Sometimes wired is also entangled

Generation gap

A survey commissioned by LexisNexis examined the impact of technology in the workplace among generations of legal professionals, including Boomers (ages 44 to 60), Generation X (ages 29 to 43) and Generation Y (ages 28 and younger). It found:

• Twenty-three percent of Boomers believe using laptops or PDAs during in-person meetings is “efficient,” while nearly half of Gen Y workers think it is.

• Twenty-seven percent of Boomer legal professionals think blogging about work-related issues is acceptable, compared to 52 percent of Gen Yers.

• Fifty-five percent of Gen Y and 40 percent of Gen X report accessing a social networking site from work, versus only 13 percent of Boomers.

Source: itmanagersinbox.com

AS A SOCIETY, the convergence of portable electronic devices and common sense too often exists only in a virtual world.

With the proliferation of cell phones, PDAs, iPods and other devices, a disconnect has emerged between when and when not to log on, blog, e-mail and answer the phone. Often it’s disruptive, discourteous and downright dangerous.

It has reached the point that state government and some local municipalities are considering or have enacted laws expressly prohibiting texting while driving. Officials also have had to take on the role of stern parents by limiting when drivers can use cell phones.

In our halls of justice, the federal court system has seen convictions overturned because jurors texted or “friended” one another on Facebook during a trial, which violates the prohibition of communications outside the jury room. Judges are implementing new rules to cope with the intrusions.

In workplaces, it’s not uncommon for some people to pay more attention to their Blackberries than to a colleague speaking.

We have to wonder, why did it become OK for so many – regardless of age – to be discourteous?

Not so long ago, when print publications and televisions were almost the exclusive sources of information, we didn’t read while we drove or watch TV during a business session. What is the uncontrollable attraction of the digital gadgets?

At what point did it become so urgent to emit and receive so many spontaneous thoughts while negotiating traffic or talking to colleagues? It’s become multi-tasking on steroids for some.

Although it might seem quaint, many of us still would prefer for our face-to-face interactions to take priority over a dialogue box, for people to actually talk to one another instead of just “chat” and for protocol to include more digital decorum.

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Opinion

Generation gap

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