automated society

[jim]

Bjarne Stroustrup once said that he had a dream that one day a computer would be as easy to use as his phone. He went on to say that his dream had been realized, he no longer knew how to use his phone.

I hate over engineered things. I look at the MS office suite with it's mind boggling number of buttons and ribbons and symbols and I have no idea what I am doing. I get templates sent to me that I have to fill in that would take 10 minutes that take an hour because I can't format the damn thing. I end up with BIG BLUE STUFF and little underlined things and indentations is weird places. I am not exaggerating at all, but it takes me on the order of 2-3 hours to do my Monday operational report meeting because we have to cut and paste spreadsheets and attach as images and cut things out of other applications into Word tables and oh my god. I could provide the information needed in 15 minutes, using vi. Everything would be there, but my boss who has been a consultant his entire life has decided that we need little green things and little yellow things and little red things to tell our management that things went well or didn't go well. This guy also has at two phones that constantly going off, but the pisser is I can never get in touch with the guy. He leaves me a message at 8pm and then when I try to return the next day he isn't answering [expletive]. Using technology to let it go to voice mail I guess so he can allocate his time better.

I am completely convinced that the best way to incorporate technology smartly in your life is to try to do without it, and only use it when you really need it. That commercial with the phone upgrade - you know the one where the comedian can't wait for 2 years - is symptomatic of the problem. Proud of version 7, until you find your friend has version 8 and you just have to have that dancing pink pony.

[Arthur Dent]

It sounds like every one of these posts where you attribute problems to technology are actually complaints about your boss.

[Freed Roger]

finance and banking has been on the forefront and dependent on automation. It's a natural . Just think 30 years back, a passbook saving account. Tellers. The labor it must have taken to bookkeep and service loans and accounts.

So as consumers in banking/finance -we should be seeing major savings, and not to mention -better service - from the revolutionary efficiencies passed along to us, right? Right?

[jim]

It sounds like every one of these posts where you attribute problems to technology are actually complaints about your boss.

Of my 15 posts in this thread up to this one 3 refer to my boss. So if 20% of every one, then you are right!

[Socnorb11]

finance and banking has been on the forefront and dependent on automation. It's a natural . Just think 30 years back, a passbook saving account. Tellers. The labor it must have taken to bookkeep and service loans and accounts.

So as consumers in banking/finance -we should be seeing major savings, and not to mention -better service - from the revolutionary efficiencies passed along to us, right? Right?

I will admit that I absolutely love online banking. So yeah, I can't say that I'm not in favor of technological improvements.

I think my big beef is with smartphones. I'm just sick of them.

[Fat_Bulldog]

jim,
I will virtually dick punch your boss later today for you.

[jim]

Thank you fat bulldog. Is this just "work", or do I need to submit a formal change request?

Technology is a double edged sword. I personally think that the general tendency of people is to think it's more than it is, to ignore the negative and only look at the positive. Simple is usually better with everything (the Google model for example).

[Fat_Bulldog]

Thank you fat bulldog. Is this just "work", or do I need to submit a formal change request?

Technology is a double edged sword. I personally think that the general tendency of people is to think it's more than it is, to ignore the negative and only look at the positive. Simple is usually better with everything (the Google model for example).

It's a formal change request. And, use the fancy template your boss likes.

[ghostrunner]

I was actually kind of a late adopter on cell phones and smartphones. I got my first mobile phone in 2003, and my first smart phone in 2011. I think I was about 4 years behind the curve on both of those. I did (and do) like the idea that I'm not expected to be "home" when somebody calls me (which is why I often don't answer after work or when I'm driving). I also didn't see any need for all the smartphone features and I thought they were expensive. But once I got them I saw the usefulness and I can't imagine not having it. Everyone has their own comfort level, but I'd say it's made life easier in a lot of ways.

[jim]

I got my first cell phone in 2009, got a smart phone in 2011, and will ditch it all together in 2013. I'll probably still have a phone because my employer will want me to have one, but I'll let them pay the bill. The thing I would miss the most is this game I play on it. You have to tilt your phone and direct this little ball through traps into a hole on the other side. When it ricochets off the side, it makes the most pleasing little vibration with your phone, and really feels like the ball hit some rubbery bumper thing.

Wait - I don't need phone service for that. Ok, so now that phone will stay in the toilet non stop. I love playing that game while taking a [expletive]. In fact, if I can't my phone before I call it to hope I have it on sound to locate it I go to the bathroom. I do use my phone a lot in there. I know it was mentioned earlier, but I will say that has upped the anty on taking a [expletive] entertainment.