AS I have said in the past the inventions of today with their mind-blowing technology have often caused complete bewilderment. But the demise of the tape-recorder and, seemingly, the end of cassette recording means that at some stage in our life we will n

AS I have said in the past the inventions of today with their mind-blowing technology have often caused complete bewilderment.

But the demise of the tape-recorder and, seemingly, the end of cassette recording means that at some stage in our life we will need an iPod or a MP3 Player.

At least I recognise the ­products - but don't ask me to explain the difference.

So with a certain amount of trepidation I stood looking along shelf on shelf of these inventions.

Obviously, before taking on such an adventure I sought advice and was told all about megabytes and the other workings of these gadgets.

It didn't mean a thing.

And to save embarrassment one doesn't even seek advice when completely lost looking along the shelves.

Still, I spent an hour reading all the packaging and came to a decision: buy a cheap one. At least then it would not be a waste of money when ­discovering that I didn't have a clue about the workings of the thing.

There was some instruction about connecting the gadget to the computer and downloading (I think that's the right technical term) available ­material.

All well and good.

After hours of looking at the thing from all angles I ­discovered that you actually removed a cover.

The next test (all modern technology is a test) was to actually attach it to the ­computer.

This, I had been told was quite straightforward, and, anyway, the computer virtually does the job itself.

Yet another search around the workings of the computer and there was a socket where this new piece of technology could be plugged-in.

It's true, too, that the ­computer screen does ­produce a list of directions. These, though, are for the computer literate - and we all know that computer language isn't quite everyday English.

Yet another hour was spent attempting a download.

Somehow it worked and there on this new gadget appeared the latest edition of The Archers.

I didn't really want to listen to the everyday tale of country people (that's a Sunday ­morning ritual with the omnibus edition), but at least competence in downloading had been proved.

Yet another piece of modern technology had been ­mastered. The trouble is I'm still not sure about the downloading process and all I've got is an episode of The Archers.