Comments on: Does Technology Ease Work?

By: Judith Ellis

Judith Ellis — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 03:20:37 +0000

Bob - Perhaps it is also how tools are used. Email, for example, can be used in a array of ways as well as cell phones. I heard recently of kids sending illicit photos taken on their cell phones to friends and later seeing the same photos on the Internet. I remember one day at around 2 in the morning being awaken by receiving 4 such photos mistakeningly in rapid succession. This is what awoke me. I texted the gentleman back to tell him that I think he missed a number of two. I did not hear from him again. The amazing thing was these photos included his face. He was not a kid. Judith Ellis's last blog post..Being in Black Face VI

By: Bob Foster

Bob Foster — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:49:39 +0000

Jeff – Many of us have choices about how much time we spend with our technology. For people like you who are totally immersed in technology as the main tools of your work, there is no choice–you are constantly interacting with most of the technological gadgets available. You likely couldn’t do your job without them.

The need to use all this technology makes it even more difficult to separate work activities from social activities. Personally, I have a difficult time doing that, because my curiosity won’t allow it. I struggle terribly even with email–I will open an email, and an hour later (and 20 or 30 urls) I am deep in reading some obscure bit of information that has absolutely nothing to do with business. I am an information addict, and for that reason I have withheld using Twitter. Goodness knows how much time I would spend lost in that realm.

Thanks for the comment, and if you have the focus and discipline to separate work functions from social functions, my hat is off to you.

Bob Foster’s last blog post..Does Technology Ease Work?

By: Bob Foster

Bob Foster — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:30:23 +0000

Judith – If we think of “tools” as products, it is difficult to separate work tools from social tools, because they are used for both on a regular basis. If we think of “tools” as functions, and we have the choice of using a work function or a social function on the same tool–then we come right back to the need for discipline, and the fact that the choice is up to us.

It worries me that the more tools and functions we get, the less we personally interact with real people.

Thanks for your comment–you always make us think.

Bob Foster’s last blog post..Does Technology Ease Work?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:26:26 +0000

Boy – can I ever relate to this!

Not only am I in the business of technology as my work (computer graphics book author/speaker) but because I do rely on the social media networking for business, I am also always busy designing my web site and Blog and updating it, making sure I have new a relevant content for it, my FaceBook, LinkedIn and Plaxo accounts, as well as a post or two a day on my Twitter account. I know several people who actually pay others to do much of this for them, but I’m not at that level yet – plus it’s hard for me to leave something that seems so personal up to someone else to do for me.

So – in addition to marketing myself, negotiating clients and contracts for work, doing all my social networking (iPhone, Mac Book, Desktop, etc.) – somehow I still manage to actually squeeze a few hours in a night to get some WORK done too!!

Now if someone can figure out a way that we can “connect” while we’re sleeping, then I’m pulling the plug!

By: Judith Ellis

Judith Ellis — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:03:36 +0000

Bob - I think that there should be a distinction between work tools and social tools, if for no other reason than to distinguish appropriate language and decorum. I especially worry about this with regards to the training of our young people. There is a time and place for everything. Judith Ellis's last blog post..Being One or the Other

By: Bob Foster

Bob Foster — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 03:43:06 +0000

Judith - Thanks for the comment. You are right in saying it is really about us. In this crazy world of technology, we all need to be more focused and disciplined; we need to take better care of our "self." I just read the other day that our work tools and social tools have become so intertwined that everyone is having trouble trying to keep the two separated. Bob Foster's last blog post..Does Technology Ease Work?