The technology battle

One of my earliest memories I have of thinking about work was when living in Newcastle. I remember being asked if I would work in an office. Actually, at that time of life, there was nothing worse than the thought of being stuck in an office day in and day out. All of that paperwork, all the hours of staring out of the window looking for something more interesting to do.

At school, I was a day dreamer. I would spend ages to looking out of the window. Was I told off? Yeah, of course I was, constantly. Interestingly, I was never asked what I was dreaming about. A lot of things probably. Mainly I was bored out of my head. My mind would often be trying to put this new idea into practice and would often be thinking if it would ever be useful or if there was a better way to be doing it. I was never a one for reading fictional stories, but wanted to find out how things actually worked. "Day dreaming should be good for you" I thought to myself.

Having left school I eventually found myself working in an office. Yeah, yeah, I know. But you see, I did find the answer to my quesion from way back then. There IS a better way to do things, you just need to spend the time to think of how to do it. For me, the realease I was looking for was electronics. And boy did this start off a whole frenzy of creative thinking.

So, why the technology battle? It's an easy one actually, there is now so much technology around us that people are missing the point. More specifically, they are not using it to their best advantage. Technology is driving people, they are getting carried away with what it is capable of doing. And more importantly, they are not in control of what it is they do with their lives because of it.

Let me give you an example: Texting from your mobile phone. Aaargh

Don't get me wrong, I love texting people. But, there is a correct way and wrong way to use it. i.e. it is not a replacement for a telephone conversation. You should not ask a question which begs for a one word answer. And NEVER use it for a private conversation.

Texting should be an informative experience, that being informative for the person receiving it. Or it should be used to ask a question which will allow you to receive an informative reply. Only then are you using it correctly. If you are going to have a conversation then PICK UP THE PHONE! The thing sitting in your hand, yes, that device you are using to text allows you to actually talk to the person on the other end...

Rant over, back to work.