A website I frequent daily, Lifehacker, has increased my interest into technology thrice fold since I stumbled upon it. It is updated all day long with the new software programs or gadgets to help make your life easier. I'll admit I have tried out a ton of new software because I thought it was needed. (It's funny how that stuff works.. you never know you needed something until someone makes it!) But I digress.
I still find myself carrying around a journal in the car and having a separate one for my work desk because I love to write stuff down. I am a pen multi color highlighter junkie and I love to brainstorm by putting my thoughts on paper. I love paper too. It is something about the writing process that gets my hamster to spin that wheel. I know some people who love to type. They were pretty much born with a keyboard in their hands. They cite reasons, such as "my handwriting wouldn't be legible if I wrote it out" or "it's just faster this way." I could never lead a paperless life.
Personally I have to back away from the computer from time to time. I notice I get frustrated with programs and their lack of efficiency they pose on my work day. I spent an hour and half yesterday trying to transfer pictures off my camera to external hard drive only to find out what I originally formatted the hard drive for isn't compatible with both Mac and PC systems. How does that make life easier? I could have used a 35mm film camera and stored away my pics and negatives within an hour and been done.
But, there are some technology advances I wouldn't want to live without. For example, I need to have my email organized. Outlook has done that for me in the past, but currently I'm looking into other ventures since it seems Outlook may not be able to keep up with me. I love the Instant Messenger in every way, shape or form. I can have direct contact without having to dial someone up or leaving my desk. I know this seems insane that years after its invention I'm still praising it, but seriously can you imagine what your day would be like with out it? (I do know many people DO NOT use it, but that question was rhetorically for the people who do use it heavily.)
We have become addicted to it. Looking at my desk right now I see an iPod, and cell phone (that is never turned off, only rebooted), the most fancy desk phone I've ever used, two computers, and oh yes the good ole' jump drive. (not to mention the fan I have circulating behind me because the office is way hot today!)
So I ask you, dear readers, to post in the comments what software or gadgets you have noticed you either can't live without or would rather throw down the trash.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Do you rule technology or does technology rule you?
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5 comments:
Instant messenger is great at times, a peril at others. I still believe in living outside of email, and placing an old fashioned phone call sometimes, which I admit, is usually an afterthought to me. Email and instant messenger have almost become a little too easy, causing a fear of actually talking to people on the phone or otherwise. I couldn't do my job without either device, but am constantly keeping myself in check to put in a personal and not only virtual relationship with my clients.
Two laptops, a desktop, a Blackberry, home phone, two office phones... Outlook, AOL, Calendar, Contacts, Access Databases, Excel spreadsheets, MS Word, SAP are all essential in keeping me sane. We do so much more today than was possible "back in the day." Keeping it together and organized is facilitated by today's technology.
It can be a bit overwhelming at times, but feel like you can "reach out and touch" so many more with today's technology. Problem comes when you should use "face to face," old school conversations and to avoid a time sink, use the technology. We may have lost intimacy for the sake of efficiency.
Cell phone, TiVo - or Dish Network equivalent - and iPod are devices I could not live without.
I too am a paper/pen junkie. I can't imagine life without writing things down.
While at the Air Force Academy in the early 90's, we actually used an IM and email system; we were one of the first entities to use these systems on a large scale. We found their capabilities very valuable as they were very mission-driven (due to extremely tight censorship by the administrators, no personal stuff). Since then, I have only recently begun using IM again. While I have found it valuable professionally; I believe it has taken a toll on personal communication. Emoticons cannot replace tonality in speech; misunderstandings happen all too frequently. Cellphones (had my first one in '98) have ceased to serve us exclusively and instead, we seem to serve them; we now seem to expect that people be available whenever. There's nothing more annoying than someone taking a call in the middle of a meeting; our culture doesn't even view it as rude anymore. Do most of us really need a cellphone? Seriously. My wife has rebelled against us and is still operating sans cellular. We've made it and she hasn't missed out on anything; she's also a lot less stressed than her peers.
To me, tools I am most thankful for (yes, that includes my cellphone) are MS Excel, Outlook, and my PDA. Excel has released so much computing power for the individual that I still don't think we fully appreciate its impact. Imagine life without it; how many additional hours or additional employees would it take to build even a medium sized workbook without it? Email, especially delivered via Outlook, is a powerful information transfer tool that enables us to cut out days of mail time. Drafts of contracts can pass multiple times between parties in one day whereas without these tools, it would take weeks. I think if we remember that these are tools and not lifestyle enhancers or obligations, we'll be better off. I don't take my hammer to the bar with me; I put it in its toolbag when it is no longer required.
I've recently learned how attached I am to my cell phone when it decided to die slowly. Love my laptop and iPod, have a desktop. As long as I have a cell phone, I'm happy!
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