Who's Your Data?

I have asked him why he has all of these mobile communication devices if he doesn’t endeavor to return messages while he is on the road! He told me a dirty little secret…he gets 100+ emails a day and 10 to 20 voicemails. He has an assistant to help, but still must reply to most of the messages himself. The road has become his refuge and he uses this system to get away from all of the noise.

I wonder how many people are using technology to get away from technology. That calls into question a lot of the productivity gains we tout for mobile communication devices. On the other hand…there are an awful lot of people talking to themselves in airports. I thought the cell phone with ear plug was an annoying development. There is nothing worse than the Bluetooth ear piece. At least until we invent something worse.

I miss The Brick; the mobile phone in the early 80’s that announced its presence at the lunch table for all to see. You couldn’t not see The Brick. I did have to scream into it to be heard in the four spots in downtown Denver where you could get reception. No one I knew ever took The Brick on the road. We used an ancient technology called a land line. A few years later my colleagues were carrying these slick Motorola StarTac phones. They flipped open, of all the damn things! I had a clunky…whatever the store was selling phone. Now I have a Blackberry, but I am still behind the curve. My Blackberry is fatter than my friend’s who never answers his on the road. I feel so empty.

One thing I can promise you, if I am on the road with my outdated Blackberry I will endeavor to return your call when I am safely back home again.