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The Tricorder in My Pocket

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A futuristic smartphone stands upright on a classic wooden teacher's desk. The phone's screen displays an active FaceTime call with four smiling diverse children. A subtle, glowing blue sci-fi interface, reminiscent of a Star Trek Tricorder's display, wraps around the phone. In the soft-focused background, a whiteboard has "STAR TREK" and a flying saucer doodle. The blog post title, "THE TRICORDER IN MY POCKET," is prominently displayed at the top of the image. Traditional classroom items like notebooks, pens, and paper airplanes are also visible on the desk, blending modern tech with nostalgic elements.

As WordPress continues to recycle old prompts, I pulled another prompt from The Coffee Monsterz Co to respond to today

What is a convenience you cannot go without?

Despite the shifting tides of our international reputation, the United States remains a place where “conveniences” often border on luxury to much of the world. We take so much for granted. And while I know it’s not strictly essential for biological survival, the one convenience I truly cannot go without is the very iPhone I’m using to write this.

More Than a Convenience

I do almost everything through my phone now. I don’t even own a personal laptop; my only computer is the one supplied by my work. Banking, paying bills, watching videos, crafting emails—it all happens in the palm of my hand. In reality, it has become an indispensable tool, not unlike the “Tricorders” from Star Trek. It is my home computer, my camcorder, my entire CD collection, and my photo album all rolled into one.

The FaceTime Bridge

But the real reason I’m tethered to this device—and the reason I got an iPhone in the first place—is FaceTime. I originally bought it so I could video call with Kid 1. Eventually, Kid 2 got a phone for the same reason. When the house is quiet and I’m dealing with that “kid hangover,” I couldn’t imagine maintaining a close relationship without those calls. It’s the one piece of technology that feels like a genuine bridge rather than a barrier.

Of course, I’m still reluctant to even call it a “convenience” anymore. Since the 2020 lockdowns, the world has pivoted to a digital-first reality. From parking meters to court cases, the friction of moving through the world without a smartphone has become a tax on our time.

The “Off the Grid” Fantasy

Sometimes I still have that “off the grid” fantasy: ditching social media, getting a flip phone, and carrying a dedicated digital camera. I wish I could go back to a simpler time. But then I think about my “game face” at work. Teaching is incredibly difficult to do without technology at your fingertips. I look back at the teachers I had growing up and wonder how they managed to calculate grades on paper. To me, that paper-gradebook era feels like a million years ago.

Tethered to the Timeline

As much as I like the idea of vanishing from the timeline for a while, I know I can’t. This little rectangle of glass is how I keep my world—and my family—within reach.

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AI art created with Google Gemini

The article “The Tricorder in My Pocket” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob.

A silhouette of Atlas holding the world, representing the strength and foundation of the first 13 years of Rebuilding Rob

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