Technology in the WW (was Re: the view from Harry's glasses)

[elady25]

No: HPFGUIDX 72721

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "The Crashing Boar" 
<crashing.boar at n...> wrote:
> 
>   Harry (and Dudley) would have been called in for 'developmental' 
checks by his local health authority several times before he started 
school, and given basic hearing and site tests.  If there was any 
concern in these areas, he would have been refered on.  Apart from 
more, similar tests at school, he would be entitled to a free 
checkup, one free set of basic lenses, and a set of basic frames (if 
either are needed) annually from a qualified optician.  Almost all 
health checks and medical treatment of minors in Britain are free, 
although the choice/selection of some items (like frames) may be 
limited.  More recently, instead of choosing from a limited range of 
free frames, it has been possible to put the 'voucher price' of the 
frames towards other frames, and pay the difference.

Thanks.  This system is news to me, having grown up in the US.  It 
provokes some interesting thoughts on socialized medicine, which are 
probably better saved for the OT list.


In another vein, it's always interested me that the WW eschews so 
many simple technologies.  Like writing with quills rather than 
ballpoint pens.  Is it just because JKR liked the idea of these 
things, or is there some deeper statement about the effect 
technologies have on our world?

Just a note:  I've often thought that Internet access would help 
speed up all those hours Hermione spends in the library, but my 
husband and I then reckoned that these kids are probably class of, 
what, 1997 or 1998?  and the Internet was just getting underway.  We 
remember the days before the World Wide Web.  Wasn't there a rumor 
that JKR was going to write in something even better than the 
internet?  Because if I were Hermione, and my parents were dentists, 
I would be pushing the use of something faster than pouring through 
one book at a time.  Of course, if I'd read Hogwarts: a History I 
would know that my laptop wouldn't work at school...:)

imamommy
(who's grateful at least the school has indoor plumbing)
(say, about that, how did Slytherin build the entrance to the CoS in 
a bathroom sink a thousand years ago...)