# What's the most technology youve carried on yourself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 22, 2002, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409 "2002-06-22T05:54:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/21 "2002-06-24T06:30:06Z")
Once, while in Saudi Arabia, I had this ensemble: [ul] [li]Kevlar helmet[/li][li]Flashlight[/li][li]M16A2 rifle[/li][li]6 30-round magazines[/li][li]4 fragmentary grenades[/li][li]4 chem sticks[/li][li]1 chemical detection kit[/li][li]2 MREs (Meal Ready to Eat)[/li][li]Chem/Bio/Nuclear protective suit (jacket, trousers, boots, gloves, mask)[/li][li]Bayonet[/li][li]AM/FM portable tape player[/li][li]Kevlar “flak” vest[/li][li]night vision goggles[/li][li]Atropine injectors[/li][li]Anthrax tablets[/li][li]Wristwatch[/li][li]Compass[/li] Occassionaly I carried one of the following: [li]LAW[/li][li]M60 machinegun[/li][li]2 cannisters of M60 ammunition and tripod[/li][li]PRC-77 radio[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/22 "2002-06-24T16:53:12Z")
If sheer weight counts I used to haul around 2000 watt power supplies, but it probably doesn’t… ---
**Author:** ![DaToad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@DaToad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DaToad)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/23 "2002-06-24T18:43:13Z")
Until my boss made me start carrying a company cell phone last year, the only technical thing I carried is my (1976 vintage) self-winding wrist watch. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/24 "2002-06-24T20:32:28Z")
Well, aside from my watch, and occasionally glasses, the only technology I really carry around is my CD player when I go walking. Though back in December, I was hooked up to a portable IV system for a few days. And very thankfully portable, as electrolytes and antibiotics seem to go straight to my bladder. Ranchoth (“Look at me! I’m a Cyborg!”) ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/25 "2002-06-24T21:16:26Z")
The implant in my nose that summons the Mother Ship if I inform abou… OH NO! ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2002, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/26 "2002-06-24T22:24:13Z")
Back when I was doing cell system optimization and testing I carried the following items regularly: 5 cell phones 5 TEMS test sets (gadgets used to interface cell phones with computers to record test data) 1 laptop 1 hub (to go between the laptop and the TEMS) 1 GPS 1 camera to snap pics of locations with coverage anomalies (mostly pictures of odd geographical features that block signals) 1 Byrd RF power meter 1 home-made continous wave signal monitor (not as fancy as it sounds) 1 portable CD player as a test audio source 1 pocket recorder for notes 1 pager 1 scientific calculator 1 wristwatch Plus power supplies/chargers/batteries for most of the above. I had a _big_ backpack. Fortunately, most of the actual testing was done while driving, but I had to walk through quite a few buildings carrying all of that to get indoor readings. For sheer mass of technology, I had to carry “Big Blue”, our 80-pound transmitter, up 12 flights of stairs and a 30-foot ladder to set up a test site on the roof of a building with a broken elevator. Fortunately, that was a once-off. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/27 "2002-06-25T00:47:28Z")
I regularly carry a sixty gig firewire hard drive around with me… ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/28 "2002-06-25T01:14:12Z")
Hmmm. My digital watch. In my pocket. And this only when I go out. I guess if you count the stuff in my backpack when I go to school… CD player TI-83 Plus graphing calculator … I do believe that that is all. Heh, I’m a medieval guy, what can I say? ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/29 "2002-06-26T04:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Horseflesh \* > \*\*Once, while in Saudi Arabia, I had this ensemble: > [ul] > [li]Kevlar helmet[/li](snipped for brevity) > [li]Bayonet[/li][li]AM/FM portable tape player[/li][li]night vision goggles[/li] \*\* We all have at some point in time. But those last two are what I’m looking for. > [@](#): > > \*\* > Occassionaly I carried one of the following: > [li]LAW[/li][li]M60 machinegun[/li][li]2 cannisters of M60 ammunition and tripod[/li][li]PRC-77 radio[/li][/ul] \*\* Not too shabby! What, no Scope Shield? No rangefinding gear? Tripler What the hell do I know. I routinely carry a shovel. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/30 "2002-06-26T05:15:43Z")
**Tripler** beer is not part of the technological carry. \< snort \> When on call, it is best to refrain from alcoholic beverages, unless of course they encourage it. Eh, not with your employer; my last contract, we had some fun with alcohol after hours though. ---
**Author:** ![sandalfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@sandalfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandalfeet)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/31 "2002-06-26T05:56:59Z")
my watch when i decide to wear it and the same goes for my hearing aids. ---
**Author:** ![Lodrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@Lodrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lodrain)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/32 "2002-06-26T07:50:53Z")
A wax tablet (definite improvement over those durned stone tablets - gave me writer’s cramp in the worst way. And you can’t erase, either.) with a bronze stylus. Cost me a pretty drachma to buy, but it was worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/33 "2002-06-26T15:07:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > \*\ ***Tripler** beer is not part of the technological carry. > \*\* The beer in and of itself may not be a technological marvel, but the _way_ I lug it around the battlefield is nothing less than revolutionary. Yes, they’re all still cold and fresh, even after two days and nights. All 36 of 'em. Tripler O! The marvel that is my insulated 80mm mortar canister. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409/34 "2002-06-26T19:32:30Z")
Everyday its Cell phone 2 pagers Palm Pilot Minidisc player And a Camelback full of beer…or at least I wish. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-most-technology-youve-carried-on-yourself/115409.md?page=1)