Predictive advice...

Not long ago I reluctantly updated my ancient Blackberry with a swanky new Samsung Galaxy S4. My children chuckled (in a rather Chuckie-like way) at my upgrade because they know that whilst I might possess updated technology, my brain is still outdated. Compared to their father, who is the ultimate gadget man, my conversion to the new-fangled has taken longer and I remain the only person they know who puts apostrophes in my text messages.

I needed a few tutorials from S (aged 11) but with stubborn determination I got to grips with lots of new features, fell in love with Instagram and even managed to install a few nifty apps.  The most surprising thing for me, however, was the superior predictive text function. I have no idea how the clever algorithm-thingy works but I am super impressed when offered the very word I need before I even type it - a kind of Samsung crystal ball. 

My chubby-finger-dyspraxic-typing, and tendency towards to distraction, have resulted in a few funny messages though.  For instance, L was surprised to read that I was picking up a 'slave' from the supermarket and a bit disappointed when I arrived with 'salad'. I also complained that an irritating acquaintance was being a bit of a 'dalek' (well, the first and last letter are correct anyway...exterminate!)

I'm also enjoying the randomness of what I call 'predictive advice'.  I start to type something and Samsung typically offers me three options to continue with.  I started to text 'I have to buy a...' and the main suggestion was 'hat'.  I decided that was, in fact, a very good idea and I really should buy a hat (the woolly kind rather than the bonnet variety). 

Yesterday morning, sat at my desk, my head buzzing with all the work tasks ahead of me and the unfinished chores at home, I realised that no one had put the rubbish out and we would be left with an overflowing wheelie bin for another two weeks. I started to send a resentful text to L, who was sleeping in working from home, to say 'Please will you take the...' but before I got to the word 'bin' my phone suggested 'time' instead. I took the advice and took some time to just stop for a moment.  I could feel the tension in my shoulders start to subside as I just concentrated on my breathing for a few moments and chill. I looked through the window in my classroom to notice the autumn sun beginning to break through the morning gloom. It turned out that one of the girls had actually noticed the bin and taken it out already (amazing domestic epiphany) and what had started as a fraught day turned out to be a much calmer one - thank you Samsung.

Linking this post up with Sarah at Hello Wall and her new linky Something for the Weekend.