Comments on: New Way to Think about Technology and Tools, Part 1 – Scene at the Airport http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/ David Lee King is the Digital Branch & Services Manager at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, where he plans, implements, and experiments with emerging technology trends. He has spoken in the U.S. and Canada about emerging trends, website usability and management, digital experience planning, and managing techie staff, and has been published in many library-related journals. David writes the Internet Spotlight column in Public Libraries Magazine with Michael Porter. David maintains a blog at http://www.davidleeking.com Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:50:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Warren http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-23589 Warren Mon, 14 Dec 2009 12:54:41 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-23589 David, <br>Good points. Whenever I've run computer and internet classes for seniors (in a public library setting), their overwhelming motivation for attending classes is not 'to learn how to use a computer', rather they want to 'see pictures of my new grandchild' or 'write to my nephew who is travelling overseas'. <br>Warren David,
Good points. Whenever I've run computer and internet classes for seniors (in a public library setting), their overwhelming motivation for attending classes is not 'to learn how to use a computer', rather they want to 'see pictures of my new grandchild' or 'write to my nephew who is travelling overseas'.
Warren

]]> By: Chandra http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-19368 Chandra Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:14:15 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-19368 I think that it is of great importance for people who are in the field of education to make it a priority to familarize themselves with at least some of the new technologies that are simply waiting to be used. I think that it is of great importance for people who are in the field of education to make it a priority to familarize themselves with at least some of the new technologies that are simply waiting to be used.

]]> By: Chandra http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-26445 Chandra Wed, 10 Sep 2008 16:14:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-26445 I think that it is of great importance for people who are in the field of education to make it a priority to familarize themselves with at least some of the new technologies that are simply waiting to be used. I think that it is of great importance for people who are in the field of education to make it a priority to familarize themselves with at least some of the new technologies that are simply waiting to be used.

]]> By: davidleeking http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-19279 davidleeking Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:06:25 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-19279 Hi, Edo! I hadn't thought about that angle, but you're right. I certainly have fun with my iPhone... but it's anything BUT a toy. Same with my laptop... same with most of the stuff my dept. uses every day! Toys vs. necessities - two very different beasts! Hi, Edo! I hadn’t thought about that angle, but you’re right. I certainly have fun with my iPhone… but it’s anything BUT a toy. Same with my laptop… same with most of the stuff my dept. uses every day!

Toys vs. necessities – two very different beasts!

]]> By: davidleeking http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-26444 davidleeking Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:06:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-26444 Hi, Edo! I hadn't thought about that angle, but you're right. I certainly have fun with my iPhone... but it's anything BUT a toy. Same with my laptop... same with most of the stuff my dept. uses every day! Toys vs. necessities - two very different beasts! Hi, Edo! I hadn’t thought about that angle, but you’re right. I certainly have fun with my iPhone… but it’s anything BUT a toy. Same with my laptop… same with most of the stuff my dept. uses every day!

Toys vs. necessities – two very different beasts!

]]> By: Edo Postma http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-19278 Edo Postma Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:36:44 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-19278 How I hate it when people refer to my laptop or mobile phone as "a toy". As if I have those things only for fun, to play with. Even my boss told me that he ordered a "extra good laptop" because I deserved it. He said to me "see it as a treat". Duh... I'm a heavy user, it's part of my life, I communicate with it, I do my work on it, I need it! I't essential, it's social and it's my money maker. I have to beg the techdepartment to supply me with solid stuff, and not look for the cheapest hardware around. As long people see laptops, mobile phones, PDA's as (geek-)toys for people with too much money, they're not up to recognising these stuff as social tools. How I hate it when people refer to my laptop or mobile phone as “a toy”. As if I have those things only for fun, to play with. Even my boss told me that he ordered a “extra good laptop” because I deserved it. He said to me “see it as a treat”. Duh… I’m a heavy user, it’s part of my life, I communicate with it, I do my work on it, I need it! I’t essential, it’s social and it’s my money maker. I have to beg the techdepartment to supply me with solid stuff, and not look for the cheapest hardware around. As long people see laptops, mobile phones, PDA’s as (geek-)toys for people with too much money, they’re not up to recognising these stuff as social tools.

]]> By: Edo Postma http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-26443 Edo Postma Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:36:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-26443 How I hate it when people refer to my laptop or mobile phone as "a toy". As if I have those things only for fun, to play with. Even my boss told me that he ordered a "extra good laptop" because I deserved it. He said to me "see it as a treat". Duh... I'm a heavy user, it's part of my life, I communicate with it, I do my work on it, I need it! I't essential, it's social and it's my money maker. I have to beg the techdepartment to supply me with solid stuff, and not look for the cheapest hardware around. As long people see laptops, mobile phones, PDA's as (geek-)toys for people with too much money, they're not up to recognising these stuff as social tools. How I hate it when people refer to my laptop or mobile phone as “a toy”. As if I have those things only for fun, to play with. Even my boss told me that he ordered a “extra good laptop” because I deserved it. He said to me “see it as a treat”. Duh… I’m a heavy user, it’s part of my life, I communicate with it, I do my work on it, I need it! I’t essential, it’s social and it’s my money maker. I have to beg the techdepartment to supply me with solid stuff, and not look for the cheapest hardware around. As long people see laptops, mobile phones, PDA’s as (geek-)toys for people with too much money, they’re not up to recognising these stuff as social tools.

]]> By: davidleeking http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-19207 davidleeking Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:57:01 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-19207 Wow - comments are pretty split on this! I like what Shannon Paul said (see above comment) - great addition! Wow – comments are pretty split on this! I like what Shannon Paul said (see above comment) – great addition!

]]> By: davidleeking http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-26442 davidleeking Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:57:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-26442 Wow - comments are pretty split on this! I like what Shannon Paul said (see above comment) - great addition! Wow – comments are pretty split on this! I like what Shannon Paul said (see above comment) – great addition!

]]> By: Brandon http://www.davidleeking.com/2008/08/18/new-way-to-think-about-technology-and-tools-part-1-scene-at-the-airport/comment-page-1/#comment-19206 Brandon Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:48:00 +0000 http://www.davidleeking.com/?p=751#comment-19206 I'll agree that the way people think about computers and the way people use computers has changed quite a bit from the late eighties/early nineties, when computers were still expensive machines you used at work or school for work and school tasks. However, I can't say that this is a "huge shift," or that the shift is worth getting all excited over. Using computers to network socially is nothing new (in fact, one could say that it all started with e-mail itself, and e-mail has been around quite some time). The shift has been gradual and spread out over a long period of time; it didn't happen overnight. It's no different than when librarians, journalist, and other media people call video games "a new technology." Video games have been around since the seventies; that's four decades. They are not new, nor are they emerging. They are near-pinnacle in their development, as evidenced by the newest generation of consoles: the graphics are prettier, but the games haven't changed that much. Such is the same with computers and social networking. Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter didn't happen overnight. Also, your statement, " I’m not operating a machine anymore. I’m connecting with people," bothers me. You are still operating a machine; that, coupled with the idea that the tasks you are doing are not so much "new" as "recently popularized" (even writing music and photo-editing) makes it really hard for me to get excited about this huge shift of which of you speak. Never-the-less, computers are more prevalent now than they have ever been. That is something that we need to get accustomed to and to learn the new skill sets necessary to operate this technology. That much, I won't argue. I’ll agree that the way people think about computers and the way people use computers has changed quite a bit from the late eighties/early nineties, when computers were still expensive machines you used at work or school for work and school tasks. However, I can’t say that this is a “huge shift,” or that the shift is worth getting all excited over. Using computers to network socially is nothing new (in fact, one could say that it all started with e-mail itself, and e-mail has been around quite some time). The shift has been gradual and spread out over a long period of time; it didn’t happen overnight.

It’s no different than when librarians, journalist, and other media people call video games “a new technology.” Video games have been around since the seventies; that’s four decades. They are not new, nor are they emerging. They are near-pinnacle in their development, as evidenced by the newest generation of consoles: the graphics are prettier, but the games haven’t changed that much.

Such is the same with computers and social networking. Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter didn’t happen overnight. Also, your statement, ” I’m not operating a machine anymore. I’m connecting with people,” bothers me. You are still operating a machine; that, coupled with the idea that the tasks you are doing are not so much “new” as “recently popularized” (even writing music and photo-editing) makes it really hard for me to get excited about this huge shift of which of you speak.

Never-the-less, computers are more prevalent now than they have ever been. That is something that we need to get accustomed to and to learn the new skill sets necessary to operate this technology. That much, I won’t argue.

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