Technology can be a sore point for an othersider. On the one hand we are not expected to know or understand a lot of it. And on the other hand when the younger generation does talk techie it often sounds like they are speaking another language. Not all technological advances have equal value. Some are great, others I can live without. As part of my communication class assignment I will run through a few of my favorites.
Email is great, both at work and at home. An Email is delivered almost instantly to one person or a group. It is a great way to share information and is also an excellent tool if you need to document correspondence for future reference. At work it allows me to respond to a customer on my time. This may sound selfish but responding on my time means I can focus just on the customer’s questions and not divide my focus which often happens with phone calls.
Websites are another technological development that I really appreciate. Every company, organization or agency appears to have a website. Websites are a way of making general information available to the public any hour of the day. If I need to know when the next time the recycling is going to be picked up I just check the town’s website. I do not need to spend time trying to reach someone at the town office by phone. I feel more comfortable doing business with companies that have websites. I can get to know them before I spend my money.
I am still undecided about the value of social networking sites. I see my teenage son exchanging one liners like, ‘Hey whatcha doin?’with his friends but I do not see quality communication. Though social networking sites give us an opportunity to stay in touch with friends and family I do not believe it is a replacement for a good long phone chat.
The site LinkedIn has adapted the social networking mechanism to the business world. I have signed up in preparation for when I graduate but I am unsure as to how effective I will be able to use the tool. Networking sites can be double edged, yes they bring people closer together but they will also increase the size of the pond we are swimming in. Not everyone feels comfortable being contacted by a friend’s friend.
Vlogs or video logs are for when words are not enough. Though I do not see myself creating a vlog any time soon I am a definite fan of YouTube. Oh there are plenty of jackass stunts out there but YouTube is also a source of serious teachers. I have found instructions on how to do zombie make up for Halloween, make a soufflé that will not fall, and watched a presentation on what to expect during a job interview.
The common thread for all these technologies is they allow people to connect either one to one or one to many regardless of geographical distance. Technology can be a life changer or a toy it all depends on how we use it. What is your favorite?
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