Compiled by Tom Creed.

This month's Virtual Companion is designed to accompany the article Confessions Of An Early Adopter in The National Teaching and Learning Forum, Volume 8 Number 3.

Please circle all items that apply to you:

When you see that your VCR is flashing 12:00, what are you most likely to do? (Choose one).

• I would have to fix it on my own, no matter how long it takes. (4 points)
• I'd read the manual, then try to fix it. When I got frustrated with it, I'd have my nerdy neighbor come over and do it. (2 points)
• I'd find it mildly annoying, but wouldn't worry too much about it. (1 point)
• Isn't that what they all do? (deduct 2 points)

Do you regularly: (choose all that apply)

• Turn on your home computer first thing in the morning and check your e-mail? (2 points)
• Turn on your home computer first thing in the morning and surf the net? (3 points)
• Check your e-mail more than 5 times per day? (2 points)
• Use the Internet midday to check how your stock portfolio is doing? (3 points)
• Do crossword puzzles late into the evening, even though you have other job-related work to do? (1 point each for the number of times you do it per week on average)

Have you ever justified a software purchase by saying: (choose all that apply)

• This version will fix all of the bugs of the old one. (3 points)
• This one will really save me time. (2 points)
• I need it because I don't want to fall behind everyone else. (1 point)

Do you have data stored on: (choose all that apply)

• IBM punch cards (6 points)
• Paper tape (5 points)
• Magnetic tape (4 points)
• 8" disks (3 points)
• 5 1/4" disks (2 points)
• 3 1/2" disks (1 point)
• I don't store data (deduct 2 points)

Have you ever: (choose all that apply)

• Bought a new technology when it first came out (e.g., spent more than $100 for a basic 4 function calculator), even though if you had waited six months you would have been able to get one twice as good for half as much money? (4 points for each instance)
• Justified owning a Betamax because it was technologically superior to VHS? (3 points)
• Bought version 1.0 of a software program? (2 points)
• Become proficient in Wordstar or HTML? (2 points each)
• Taken apart an electronic device, just to see how it works? (2 points for each instance)
• Kept a broken digital watch? (2 points)
• Gone to an electronics superstore just to see what was new? (2 points)
• Been annoyed that a software upgrade had been delayed? (2 points)
• Wondered what Bill Gates had for breakfast that morning? (2 points)
• Thought that Microsoft has your best interests at heart? (10 points)

Have you ever personally owned any of the following computers:

• A MITS Altair or Lisa. (6 points)
• A TRS-80. A CP/M-based machine. (3 points)
• A VIC 20 or Sinclair 1000. (2 points)
• A Commodore 64, Apple II computer, or an early (8080 based) IBM. (1 point each)
• An IBM PC Junior. (5 points)
• A laptop. (2 points)
• An Apple Newton, Palm Pocket, or similar PIM (5 points)
• Do you know what PIM means? (yes, 2 points)
• Don't own a personal computer (deduct 2 points)

Please add up the points for all items that you have circled. Your point total indicates:

Negative score. Welcome to America. We have these wonderful things here--big screen televisions, cellular phones, and electric toothbrushes. You'll love it.
0-7 Neo-Luddite. Lucky you. You are totally in control of your life, at least when it comes to technology.
8-13 Social technology user. You're basically in pretty good shape, but be careful. You could get hooked on some particularly attractive technology.
14-19 Early Adopter Trait. You definitely have Early Adopter tendencies. Caution is required to keep technology from encroaching on your life.
20-25 Early Adopter Personality Type. With great effort, you can control it, but it will be a challenge.
26 or higher. Early Adopter Syndrome. Call your local chapter of Early Adopters Anonymous immediately to find when the next meeting is. If there isn't a local chapter, buy a Bill Gates doll, and stick pins in it to ward off the evil spirits.