen, CD port

Do you have a data back-up solution?

-I do not have a data back-up solution unless you count using a flash drive. I would miss all of my files for school.

Do you do any activities on the computer besides word processing/ gaming that do not involve the internet?

-I rarely use any other activities besides word processor or the internet.

List as many site with which you have an account as you can

-Picnik, gmail, amazon, live.com, skype, modcloth.com, fastweb.com, blackboard, tumblr, facebook, freepeople.com, fictionpress.com, zinch.com, browardcountylibrary.org, suntrust, usaa, hulu

Do you store data in the cloud?

-Yes, I use gmail to send and store attachments and I put pictures on facebook.

What websites do you frequent?

- tumblr, facebook, themarysue.com, hulu