Technology: Connecting Work and Home

Hi everyone,

In class yesterday, Amy discussed how she felt that 'email' always keeps her connected to her work and there's no chance to get away from it and that got me thinking back to my early experience with car phones and then cell phones.

Some of you might be too young to remember this, but when mobile phones were first offered to my generation, we had options. The first option was a car phone which only worked when you plugged it in to the car lighter. The second option was a cell phone, but not a cell phone as you know them today. These phones were huge. For those of you that have cordless phones at home, that's the kind of size I'm talking about...only wider and thicker.

The primary need (and sales pitch offered to the public) to have a car phone was for personal security and that it was to be used in case of an emergency i.e. a flat tire, mechanical problems...etc, yet when I joined a company in the early 90's all of the sales staff, who were always out on the road making calls to customers, informed me that the original reason of security and emergencies were quickly replaced with an opportunity to stay connected to work. At the time, I couldn't understand why they were complaining, it wasn't like they were paying for the use of the phones, the company was.

Four or five years later I found out first hand what the sale people had been complaining about when I became in charge of production operations of the plant. At the time I had my own private cell phone and the company offered me one that they would pay for and that the owner decide that all key management personnel deserved to have cell phones. I thought wow, that's one less bill I'd have to pay...great.

Boy was I wrong. We were a twenty-four hour operation and soon after getting our phones we were told that we're expected to be on call 24-7. All of a sudden there was no separation for workspace and my own personal space. I remember getting calls while I was playing or coaching; hockey, basketball or slo-pitch. I'd get calls on the week-ends, in-town or out of town and even during my holidays.

Whether we realize it or not, technology invades our personal space regardless if it's invited or not. It could be in the form email, cell phones or blackberries to name just a few. It effects our space at home, school, work or even in the car and we can't seem to live without it.

If you disagree, then here's a challenge for you = go an entire week without them and let me know how it goes.

Later, Sean