I have always been an early adaptor when it comes to technology. I love new things and to be among the first to play with them.

I remember fairly soon after microwaves came out, I bought one, despite the fact the radioactivity coming from it was only slightly lower than Chernobyl.

When the VCR became available to the masses, I just had to have one. $1200 later,  this big silver box was perched by my TV flashing 12:00am like it meant it.

So, when cell phones began invading our world, I just had to get one.  I admit, at first, they were SO expensive that I quenched my technology thirst by using the radio station’s phone for personal appearances and such.  It was one of these:

Eventually, they became consumer ready and I charged into the technology with a Nokia phone. Yes, the Microsoft phone. I wanted to support the local company that provided the phone’s operating system, but that passion soon faded as friends with Androids or iPhones were able to download cool, fun programs, and I just had to watch. Eventually I made the break to Samsung and was an S3 through S8 user. But when the battery on my S8 started dying every couple of hours even after I had replaced it, I decided to finally take the Apple plunge. I bought an X last year and have been in love ever since.

Except for one thing that I think everyone struggles with no matter which brand: voice recognition.

When I began dating a special someone a dozen years ago with Norwegian heritage, the two of us developed the habit of ending our correspondences with “Jeg elsker deg”–Norwegian for “I love you.”  It wasn’t long before we abbreviated it to the initials, J.E.D.  A typical message would be, “See you tonight. JED”

Texting that with your thumbs, no problem. Saying it for the sake of a voice-recognition text is another thing. I would think that, over time, it would notice I say “JED” a lot and it would learn, but NOOOOOOO.

So, over the past year, my wife has received text messages from me that are signed with something that was supposed to be JED. Among the lack of voice recognitions created by Siri and her co-conspirators:

Chad (ironically, one of the names of her bosses)

Jen

Jihad

Chin

Shawn

John

and Judge

So, to all those people out there named Jed who have run into this modern-day challenge, I feel your pain. Something to consider: legally changing your name to “I love you.” It would help both of us out.

Tim Hunter

PS: I don’t know about you, but when it comes to Jeds, to me, this is still the most famous one.