Has technology become a burden?
by Amanda McGowan, Associate Editor
 "Think of the design ideas that can get lost, or never generate, because everyone works independently, one step removed from each other." |
Last week, while out to dinner with my grandparents, my grandfather, a recently retired salesman, brought up a discussion about how technology has affected the workplace. He said the increasing technology – email, instant messaging, text messaging, the Internet – hinder any business when used other than a means of support.
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In other words, when a person relies too heavily on this technology in place of face-to-face interaction, it hurts his/her productivity at work. “You can email all you want, but without going out and making the sale in person, there is no sale,” he said.
My grandfather, who, in my eyes is one of the wisest people I know, referred to increasing communication technology as support. When I heard him say this, I immediately disagreed. How could he refer to technology as support, when it has so greatly enhanced our ability to communicate in the workplace?
In my profession, I would be lost without email to set up interviews and receive news about the latest products, or the ability to peruse the Internet to give me breaking news. As a design engineer, one could argue this profession stems and depends on the technology my grandfather dubbed “support.”
As I pondered this a little further, maybe my grandfather and his old-fashioned ways have a point. Has technology become a burden?
If you recall the column last month by PD&D’s Editorial Director Jeff Reinke, “Avoidance Achieved,” he contemplates whether technological advances in the way of cell phones really add to the functionality of the phone itself, or instead, just offer add-on and unrelated features.
I think the same could ring true to the increasing forms of communication we rely on instead of personal conversations as professionals. Email is extremely useful for passing along documents, or sending messages to a mass number of people, but I can think of times on a daily basis where I resort to email instead of getting up and walking two cubicles away to ask a question, or picking up the phone to call.
Email is not always the fastest, most efficient way to communicate or gather the information you need. It can often take twice as long to type an email, send and wait for the response than it would just to pick up the phone receiver and call, or walk down the hall.
It’s not always the most effective way, either. An email is a lot easier to ignore – one can simply click ‘delete’ and not give it another thought. And as inboxes overflow with 100+ emails a day, I would guess that is happening more and more.
Innovative technology is, technically, supposed to keep us connected and give us as many venues as possible to communicate. Take the Apple iPhone 3G, the latest version recently released that sold 1 million phones in three days. The phone offers the ability to talk, email, text message, surf the Internet, you name it – it’s the ultimate connection to everything digital in a pocket-size device. It seems too good to be true.
And maybe it is. With all the communication options, the need for personal interaction has lessened. Sure, we are all connected, but on a removed level. And I think this could be seen as a hidden burden.
When we deem talking face-to-face, or even over the phone, as inconvenient when we can just type it on our phones, Blackberrys or laptops, we lose the value of personal interaction my grandfather was talking about – the interaction necessary to close a deal, conduct an interview, or collaborate on a design.
Think of the design ideas that can get lost, or never generate, because everyone works independently, one step removed from each other. In this case, I would agree with Grandpa. Technology can only be used as a means of support for this personal interaction, or any business will decline.
In the design engineer world, I don’t think too many would agree technology should be deemed support. It’s driving the design world, and without it, product design and product development would be halted at a standstill. Yet, I think it’s important to remember the value of personal interaction, and the impact it can have in the workplace.
What’s your take? Send comments to amanda.mcgowan@advantagemedia.com. Comments are posted with the permission of the respondents.
Hehe… I can’t help but chuckle while reading this. I had sent an email to our company engineer that is approximately 20ft to my right in the next office, and when I didn’t get a response by the time the customer called Me asking me for a response, I actually got irritated that our engineer hadn’t replied yet. If only I had SPOKEN to him and asked the question physically, I would have had my answer much sooner and been prepared to inform the customer of the information they seeked. Ironic that I should read this story but an hour later. - Andrea, MI |
There are some people I work with that respond better to e-mail than face to face or even a phone call. Others are better face to face, some prefer the phone, and throw in instant messaging, and I covered all bases and my available methods of communication. You need to use what method works to accomplish satisfaction on with all involved. Any and all above will get a response from me, preferably the face to face. - Ed, RI |
grandpa is right on.
i use email for notes and quick communication.
everything else i try to do face to face.
i think i am the only person at my company that does not have a cell phone. - John |
I can see benefits to messaging instead of calling but how do you have an understanding of the other person’s feelings without discussion. I long ago decided not to use sarcasm, anger or try to tell a joke by e-mail. Without the personal interaction it just doesn’t work. PS, I work with several Engineers and the e-mails are an invaluable tool in conveying information between suppliers, production purchasing and the engineers. I also have the pleasure of sitting in the middle of the eight that I work the most with. I never miss a chance to walk over to their desk when we have an item to discuss. - Robert, OK |