Technical developments are now happening at their greatest pace yet but has anyone stopped to think as to whether we humans will be able to keep up? When computers systems and robots aids were first designed, they were built with the view to assisting humans to make life less complicated and run smoother. This they’ve achieved with astounding success, however there is an impact that has perhaps slipped under the social radar in the rhetoric of progression. Looking at the modern office, people often joke “How would we cope without mobile phones?” or “What did we do before we had email?!” If you scratch beneath the surface of this and you will see just how intrinsic and essential computers and technology have become. Without quality IT support, most businesses would be left by the wayside whilst the rest of the world passed by at it’s now normal speed. A broken PC can leave an employee without anything to do for a day other than catch up on all the filing for the office - a task that has generally diminished due to paper-less office initiatives and greener working practices – and answering the phone. Just how much has the progression of technology impacted upon our lives? There are those who acknowledge that without the advent of email, the extent to which companies have been able to expand globally would have been greatly restricted in comparison to the freedom that real-time communication has given them. Instant messaging and VOIP have contributed further to enhancing the communication channels available for use within the modern office. On an environmental level, greater and faster electronic communication has reduced the need to travel for business which has greatly reduced businesses carbon footprint. On the other side of the argument are those who say that whilst it is now quicker, communication has suffered due to this increase in speed. The art of letter-writing and the time and care taken to draft a letter have been replaced by a hurried email, which can have a greater impact than intended. How much time is waste in explaining an email because what you were trying to convey has come across in the wrong manner? Not only is that a consideration, but the speed at which issues can escalate is now greatly increased. Whereas before an issue could be dealt with by the people confronted with the issue without the involvement of any other staff members, the carbon copy (cc) culture means that everyone copies in all the people whom they feel is pertinent to the issue, often without regard for the hierarchy within the office or business perhaps. However much we may rail against it, the primeval need to progress and strive for better means that progression will always be embraced. How long until we’re asking each other if we remember that old thing called a mobile phone.........
