I've been sidetracked this week with some new toys. Per my previous posts about adopting new mobile, multi-media, and web based tools my Apple Power Book came in the mail. As an embarassingly, generous thank you gift for my service as Chair of the Cape Cod Technology Council I was given a video ipod last month. So, I've been preoccupied with these two wicked cool, elegant pieces of technology.
My favorite writer on the topic of how technology impacts our lives is a local colleague, Teresa Martin. She is the fabulous, Executive Director (now CEO) of the Cape Cod Technology Council. She recently commented about people who always refer to themselves in the negative as NOT technically literate. Her point is that the basic tools of professional life are becoming such the de-facto standard that we can barely remember how we functioned without them.
Now, the throw away line we all hear from people about being technical idiots does still get an amusing laugh when tossed out casually in friendly company.
At what point in time does that laugh line stop being funny? When does that line become the equivalent confession of a "lost" drivers license or fear of speaking in public?
Making one's self technically literate is a professional and educational requirement.
Empathy is in my soul. The real reason that I am trading in my old tool box for a new set of technology tools is each new tool that I am adopting is SOOOO much easier to use. Apple and Google are changing the rules. Users no longer have to learn new behaviors to handle their technology. Technology is built to adapt to users.
As our "digitally native" kids rapidly learn to blog circles around us, create multi-media, and (by osmosis) embody game theory the pace of change in our world is going to continue to increase.
This change will be fun.
