It would be a tough call when so many of us rely heavily on our computers. A report from the US Department of Commerce / Economics and Statistics Administration / US Census Bureau, entitled Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2003, indicates that 70 million households, or 62 percent, had one or more computers. In 2001, the figure was 56 percent and in 1984, only 8 percent of American households had a computer.

Arlene Heitmeier, a 60-something resident of South Park, does not use a computer. She retired from her job as a receptionist at an electrical company 10 years ago and stays active with friends, family, gardening and travel.

Heitmeier's husband passed away two years ago and although he owned and used a computer regularly, she has never seen the need to use one herself. She gets her mail in the mailbox and pays bills the same way; stays informed about what's happening in the world via television and newspapers, and stays in touch with friends and family via the phone.

"My husband would go straight to the computer, after coffee in the morning. He checked our banking that way, he'd e-mail friends, instead of speaking on the phone," Heitmeier explained. "Using the computer seems to take up a lot of personal time. It seems that people get a lot of unnecessary, unsolicited stuff on the computer, too. While my husband was on the computer, I would do yard work or go shopping or be out in the world doing things. I know there are many benefits, but I like to communicate with people directly."

information about news topics. When she wanted to volunteer as part of the G-20 event in Pittsburgh, the person she needed to contact had an e-mail address listed in a newspaper, as well as a phone number; however, Heitmeier's calls were not returned.

Heitmeier's sister, Marjorie Ehni, who lives in Green Tree, also eschews using computers and says simply that she hates even the idea of e-mail. Ehni is very active at the Dormont United Methodist Church, as historian, president of a women's' group and is helping to plan the church's 90th anniversary celebration, but says that she is efficient and happy doing everything she needs to, without electronic tools.

At a recent class reunion, Ehni says that several friends asked for her e-mail address and were surprised to learn that she does not have one.

"I told my friends that they have my phone number and I have theirs. I said I'd rather hear their voices," she said. "When I have to make travel arrangements, I have to call my daughter, to set them up through her computer, but I don't know who is getting my credit card information, via her computer. It doesn't feel right really. I know that people need to use computers for work, but I think that they can be intrusive when people spend too much time on them away from work."